Aftermarket fiberglass rooftop options

[sogncab]

Is the tub sitting flat? Maybe a failing, or bad body mount putting a twist in things causing everything to be out of square?

Pulling a corner to corner measurement on mine, it was off quite a bit. I wondered if that was the cause.

 

[Curtice]

I think there are several reasons things could be weird.

I did get out tonight to try the ratchet strap idea and it worked great. Just looped the straps around the upper B pillar and pulled into position. Didn’t take much to get it where I wanted. Did both sides:

You can see it lines up quite nicely. To get as exact as I could, made minor adjustments until I had an even overhang of about 1/2” on both sides.

It’s not 100% perfect, but I doubt anyone will notice the minor misalignments. The biggest to me is across the rear, over the rear door header…it’s slightly more overhang on the passenger side…at the driver side almost no overhang. Here is a pic looking from the driver side:

Lastly, marked all the holes with a sharpie.

So now when I go to put it on for real, will have to ratchet strap again, then put all the bolts in. My only kind of concern is using the bolts through the fiberglass top to hold the sides in the “ratcheted” position. But it didn’t take much to get it there, I think the several bolts will be just fine.

I’ll also probably drill the holes slightly bigger than I need just give a little wiggle room for minor adjustments.

 

[southern son]

I definitely think getting their top without the holes is the way to go after seeing yours, kind of a bummer from a time standpoint though. Be careful not to put things in too much of a bind with the way these bodies flex. That was one of my biggest concerns when making mine fit.

 

[Curtice]

Yeah that is kind of a concern, but I think it will be ok. This rig won't be doing any crazy off road either.

I'll post updates when I eventually get to putting it on for good, but will likely be a couple months. Have to paint the sides, hatch, doors, etc still.

 

[Curtice]

Just an update, finally getting around to putting the top on. It’s about halfway bolted down right now, but appears it will be good. Biggest problem was the two front holes above the windshield no longer lined up due to the weatherstrip and headliner that raised it up a bit. So I had to slot the holes lower.

But the rest lined up pretty well (using ratchet straps again to help). Some pics:

 

[Curtice]

Just to round it out. A few pics of drilling the holes, lining up the weatherstrip (I did have to enlarge some of the weatherstrip holes to line up correctly, and headliner install.

 

[SitkaCruiser]

Been looking around to see what is available. Wondering what experience and/or pictures folks have with either of the following:

Gozzard: Land Cruiser 40 Series - Gozzard Composites. I know they have been around a while. I've searched a bit and haven't seen anything that is more recent on folks who used these roofs. $1250 and the rain gutter is integrated in (I think). Website has no pictures, which always makes me wonder...

Classic Cruisers: FJ40 Fiberglass Roof Cap (New). These look real nice, but more pricey ($1600). Also doesn't include the raingutter (so add ~$350) and they also recommend they be painted.

Are there other options for new roofs?

I just installed a new Gozzard roof and am super happy with it. I ordered it with the revserts and they made install so easy. Every thing lined up with the factory holes. Having the rain gutter as an integral (fiberglass - no rust - no rivets) part is huge both in the short term install and long term - no rust. Website does have pictures, plus in discussion they sent me detailed pictures of the areas that I had questions about. i live in Alaska and they made shipping easy. Really well constructed crate. Nice folks to work with.

 

[bikersmurf]

Installing an 81 hardtop onto my 74 (keeping the hatch)

There seems to be a lot of confusion about hardtop compatibility. Detailed here is my retrofit so others may know what's involved. Please be patient... progress has been slow. To start with: Factory Hardtop July 1974 with rear hatch. Donor top: 1981 Bj42 (??) Canadian model.

forum.ih8mud.com

Thought I’d post up these pictures from the above thread:

There’s more detail about the thread, but the ‘74 header bar has 1/4” less offset than the ‘81 header bar with only 2 holes. This would contribute to some of the issues @southern son was having with fitting a Gozzard top onto a ‘74.

 

[midknightc3]

Resurrecting this thread. Strongly considering one of these as our best option for a new top. Our's is getting pretty rough, rain gutter is completely rusted out and rivets are pulling through the fiberglass. Fiberglass is cracked, gel coat is shot, etc. Classic Cruisers quoted $5000 (not including the price of the CCOT gutter) and a month to install theirs with CCOT rain gutters, which is way over budget. I'm not too sure about installing the rain gutter myself. Our truck is a mishmash of parts, about as muttley as our dogs. Truck is a 74, tub is 75 AUS with the 74 LHD drive firewall welded on. Top is unknown year but with the pop out rear windows so post 77, but the windshield is still (presumably) the original 74 with the wipers at the top. Sounds like getting the top without the holes would be a must for us?

Would this top be able to hold a roof rack on the fiberglass gutter? Could the gutter be easily reinforced to hold a rack? Don't need a lot of weight up there, but bulky things like sleeping gear and such.

Clark

Edit, corrected price!

 

[fjc-man]

tpautoparts.com has an all steel top for 2,172.50 might work better for you if you want to mount something on it.

 

[cims1970fj40]

Resurrecting this thread. Strongly considering one of these as our best option for a new top. Our's is getting pretty rough, rain gutter is completely rusted out and rivets are pulling through the fiberglass. Fiberglass is cracked, gel coat is shot, etc. Classic Cruisers quoted $8000 and a month to install theirs with CCOT rain gutters, which is way over budget. I'm not too sure about installing the rain gutter myself. Our truck is a mishmash of parts, about as muttley as our dogs. Truck is a 74, tub is 75 AUS with the 74 LHD drive firewall welded on. Top is unknown year but with the pop out rear windows so post 77, but the windshield is still (presumably) the original 74 with the wipers at the top. Sounds like getting the top without the holes would be a must for us?

Would this top be able to hold a roof rack on the fiberglass gutter? Could the gutter be easily reinforced to hold a rack? Don't need a lot of weight up there, but bulky things like sleeping gear and such.

Clark

The $8000 from classic cruisers can’t be right. They have there tops listed for $1,400 and the rain gutter from CCOT is $400 I believe. That would be $6000 just in labor if they did say $8000.

 

[midknightc3]

I went back and double checked the email, Classic Cruisers quoted $5000 for the install of their roof, headliner, and CCOT rain gutter which I would have to purchase separately. So you are correct @cims1970fj40, I was way off with my memory of $8000. Even so, while I think it would be the cleanest option, $5400 and a months down time in CO is outside the budget at this time. I corrected my original post for accuracy. I will take a good look at those tpautoparts tops, thank you for the tip!

Clark

 

[Curtice]

I asked Mike Gozzard when I bought my top about a roof rack. I was wondering how clamps would work with a fiberglass gutter vs a steel one. He said about the clamps and top: "I have never tried so I don’t know for sure. The gutter rail is essentially the same as the original except it is FRP and little thicker. It looks like they will work but be careful tensioning them not too tight."

I never tried them, but have been happy with the top. Here is a final pic:

 

[midknightc3]

Looks damn good Curtice! I have an email in to TP Auto parts RE the front header bar. I have an earlier windshield with the wipers at the top and I assume shorter spacing as mentioned above. If they aren't able to accommodate the older windshield I'll likely run with the Gozzard and contemplate ways to reinforce the rain gutter just a bit.

Clark

 

[DIRDY]

Been looking around to see what is available. Wondering what experience and/or pictures folks have with either of the following:

Gozzard: Land Cruiser 40 Series - Gozzard Composites. I know they have been around a while. I've searched a bit and haven't seen anything that is more recent on folks who used these roofs. $1250 and the rain gutter is integrated in (I think). Website has no pictures, which always makes me wonder...

Classic Cruisers: FJ40 Fiberglass Roof Cap (New). These look real nice, but more pricey ($1600). Also doesn't include the raingutter (so add ~$350) and they also recommend they be painted.

Are there other options for new roofs?

Hi Curtice I went with the Gozzard composites top I only live about a 3 hour drive from there very happy with it fit nice I passed on the headliner and used white Raptor liner instead

 

[Curtice]

I wonder how much that all steel top from TPAutoparts weighs?

 

[midknightc3]

Good question, I'll ask when I get a reply. What does the fiberglass weigh?

 

[bikersmurf]

Good question, I'll ask when I get a reply. What does the fiberglass weigh?

Couldn't tell you exactly, but it is very easily lifted by one person (although quite awkward). 50ish pounds if I were to guess.

 

[cims1970fj40]

Hi Curtice I went with the Gozzard composites top I only live about a 3 hour drive from there very happy with it fit nice I passed on the headliner and used white Raptor liner instead

View attachment 3498634

Looks great! Could you post a picture of the raptor liner please? I would like the headliner but hate that there’s a seam down the middle of it.