Door Bow Nightmare (1 Viewer)

[mrjordann]

Hello. A couple years ago I built a new hardtop for my FJ40 with the Classic Cruisers roof cap.

At the time, I could never separate my door bows in order to properly bolt it to the top. I just put it together anyway.

Now it's been a while, and I really need my top mounted properly. I removed the bows again and I am dumbfounded as to how the hell I can get these apart.

I've tried several techniques to no avail. The two pieces seem to be mated together under the lip at the bottom.

At this point I'm starting to damage them and need a better idea. Really appreciate some wisdom... Thanks!

 

[ranchdawg]

I believe they slide apart, away from the bolt.

 

[coinoperated40]

The one piece is pinched inside the outer piece. All the rust is keeping you in this mess BP Blaster inside and out. Tap dome with block of wood and mallet. Let sit. More blaster, tap. Rinse and repeat. One of the most talked about problems. Once you see a little movement, you will get that AH feeling.
Hope this helps. This is from an experience of long ago.

 

[mrjordann]

The one piece is pinched inside the outer piece. All the rust is keeping you in this mess BP Blaster inside and out. Tap dome with block of wood and mallet. Let sit. More blaster, tap. Rinse and repeat. One of the most talked about problems. Once you see a little movement, you will get that AH feeling.
Hope this helps. This is from an experience of long ago.

Thank you! I've got them soaking now. A little worried about bending the domed part... hopefully it comes easily

 

[coinoperated40]

They are what I would call “rust welded “ together.
Maybe a round wire brush, with a cord at each end to pull back and forth, inside the hole to help loosen rust up.
Good luck

 

[Living in the Past]

Not seeing if the three screws attaching the two pieces are removed? Once those are out you need to break the bond mm where the two pieces are held together with screws. Would try using the blades off of blade knife driven in to break the bond. If rusted something to eat at the rust would help. Then heat if need be. Once that area is loose put press on the inner piece trying to coming up. That tap on the other section that inside the out piece. Picture of one of the three screws on each side.

The original owner of m7n1970 model paid some one to replace the head liner. Shop removed the cap. Driver side

 

[B y r o n]

Better than PB Blaster is Evapo-Rust. It will desolve the rust but not hurt anything else. Find a tray or pan long enough to hold the bows and cover in Evapo-Rust. Time will vary depending on how much rust is in there.

 

[mrjordann]

Better than PB Blaster is Evapo-Rust. It will desolve the rust but not hurt anything else. Find a tray or pan long enough to hold the bows and cover in Evapo-Rust. Time will vary depending on how much rust is in there.

Thanks! Haven't heard of that. You're sure it won't affect the paint?

 

[ranchdawg]

It might lift the paint along the rusted edge if the rust went underneath.

 

[B y r o n]

Thanks! Haven't heard of that. You're sure it won't affect the paint?

What ranchdawg said.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

I sprayed them with PB Blaster and let them sit overnight before working with them and repeated for a couple of days. I ended up running the pointed end of a 5 in 1 tool under the edge to provide some separation. I bent the point so more of the tool would fit under the edge and it provided some leverage for lifting a bit. It didn't damage the folded over edge and provided just enough mechanical separation to break the rust bond.

 

[Living in the Past]

Even on a rust free set these do not just fall apart. The inner section snaps in and be pried apart.

 

[coinoperated40]

One more suggestion, and I rest my thoughts.
To work on one side first. You break one side loose, the other will just give up. Try a piece of wood, the length on the piece. Put pressure on it and the piece in a vise. Just enough that you know it is there. This should keep it from deforming anything. Let sit, release, spray with your favorite solvent and do it over and over.
Worst case, you would need to send it here,
lol