Builds 1988 BJ74 “Number 1” (12 Viewers)

[jblueridge]

It was made by an auto upholstery shop in town.
Made of Haartz convertible top fabric.

 

[FJBen]

More time on the top. Remember, some of these pieces are OEM, OEM modified and then scratch made.

The main side pieces.

Attached to the front hoop, and then rear frame.

It was getting dark so the pictures started getting worse.

The main top vinyl.

 

[FJBen]

Few more.

Ran into a few little snags. I tried both front and backward bolts to put this front bar in, but it never lined up. Unbolted the velcro and right behind it is the bolt hole. Uses a larger bolt and all it well.

Then there is this. Pretty sure this is just and Australia thing.

As you can see, you can't fit the velcro pieces around the rear roll bar because of those bars sticking off of it. In my manual is shows that those are for Child Seat anchor brackets. I haven't seen those on any other cruisers, then again I haven't seen a lot of roll bar pictures from Australia. This kind of presents a few problem.

 

[FJBen]

I was/am worried that it's going to rub on the top, so the first order of business is to try and round the edges off. This door edge trim is a decent start I suppose.

Cut and place them on. Not sure if I shouldn't put something all the way across the top of those pieces, type of board or something to spread the load.

Extra pieces I used to cover up some edges.

Now this still doesn't address the big velcro pieces over the roll bar. They will have to be cut to allow it to tighten down over the roll bar. Again, no fault of the @4060seriesnut because I didn't tell or even think about those child anchors, and I highly doubt they have seen a roll bar with those either.

 

[FJBen]

Quick video. This top is way more quiet than the bikini top.

 

[JDMStanNTopSoft]

I was/am worried that it's going to rub on the top, so the first order of business is to try and round the edges off. This door edge trim is a decent start I suppose.

View attachment 2703547


Cut and place them on. Not sure if I shouldn't put something all the way across the top of those pieces, type of board or something to spread the load.

View attachment 2703544

Extra pieces I used to cover up some edges.
View attachment 2703545


Now this still doesn't address the big velcro pieces over the roll bar. They will have to be cut to allow it to tighten down over the roll bar. Again, no fault of the @4060seriesnut because I didn't tell or even think about those child anchors, and I highly doubt they have seen a roll bar with those either.




View attachment 2703546

Looks great! have you also tried the sides?

I just called my fabric guy. He said he can try fabricating an additional layer of velcro which could fill in the gaps of the rollbar. But you will have to have them stitched somehow, once we send it to you. The rollbar also seems quite thick, and I doubt the ones we sent will be enough to wrap themselves around it.

He also mentioned that these velcros on the rollbar are only meant to eliminate any windy sounds, but there are not as important as other clamps and straps, as some of these 73/74s don't even have the roll bar.

 

[JDMStanNTopSoft]

This is Jason's roll-bar...

 

[PabloCruise]

I was/am worried that it's going to rub on the top, so the first order of business is to try and round the edges off. This door edge trim is a decent start I suppose.

View attachment 2703547


Cut and place them on. Not sure if I shouldn't put something all the way across the top of those pieces, type of board or something to spread the load.

View attachment 2703544

Extra pieces I used to cover up some edges.
View attachment 2703545


Now this still doesn't address the big velcro pieces over the roll bar. They will have to be cut to allow it to tighten down over the roll bar. Again, no fault of the @4060seriesnut because I didn't tell or even think about those child anchors, and I highly doubt they have seen a roll bar with those either.




View attachment 2703546

Nice detailed write-up!

 

[FJBen]

Looks great! have you also tried the sides?

I just called my fabric guy. He said he can try fabricating an additional layer of velcro which could fill in the gaps of the rollbar. But you will have to have them stitched somehow, once we send it to you. The rollbar also seems quite thick, and I doubt the ones we sent will be enough to wrap themselves around it.

View attachment 2703606

He also mentioned that these velcros on the rollbar are only meant to eliminate any windy sounds, but there are not as important as other clamps and straps, as some of these 73/74s don't even have the roll bar.

View attachment 2703605

I appreciate the offer, I think I will just cut the pieces so they fit around those brackets. It will go around the rollbar, I just need to cut those open as you can see in these pictures.

I haven't put the sides on yet, just enjoying the full safari style top at the moment. Will probably put the doors back on soon.




My son and I hit a mountain bike trail, devils backbone last night. 95 degrees out, too hot!
Glamour shots.

 

[CRZR45]

Looks great! Love my soft top! Get compliments everywhere I go on it!

 

[PabloCruise]

Looks great! Do the 2 mtn bikes fit nicely in the back?

 

[FJBen]

Looks great! Do the 2 mtn bikes fit nicely in the back?

Thanks, yeah they sort of fit. Took the front wheels off of both and put them over the back seat. I need to get a rack for it, but the main issue there is my receiver hitch is Aussie spec at 50mm, and US hitches are all 2" so they don't fit.

 

[Felde]

Thank You for the writeup and pictures!

I have a question:

Extra pieces I used to cover up some edges.
View attachment 2703545

Your rear door frame looks much different from mine. At my rig there actually isn't a separate one, but only the FRP top.
Is this hoop required or part of the kit ?
Thank Ralf
(saving on it ....)

 

[FJBen]

Thank You for the writeup and pictures!

I have a question:

Your rear door frame looks much different from mine. At my rig there actually isn't a separate one, but only the FRP top.
Is this hoop required or part of the kit ?
Thank Ralf
(saving on it ....)

Correct, that is part of the kit, and an OEM piece for softtop rigs. As I understand it, there aren't anymore of those available new, I could be wrong but a lot of sites are showing unavailable. Part number: 6580990K00 BOW SUB-ASSY, REAR TOP COVER TARPAULIN

Now there are probably ways to find that part, but in a quick look I didn't find it in stock.

Here is most of the setup for softtop. (this is for a BJ70, I couldn't find the BJ73 sized one)

You still need the parts above the front doors for the soft-top, but they show as not available either.

 

[Felde]

Hi
Nice. Thank you. The kit you got is actually the only softtop all inclusive kit I'm aware off. I never saw anything available anywhere else, neither new nor used. In particular not the hardware. Good to know it's all included.
All other I know off is Andre Terazul in Portugal, who converts FRP-tops to kinda fresh air versions. Also cool.

But shipping that bulky item costs same than the product itself.
All I can do is safing on it and hoping for a solution being available still once I have the money. Maybe next season.
For the time being I enjoy looking at threads like this .
Regards
Ralf

 

[FJBen]

Hi
Nice. Thank you. The kit you got is actually the only softtop all inclusive kit I'm aware off. I never saw anything available anywhere else, neither new nor used. In particular not the hardware. Good to know it's all included.
All other I know off is Andre Terazul in Portugal, who converts FRP-tops to kinda fresh air versions. Also cool.

But shipping that bulky item costs same than the product itself.
All I can do is safing on it and hoping for a solution being available still once I have the money. Maybe next season.
For the time being I enjoy looking at threads like this .
Regards
Ralf

Yes, the kit is pretty dang good and complete. I will finish the install and review.

I have seen some similar options to that hybrid FRP top. I was going to try and make something to just easily pop off the windows for like a hard safari top. It would be really cheap and easy. I have posted it before in my thread. Just some lexan, come clamps and some window rubber seal.


I honestly think you could fab one if you were creative. Hopefully they are still making those tops for awhile.

 

[FJBen]

Just a photo

 

[saltycoconuts]

Just a photo

View attachment 2706836

Damn…. I want a soft top

Looks great Ben!

 

[FJBen]

Damn…. I want a soft top

Looks great Ben!

thanks Alika,

yeah I figured their probably won't be much of an opportunity to get an OEM style soft top again so when @4060seriesnut was making them, I figured I'd better figure a way to get one. They are nice for sure. You have a credit card right?

 

[FJBen]

Well this is a first.

My wife and I were out grabbing dinner at a Brewery in town. A guy wheeling a keg around stopped by and looked over my rig all giddy, and brought his teenage sons over as well to geek out. He came out to the patio and ask who's Land Cruiser that was.

Me: thats mine
Dude: That thing is sweet, do you want to sell it
Me: not really but everything is for sale I suppose for the right price
Dude: How about a brewery? I'll trade you
Me: laughing, No,
Wife: staring me down, YES!

Of course he was joking, but said put me on the list to buy that cruiser, he said I'm probably a ways down. Yep I said