1st Gen 4Runner - Truly Topless Possible?

[Charles4x4]

Last weekend we finished building our Hard Top hoist (special thanks to Illzoni's post on T4R Hoist for 1st Gen Topper - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum):

I then loaded up the family to celebrate and get ice cream...and quickly became jealous of the kids in the backseat with full no-top, open air freedom.

So, has anyone found a way to remove the main cab roof in a way that doesn't destroy the integrity or value of the 4runner? Ideally there is a way to get full open air experience for front seat driver/passenger but in a way that still allows full Roof/Hard Top or at least Soft Top installation when you want it.

Any ideas? The only three I came up with were:
1) Putting in a really big aftermarket moon roof with glass that pops out.
- Pros: Retains integrity/value and allows Hard Top to be re-installed. Not too expensive or complicated.
- Cons: Still not quite an open air experience

2) Cutting out a square of the roof starting a few inches behind the mirror/map lights and going to a few inches in front of where the hard top installs (lining up with the black side air intake things). Then add a section of soft top that extends to the windshield, but keep the black side air intakes between doors and soft top. (Think JK Freedom Top removable front section)
- Pros: Would be more open air experience, but still not all the way there.
- Cons: Roof reinstall might be impossible and couldn't use the hard top ever again. Likely will kill the integrity/value of the truck. Moderately expensive and complicated.

3) Cut from a few inches behind the mirror/map lights and again below the black side air intake things and remove the entire thing. Then add a section of soft top to the windshield at the top and to the doors on the sides (essentially creating a Jeep style Soft Top design custom for our 1st Gen 4Runners).
- Pros: Would be the ultimate open air experience.
- Cons: Scary, expensive, and complicated.

Anyone else experience this? And has anyone solved it the right way?

 

[msahr]

Buy an FJ40. In the end you'll be happier without hacking your super-clean 1st gen to bits.

I know this is kind of a non-answer but seriously...

I guess anything can be done of you throw enough money at it.

SR5 1st-gen 4Runners and pickups had factory sunroofs. Maybe you could get a really good (meaning really expensive) body shop to graft it in. The factory sunroof glass is designed to be completely removed. I've done it just to try it. Then you have a sunroof.

 

[Charles4x4]

Buy an FJ40. In the end you'll be happier without hacking your super-clean 1st gen to bits.

I know this is kind of a non-answer but seriously...

I guess anything can be done of you throw enough money at it.

SR5 1st-gen 4Runners and pickups had factory sunroofs. Maybe you could get a really good (meaning really expensive) body shop to graft it in. The factory sunroof glass is designed to be completely removed. I've done it just to try it. Then you have a sunroof.

Mine is SR5 Turbo, but doesn't have the factor moonroof. FJ40 isn't what I'm interested in...and I've only owned the 4Runner for 3-weeks!

But I do agree - I really don't want to hack up my pristine 1st gen!

 

[msahr]

Well that's weird. I thought they all had sunroofs.

 

[pappy]

Well that's weird. I thought they all had sunroofs.

My 1985 SR5 xcab did not have a sunroof.

 

[pappy]

But I do agree - I really don't want to hack up my pristine 1st gen!

To be bluntly honest ... this is exactly why I will never sell my 4Runner. If somebody wants to hack mine up they will need to buy it from my heirs.

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

Maybe go 4x4 Innovations tube doors to open things up a bit. No truck hacking and gets the air flow moving You get get a set of their QR hinge sets so you can swap out things easier

 

[msahr]

Maybe go 4x4 Innovations tube doors to open things up a bit. No truck hacking and gets the air flow moving You get get a set of their QR hinge sets so you can swap out things easier

You beat me to it. Even if you have power windows/mirrors it's doable

 

[Kris]

I would agree with the tube doors/no doors. It gives you about all of the air flow you could ever want, while keeping you out of direct sunlight - which is nice.

I think the body would lose most of it's rigidity if you cut the roof off. That, and it's a (very) clean, stock, turbo runner. Please don't cut into it.

 

[onemanarmy]

take the doors off if you really want to.

The top adds some nice shelter from rain and sun. With no doors, you'll effectively have a bikini top layout.

Or buy a TJ or JK.

 

[PAToyota]

Another vote with the others - don’t trash such a nice ride. I’ve seen people chop the top after a rollover or such, but you’re either going to screw up ever having the top(s) back on it or spend a buttload of money to get it done right.

 

[KLF]

Back in 1988 I worked with a guy that went out and bought a brand new Xtra cab truck, and after a few weeks he took it to a place and had the roof cut off. They cut right behind the windshield frame, and across the cab at the base of the rear window. It essentially was a removable roof for nice days. After a few weeks of leaks, rattles, and overall really loosy-goosy ride, he was very very sorry. But it was too late, he couldn't put it back. Lesson learned.

I looked very seriously at having a factory sunroof grafted into my cab when I was doing my resto. I had the cab totally stripped bare, and I had the entire roof from a 4Runner with the sunroof "tub", even a couple of spare glass inserts. I figured all I had to to was cut the sheetmetal adjacent to the tub, flange one side, drop it in, tack weld, then bondo/glass it smooth. Talked with a couple of body shops and they both told me the only way to do it was to swap the entire roof, at the bottom of the A and B pillars. The factory builds structure into the roof of the sunroof trucks that must be there to hold all that extra weight, otherwise you will get fatigue cracks since this is a DD truck. So I gave up on the idea.

 

[dirtdobberoffroad]

I took the sun roof out of an 84 4runner and put it in my 82 pickup a few years back I just cut the hole. The roof was floppy until I installed the sunroof, after installing the sun roof even with the glass completely out my daughter could sit up there and not cave the roof in (50lbs or so).

 

[G-Cat]

Pull the doors off. My buddy has an 87 w/ factory sunroof and Killer Toy Tops soft top.

He removes the sunroof, removes the doors (home-made quick detach) and removes the top...it feels every bit as open air as my FJ-40.

 

[Charles4x4]

Maybe go 4x4 Innovations tube doors to open things up a bit. No truck hacking and gets the air flow moving You get get a set of their QR hinge sets so you can swap out things easier

I had actually thought about this as well. I'm going to look into their tube doors - maybe that'll help.

 

[Charles4x4]

I would agree with the tube doors/no doors. It gives you about all of the air flow you could ever want, while keeping you out of direct sunlight - which is nice.

I think the body would lose most of it's rigidity if you cut the roof off. That, and it's a (very) clean, stock, turbo runner. Please don't cut into it.

Agreed! I've convinced myself not to cut it. I can't ruin such a rare piece of art.

 

[Charles4x4]

Another vote with the others - don’t trash such a nice ride. I’ve seen people chop the top after a rollover or such, but you’re either going to screw up ever having the top(s) back on it or spend a buttload of money to get it done right.

Crazy - how did they get 4-doors on that!

 

[Charles4x4]

Back in 1988 I worked with a guy that went out and bought a brand new Xtra cab truck, and after a few weeks he took it to a place and had the roof cut off. They cut right behind the windshield frame, and across the cab at the base of the rear window. It essentially was a removable roof for nice days. After a few weeks of leaks, rattles, and overall really loosy-goosy ride, he was very very sorry. But it was too late, he couldn't put it back. Lesson learned.

I looked very seriously at having a factory sunroof grafted into my cab when I was doing my resto. I had the cab totally stripped bare, and I had the entire roof from a 4Runner with the sunroof "tub", even a couple of spare glass inserts. I figured all I had to to was cut the sheetmetal adjacent to the tub, flange one side, drop it in, tack weld, then bondo/glass it smooth. Talked with a couple of body shops and they both told me the only way to do it was to swap the entire roof, at the bottom of the A and B pillars. The factory builds structure into the roof of the sunroof trucks that must be there to hold all that extra weight, otherwise you will get fatigue cracks since this is a DD truck. So I gave up on the idea.

Scary. No sunroof for me. Tube doors sounds like the way to go.

 

[PAToyota]

Crazy - how did they get 4-doors on that!

Well, that’s a 2nd-gen 4-Runner, but just illustrating the point.

 

[Charles4x4]

Well, that’s a 2nd-gen 4-Runner, but just illustrating the point.

Makes sense. Interior looked 1st Gen, but I'm not familiar with 2nd gens