so I put the hard top on and....

[thescot]

Im very disappointing in the new seals I purchased. Question for you hard toppers. Is there some type of support that supposed to go from the factory roll bar to the side of the body by the striker plate? I have two holes unaccounted for in line with the roll bar. Sure get a lot of side flex every time you close them factory doors. Im worried the excessive flex of the sides will fatigue things and make some cracks BTW its a 83 CJ7 in question.

 

[cj7inthetwigs]

Not sure on the support, mines an 86. Doubt its that different, on the seals, I replaced the cowl,doors,tailgate,and top seals a few years back. At first they fit poorly and I had all kinds of whistling sounds going down the road. They did expand or settle and now I'm pleased with them..I will say when I put the hardtop on,I have to crank the front down with a tow strap in order to get the holes in the windshield frame to align. Take a picture concerning the support in question.
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[Petescj]

I'll tell you right now there is no support for that area. The top is only held on by the screws in the windshield frame and the bolts on the tub. If this is the first time youve put the top on there are various different ways to get everything to line up correctly. You can adjust the windshield , door hinges , door striker and shift the top around a little itself. It can be a p.i.t.a. Ive seen extra holes in the tub due to different top configurations over the years but not in the hardtop itself. If theres holes there put the bolts through. Pics would help us examine it further. If your getting alot of side flex Id imagine something is misalighned or some bolts are missing.

 

[thescot]

I have 4 bolts down either side of the HT and then 4 or 5? screws across the windshield strip, all the factory holes are being used. After installing the strikers I see their cracked bad so I ordered new ones. Now that the doors and top have been on a bit, the passenger side is closes real easy and its a non issue, the drivers side is a different story. The triangle striker plate is so bad it flex'es in which is adding to the hard to latch the door problem, Im also thinkin the overly hard door seals are adding to the problem too.
Im afraid to order new ones after the top seal kit, but may have to sooner than later.

 

[cj7inthetwigs]

I remember my door seals being a bit long in the contours and I think a few extra holes in the seal itself. They didn't seal completely around the top of the hardtop but eventually settled. Until they did I was distraught, I even called Quadratec and raised some hell. In my defense they also sent me a dash mirror and not the one that glues to the windshield. Petes right about adjusting the top. That helps everytime I put mine back on..

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[S76]

Put a very thin film of silicone grease on the seals were they touch the door jam or the top or anywhere else. It will allow the seals to slide as they make contact and the door should close much easier.

It also will reduce the chaffing on the painted surfaces and stop any squeaks from the seals.

As mentioned, after a while the seals should take a set to also make things easier.