Why is this so hard?
Any interest in Fj40 safari tops for FST bows
- Thread starter roma042987
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Would you measure the wall thickness/ID/OD of the tubing on the OEM bows, when you have a minute to spare? I had a set, once upon a time, but they went away with my '76.
I bought this bow set in the early eighties. I believe by the color yellow, they are '75 or later, according to a color/year chart I found on Mud. Looks like OD is 1.05 +/- a couple thousands. The tube wall thickness is .65 thousands, +/- a couple thousands.
Correction, shoud be 1.005 for tubing OD.
Looks like I should have had my glasses on. Correction #2. Wall thickness is .065.
Would you measure the wall thickness/ID/OD of the tubing on the OEM bows, when you have a minute to spare? I had a set, once upon a time, but they went away with my '76.
Had to search for my caliper but I see you have your answers. The 3/4" EMT conduit is probably the closest you will find to OEM bow stock. Both a slightly less than 16 gauge in thickness. OEM bows slightly over an 1" OD. 3/4" EMT is a little less than 1/10 inch less than an inch smaller. Rigid is right as the same OD as OEM bows but good luck bending that. The radius on electric conduit benders is no near as short a radius as OEM bows. The offset on the back bow would be tough. Besides getting the two bends closer the each other it needs to 45° off from bends at the top. Would also want to made a stop on the B pillar to keep the height correct. That is unless adding the piece to fit the doors.
If from the US market most likely from a 75. Because of the three point seat belt requirement in the US after 75 no soft tops were imported to the US.
Curious does the B pillar bow have the angle in that matches the hard doors or straight like soft doors had here in the US thru 1973 models?
2/73 B pillar bow.
I'm not in a position to mount my bows on my body like yours just yet. However, the vertical sheet metal of the b-pillar does appear to be straight like yours.
Many thanks! Given a nominal allowance for paint, I'd guess the original tubing was Ø25–mm x 1.5–mm wall.
As I said, I had a set of bows, once upon a time, and I remember thinking that tubing was uncharacteristically strong for its size, compared to EMT, which is what I was considering using to make a copy. I bagged that idea after I learned I could bend the EMT by hand, and the bows were only laughing at me when I tried it with them. I think I even put my full weight on on the rear bow, installed, and it didn't flex. Of course, that was years ago, when I was younger and considerably lighter than I am now.