- Thread starter
- #41
Ahhh, got it. Initially, I had -- rather naively -- hoped to just bolt a complete roof on, but there were very, very few factory 43 hard tops manufactured, and I still have never found one here. Looked for the right size Bandeirante tops in neighboring Brazil, but they're scarce there, too. Did find a couple of aftermarket, used fiberglass tops in Colombia and USA, but cost was just too high to get one to Paraguay. Decided, in the end, to ask the body guy to fabricate an extended metal one from a 40 hardtop and extra parts as the FJ Company does...he ended up using the best available bits from multiple 40 hard tops (and one from a wrecked Bandeirante) due to all the rust, damage, etc. as well as adding some new metal.
Body guy first planned to make it removable...factory style...but was struggling a bit to match up the top part of the tub (no longer stock due to PO's "repairs" and mods) and the bottom rail/frame (i.e. the most badly corroded part of used roofs) of the fabricated hard top so they could bolt together nicely.
After some pondering how I plan to use the truck...as all-season, all-conditions utility transport at our hilly rural retirement home in northern New England...I arrived at the honest assessment that I really don't want/won't want to take the top on and off, ever. So, I suggested the body guy simplify his task immensely, and ensure a perfect fit, by permanently mounting the hard top, instead. I like reliable simplicity and am willing to "mod" rather than "resto", when it seems easier or more practical to do so. This truck is a poor candidate for a museum, I'm afraid, and I'm not flipping it for resale. I hope to use it to haul dogs, grandkids, groceries, canoes, tents, chainsaws, etc. up and down the hills, in all weather, for many years to come. For that, a permanently fixed roof is fine, maybe even better.
Long reply, and slightly philosophical at the end, sorry!
