*** Early FST *** (Factory Soft Top depository)

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nuclearlemon said:
so the 40 bow was taller? that's my original issue...about an inch and a half taller. the issue of the bends being in different places is just poor quality on eshans part
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Wasn't a issue of the overall height but where the offset bends are. The FJ40 bow the bend is higher so not as close to the tub.
 
Living in the Past said:
Wasn't a issue of the overall height but where the offset bends are. The FJ40 bow the bend is higher so not as close to the tub.
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but, where is the bend when you match the height from the top down? my thinking was to cut the 1" or so off the bottom to get the bow down to the measurements it should be at, which will work on the one side, but not on the other side since the paki bows don't have the bends in the same location
 
JohnnyC said:
you could just cut it off in the center... take out an inch and a half... sleave the inside and slide the top back over... this is what ehsan does to split the bows width wise to ship them
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and that's what i've done to the rest of the poorly matched bows....i'll be doing that too, just haven't gotten a round tuit;)
 
Here is a close up of the metal rings that circle the rear side windows on a fst. Apparently they are built with four pieces and then welded together. You can see the welded joints and the grinder marks.


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drove annie to the caravan for kids toy drive today and had a very interesting conversation with heather from bd weatherstipping. she says she has the patterns for the 25 tops. when i asked if she was sure she said she had seen the patterns and wondered what they fit as she'd never seen a land cruiser like that before. apparently bd now owns all the kayline patterns. 2014 they are scheduled to start rolling out scout and commando tops, but she is interested in what i've got after i get the bow measurements down pat. i told her that people would like oem with the removeable curtains/rear door as opposed to the kayline/ocd ige top. she understands and is still interested. she's also going to try to source the stud mount turnbuttons.
 
Is the Kayline Top for stock bows or aftermarket? #13 On the count has a Kayline top on aftefmarket bows. Did know they made a replacement top for OEM bows. In 65 Toyota had partnered with Husky to make tops.
 
Living in the Past said:
Is the Kayline Top for stock bows or aftermarket? #13 On the count has a Kayline top on aftefmarket bows. Did know they made a replacement top for OEM bows. In 65 Toyota had partnered with Husky to make tops.
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i know they made a replacement top for late 40s, i do not know about 25/early 40, hopefully i'll know soon. i told heather about this thread, hopefully she'll pop on, but in the meantime i'll be contacting her later on.
 
I know about the later style, I have three of them. I was surprised to find the top on #13 was a Kayline top. Guessing the total number of early soft tops to be in the 500 to 600 range. Not a huge number for a aftermarket. I wish I could date the time it was made. It's not that bad of space, Clearly not top from the sixties. I don't have the V spaced frame for the doors. Either need to make some or have them made. They fit in three holes. One in the front bow. The other two required drilling holes in the top of the windshield frame and tub in the B pillar area. Since the holes are alreay drilled just going to keep the top on this one
 
Just saw this kayline early cruiser top in one of the Downey catalogs

Next time you speak with heather... Please ask if she has any contact with or contact information for.... Blake Robinson past owner of kayline... Would love a phone chat with him about kayline history :)

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The catalogs are not dated well... Looks to be 1975
 
I picked my blue catalog up late 74 or maybe early 75. At that time they were only selling the half cab, soft top with aftermarket bows and top to use with stock bows. Was this a add for the top or just a picture in the catalog? Hard to believe my top is forty years old but I guess it could be. Wonder if Jim would remember when they stopped making the early tops?
 
Just a picture... You can also see the soft doors are also kayline... There is no mention if the top in any of the catalogs... There is the Downey oem bow top in one... Large three windows ... But not for round doors just the square normal (40 style) doors
 
82cruiser said:
Hey Johnny - here's my top that I think you've seen years ago. Happy to lend it out as reference if a project comes together.

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your top is different from the early tops. older tops have different measurements around doors, etc.
 
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