Soft top / hard top swap

[nctom]

Hey all,

I am eager to sell my hard top and buy a soft top for my 77 CJ7 . Two questions:

Can you give me a ballpark what my factory hard top is worth? It is in great condition. Garaged all it's life.

Second, which soft top do you guys prefer? I will need hardware and soft doors too.

Oh wait, third: should I keep my steel doors for winter ops - would that make much of a difference in temperature?

Thanks!
Tom

 

[elwood blues]

Here's the problem with our CJ's that were made prior to 1980. Nothing really fits them correctly. Almost every top manufacturer doesn't differentiate between the '76-79 CJ7 's and the '80-86 CJ7 's.

The biggest problem is the "sport bar". Notice how your "sport bar" (btw that was AMC's term for it because it really isn't a roll bar) only bolts to the tub, on top of the wheel wells with three torx head screws? Well, in 1980 models they moved the roll bar so that the front of it bolts into the frame behind the seats, that's also when they introduced 3 point seatbelts.

So, to answer your questions....
1. Scope out craigslist around Ashville, NC and see what hardtops go for in that area. I've seen them around here for sale anywhere between $100 and $600. I paid $200 for mine a couple years ago, same scenerio, left in a garage for 10 years gorgous condition, etc. It depends on your market and who's looking. I personally wouldn't sell it.

2. Bestop is the most expensive, but they've been doing it the longest and their stuff usually fits very well and is generally the best quality out of all of the manufacturers.

3. Here's where the tricky part comes in to play, I had bought a brand new bestop top supertop a few years back (the kit with all of the hardware and everything) I could get my hard doors and my top to line up together no matter what I tried. I finally said to heck with it, sold the whole thing and now just run a bikini top in the summer. Hard doors available for the rainy days

I can't speak to the temp difference, but the noise difference is going to be dramatic. Also, soft doors only have zip open windows, a really big PITA IMHO.

 

[jonboy1919]

Here's the problem with our CJ's that were made prior to 1980. Nothing really fits them correctly. Almost every top manufacturer doesn't differentiate between the '76-79 CJ7 's and the '80-86 CJ7 's.

The biggest problem is the "sport bar". Notice how your "sport bar" (btw that was AMC's term for it because it really isn't a roll bar) only bolts to the tub, on top of the wheel wells with three torx head screws? Well, in 1980 models they moved the roll bar so that the front of it bolts into the frame behind the seats, that's also when they introduced 3 point seatbelts.

So, to answer your questions....
1. Scope out craigslist around Ashville, NC and see what hardtops go for in that area. I've seen them around here for sale anywhere between $100 and $600. I paid $200 for mine a couple years ago, same scenerio, left in a garage for 10 years gorgous condition, etc. It depends on your market and who's looking. I personally wouldn't sell it.

2. Bestop is the most expensive, but they've been doing it the longest and their stuff usually fits very well and is generally the best quality out of all of the manufacturers.

3. Here's where the tricky part comes in to play, I had bought a brand new bestop top supertop a few years back (the kit with all of the hardware and everything) I could get my hard doors and my top to line up together no matter what I tried. I finally said to heck with it, sold the whole thing and now just run a bikini top in the summer. Hard doors available for the rainy days

I can't speak to the temp difference, but the noise difference is going to be dramatic. Also, soft doors only have zip open windows, a really big PITA IMHO.

Elwood, I was so set on investing in a good soft top, but your posting here really threw me. My hard top has many cracks around the bolting holes and a big leaking crack from the passenger side window to the corner bolt hole.

Bestop was going to be my choice too. Now what? I guess I'll either attempt to repair the cracked hard top with fiberglass and plumbers tape OR go Bikini only in the summer.

 

[Darrel]

I have a 71 CJ5 with a hard top. (I didn't think the 71 came with a hard top) my wife bought me a Tiger Top from Bestop and I am finding that I'm going to have to buy a different windshield in order to use my new soft top.

 

[jonboy1919]

Hey Darrel, I see you are in Alturas, CA. I drive longhaul from Seattle to Reno every week for the last 15 years and pass right through your town. Too bad your hard top is for a CJ5 and not a 7.

 

[Darrel]

I just tore my CJ5 down. it has been reduced to a pile of parts. I bought a set of Dana 44 's for it last week. I kinda think I may keep the hard top because as you know it can get mighty cold here in the winter. I'll just have to change windshields when I change tops.