Roll bar and door options for early CJ5

[Helomedic1171]

Looking at possible roll bar options for a '58 CJ5 . It was never optioned for a roll bar and the two middle bow sockets are not attached anymore thanks to the rust I'm attempting to fix. Also, one of the rear sockets was crushed before I got the jeep which makes using a stock early-style top very difficult at best. And I plan on replacing the wheel tubs since they're pretty rusted and beat up, so the bow sockets won't be going back on.

In addition, I have no top or doors for this jeep, and I'm looking at the best way to remedy that. I'm thinking I could use later CJ5 doors, but how difficult is this? Also, what is the best option for a roll bar with regards to mounting a top? I realize that early CJ5s could be had with the A-frame roll bar that bolts to the top of the wheel tubs, but would it be better to modify a later-style angled bar for better top fitment? Any help or ideas would be appreciated.

 

[oldjeeplady]

We don't have roll bars for any of ours and plan to make them from scratch. You can get kits, but they're really expensive for what you get. We haven't gotten as far as a design, but I'd be glad to share it when we do.

As for tops - Our '67 CJ5 came with an OEM soft top. It will also fit our '59 CJ5 Tub. It's in rough shape, and some of the metal is bent as a tree fell on this CJ before we got it. If you look at the Best-Tops, you will find two models that will fit our tubs and they're for years up to '75. You can go to the Morris site and download the pdf instructions which shows the parts. But years beyond that I think you might have some troubles. Plus the doors on the newer tops (even for our year models) attach at different hinge points. If I bought a new Best-Top the doors would hinge like my Kelly Steel top - both on the tub below the windshield mount. On the '67 there is one hinge point which is a little tube bracket mounted up inside the windshield frame. The other is just a hole drilled in the tub lower door frame area. I think I found these brackets at Beechwood Canvas, but you could make them if you had the older style doors. As for the bow hardware - I think you could make your own style using marine hardware. There is just tons of different style hardware like they use on boat tops that would work. And they adjust too - just like the new tops. Some of the big agricultural supply places have this type of hardware too (Like Farmtech). I hope to one day recover my old soft top. There is some great information on how to make a top from scratch on the CJ2a Page here: Make Your Own Canvas Top - The CJ2A Page Forums - Page 1 While this is for a 2A, the concept is basically the same. I would use marine fabric like they make boat covers out of, and not canvas. My thoughts for our '59 build were to make the custom roll bar/cage first, and then make the top to fit over that - or possibly use some of that to hold up the top. I have the advantage of having an old top/frame/hardware to work from. I hope to someday have a thread here showing how to make a soft top - but it won't be in the next few months....

 

[Helomedic1171]

thanks for the reply. the driver's side door channel is bent/twisted up (not sure how it happened, but this jeep was beat on a lot and then stored for 20 years before I got it). also, the Bestop instructions call for using the rollbar to stretch the tops over. I think I'll try and locate one of the factory-style bars for now, and then figure out if I can either find a new door channel or use the newer-style hinge mounts. I would think it would be pretty easy to do, I just need to get the hinge mounts and then a piece of 1/4" plate or 3/16" plate for the back side to mimic the OEM design. and the doors *should* be the same shape, right?

As for your cage/bar designs, I look forward to seeing them. like I told you in your build thread, I'm looking forward to seeing how yours turns out. it's cool seeing the older ones on the road, and I haven't seen one as old as mine or yours in my area. I'm sure there is one, but I haven't seen any yet. (though I have seen a couple CJ2s and CJ3s around).

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

Wouldnt the roll bar from a later CJ5 work?

 

[tarry99]

thanks for the reply. the driver's side door channel is bent/twisted up (not sure how it happened, but this jeep was beat on a lot and then stored for 20 years before I got it). also, the Bestop instructions call for using the rollbar to stretch the tops over. I think I'll try and locate one of the factory-style bars for now, and then figure out if I can either find a new door channel or use the newer-style hinge mounts. I would think it would be pretty easy to do, I just need to get the hinge mounts and then a piece of 1/4" plate or 3/16" plate for the back side to mimic the OEM design. and the doors *should* be the same shape, right?

As for your cage/bar designs, I look forward to seeing them. like I told you in your build thread, I'm looking forward to seeing how yours turns out. it's cool seeing the older ones on the road, and I haven't seen one as old as mine or yours in my area. I'm sure there is one, but I haven't seen any yet. (though I have seen a couple CJ2s and CJ3s around).

The later (76 + ) angled back sport factory roll bars will not work in you Jeep unless you cut it up!.......they mount behind the seat at the floor and that space in an early Jeep is just not there.......any door's later than 1975 will also not work. That channel in your door frame can be fixed.........it's only metal.......If you have a Jeep salvage yard nearby , sometimes on a wrecked tub you can salvage that body part and graft it into yours.

I would default to the original old style roll bars where the main hoop & brace mounts on top of the wheel tub on a piece of angle Iron.........If you want to tie that into the frame and add forward down tubes that is where most of us start from.........

That factory made early CJ5 aftermarket roll bar will also give you the correct height for any soft or hardtop that's out there. Craig's list, junk yards, there out there.

 

[steve1973]

I used a rollbar from a 76 in my 73. Only had to make one notch cut on each side to make it fit. I believe the 76-79 roll bars all mounted on the wheel wells and didn't go to the floor, but I could be wrong. It does have a slight slant to it, but I think it looks fine and the stock soft top still fits on it.

 

[Posi]

76-78 1/2 wheel well mounted.

 

[Helomedic1171]

sweet. so a 76-78 1/2 bar will work if I can't find the earlier one, and why won't doors later than 75 work? is it a shape issue or does it have to do with the top/windshield/roll bar relationship?

 

[Posi]

76 and later windshields angle back more so then earlier models.

 

[Helomedic1171]

so because the windshields angle back more, the doors won't line up with the windshield, correct? so anything 75 and earlier would be ok?

 

[steve1973]

Should be.

 

[tarry99]

so because the windshields angle back more, the doors won't line up with the windshield, correct? so anything 75 and earlier would be ok?

Yep!

 

[Helomedic1171]

Sweet. Thx folks!

 

[johnnyreb]

i'd gladly trade off my 80 floor mounted roll bar for the older roll bar to get it out of my seats.