Janes Top Comes Off!

[sarca]

Well, I did. To be clear when I say "I"; what I actually mean is 'my retired navy huz spent fathers day using a torch on a rusted out crossmember' Im pretty sure he did this while I was at work to save our marriage I get up in arms everytime he handles Jane too roughly (IMO) and I cannot imagine how stressed I wouldve been to watch THIS transpire -

By the time I got home - all that was left to disassemble were a couple of hidden bolts from the hardtop to the crossmember.


Sooo we took the cap off and the next few pics are what we discovered. The next two pics are the passenger side


The 'white' cap, from the inside

 

[sarca]

Drivers Side

The rear corners of the gutter were pretty much non-existant (SP?) And the rotting hatch crossmember seems to have done the most damage.


Standing in the bed of the 40 looking down on the driver side rear corner window

 

[sarca]

BUT luckily - I gave the worst news FIRST..things get betterafter this first pic-(sitting in the rear, looking at where the PS rear corner panel meets the tub



Under the rubber gasket on the panels (above where the jumpseat would be on PS) I found what appears to be near mint - DUNE BEIGE! Everything except the rear corners looks better than I had hoped

 

[sarca]

Im looking for a replacement hatch crossmember..But Im also wondering how the DS rear corner window panel will handle repair. Im not doing a frame off..but Im no idiot. As is, this 40 will probablly outlast me (Im 41) But either Ive got to learn fabrication and welding OR shell out some $$ to have it done. I have the weatherstrip kit from SOR. I will probably be looking to have the gutter corner pieces replaced over purchasing an entirely new gutter (at a cost of +300, apparently the gutter is made of unobtanium..)

Just for documentation, here is the rotted crossmember




Well..there you go...MeJane with her top off.

 

[pb4ugo]

It seems your not done yet, I recommend taking the rest of it off & enjoy the summer.

It might make the repairs easier too.

 

[sarca]

No way! Our club has a big event in September...I want to get her done before then! Plus, Jane is not a garage queen..I can't leave her topless in this humidity-its the hardtop that drew me to land cruisers in the first place!

 

[SmokinJo3]

No way! Our club has a big event in September...I want to get her done before then! Plus, Jane is not a garage queen..I can't leave her topless in this humidity-its the hardtop that drew me to land cruisers in the first place!

Hey for some guys topless is the way to go. For others, it leaves a little to the imagination

 

[pb4ugo]

No way! Our club has a big event in September...I want to get her done before then! Plus, Jane is not a garage queen..I can't leave her topless in this humidity-its the hardtop that drew me to land cruisers in the first place!

That's crazy talk! You have a convertible & won't use it? In the mean time you could check out the bottom part of the top.

 

[JohnVee]

Damn, that's nasty. Take off the panels and see what's under them as per pb4ugo. Get a tarp and some 2x4's to span the windshield/cage to prevent rain puddling.

Pic #2 in post #1 is terrible.

--john

 

[Snowdogyyz]

I agree with the others Sarca. The harder part is off. Go ahead and pull the sides and see what is underneath and do any treatments or repairs needed. Also a good time to replace bolts for the top. And drive it with the top off at least once! It's fun!.

 

[sarca]

Hey for some guys topless is the way to go. For others, it leaves a little to the imagination

Who needs imagination when reality is rust colored

That's crazy talk! You have a convertible & won't use it? In the mean time you could check out the bottom part of the top.

This is the plan - great call. The panels will come off; and then Im gonna drive it for the rest of the week topless.. Then while we work on whats under the panels, she'll go into temporary storage. In July, we're heading to Maine and planning to drop the new rain gutter, cap and side panels for welding repair and riveting to the cap over at IPOR on our way up.(Neither of us have welding tools - BUT Id love to learn, one day...) Then we'll reassemble everything back together at home.

Damn, that's nasty. Take off the panels and see what's under them as per pb4ugo. Get a tarp and some 2x4's to span the windshield/cage to prevent rain puddling.

Pic #2 in post #1 is terrible.

--john

Actually - the DS is the worse off of the two sides..but these pics could easily show what is hidden but noteworthy if youve never really looked at a 40 and are planning to buy one.

Just for GP (in case there are prospective buyers) Straight retail prices-
Rain Gutters pre-75 300+
New Crossmember for hatch $300-ish
Weatherstrip Kit for entire hardtop (not including if windows or hatch need new stripping) $300
Labor Hours/Welding/Replacing all hardware (because -why should you half ass it at this point?) TBA

I agree with the others Sarca. The harder part is off. Go ahead and pull the sides and see what is underneath and do any treatments or repairs needed. Also a good time to replace bolts for the top. And drive it with the top off at least once! It's fun!.

I will pull the side panels this week...promise! FWIW, the hardtop rubber channel has no sealants in it (id read mixed stories on the horrifying removal of sealant)

I L-O-V-E the paki top look - but Im hardcore hardtop devoted girl. Logically, for me - softop on the east coast , non garaged would not be, shall we say - optimal?

Thanks for the support - I cannot wait to get the panels off and drive her this week!

 

[taro]

Careful about driving topless. Once you get the bug, there's no turning back, especially with how much of a hassle it is to get the top back on. I'm not super pleased with my Bestop, but it allows me to run topless in about 15 minutes, which is driving nirvana!

 

[sarca]

I've actually got some goggles...windshield down time is a coming!

 

[DSRTRDR]

motorcycle goggles - clear for night driving, tinted for day

and an aviator cap to keep the hair from tangling

 

[taro]

Love it!

 

[Phares]

Make sure you let me know how it goes with ipor. Definitely something I would be interested in doing when the time comes.

 

[sarca]

Ipor is off the table. I'd be happy to tell you why off of the open forum

 

[roma042987]

im disappointed wasnt the pictures i was hoping for

 

[bikersmurf]

Im looking for a replacement hatch crossmember..But Im also wondering how the DS rear corner window panel will handle repair. Im not doing a frame off..but Im no idiot. As is, this 40 will probablly outlast me (Im 41) But either Ive got to learn fabrication and welding OR shell out some $$ to have it done. I have the weatherstrip kit from SOR. I will probably be looking to have the gutter corner pieces replaced over purchasing an entirely new gutter (at a cost of +300, apparently the gutter is made of unobtanium..)

Just for documentation, here is the rotted crossmember
View attachment 770710



Well..there you go...MeJane with her top off.
View attachment 770711

I've compared the hatch crossmember to a newer one and they have the same dimensions. Your hinges could easily be mounted into a newer slightly modified crossmember.

This thread has some pics of the two... https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/418434-convert-78-hard-top-accept-flip-up-rear-gate.html

 

[sarca]

I found one in decent shape , thanks for the info..you never know what info you might need once things get moving =D