First Gen 4Runner Top

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M

Mekanecman

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jul 14, 2007
Threads
18
Messages
61
Location
Fort Collins, CO
After searching for months to find another top for my 4runner (want to make a half top out of it). I found one for free......well here's the catch, it has a crack in it. The poster said it's structural integrity is intact. Has glass still in it and all rubber intact. My question is, is it repairable? Is there a way to repair the fiberglass or it scrap and better thrown in the garbage?

Any help would be awesome!! Thanks!!
 
Fiberglass is pretty cheap to repair. To make it look good is another story. You can remove some material in and around the crack, and mix up resin and apply it with some 8oz or 12oz cloth and let it cure, then sand smooth when you're done. Check out you tube or search the web. Tons of how-tos.

I don't really think the top is a life-saving device, so really it probably just needs to look decent and keep water out... right? Do you still have your roll bar?
 
sweet! i am planning on making a half top too when/if i can find a spare one too.

what is your plan? got any pics?

this is the route I am going to go when i find one. stole it from pirate somewhere. it combines the best of both worlds to me.....soft top sides, but keeps the rear window frame in tact so you have the glass to roll up!
pauls 4x4 pics 076_soft top rear window.webp
pauls 4x4 pics 079.webp
 
Well I was finally able to hook up with the guy with the topper. I went and picked it up yesterday. The crack is pretty minimal and my work has a body shop that they said they can repair it pretty easily.
I'm actually planning on doing what is in the pics. I wanted a full coverage top. I have a bikini top from downey and its getting pretty worn out. I'll post pics as I go.
 
Be careful where you make that horizontal cut above the windows. I know that those tops are double walled between the top of the window and the headliner (for strength) but I don't know exactly where that starts. If you cut into that area then I would think that you would have a proverbial mess on your hands.

I have a pic somewhere showing a cut cross-section of the roof but I can't find it at the moment.

Looks like a great idea btw.
 
ah,
so you're saying that the inner roof could essentially fall in on him if he cut the double wall section all the way around huh.....


the cross section would be interesting to see.
 
bryan89 said:
ah,
so you're saying that the inner roof could essentially fall in on him if he cut the double wall section all the way around huh.....


the cross section would be interesting to see.
Click to expand...

Not exactly but I don't think you would want to be above the seam where they come together as it would destroy any strength that the top had.

I did find the photo. It looks like you just need to stay at or below the drip-line.
Cut section of fiberglass top.webp
 
good photo.

i assume that is the front portion.....i wonder what is going on in the back half in the same area though...

you know how the rear side window kind of wraps up on top of the top....it couldnt be two layers there like shown...could it?

just trying to imagine how it would all come together there. it would be interesting to see a top with that window removed.
 
bryan89 said:
good photo.

i assume that is the front portion.....i wonder what is going on in the back half in the same area though...

you know how the rear side window kind of wraps up on top of the top....it couldnt be two layers there like shown...could it?

just trying to imagine how it would all come together there. it would be interesting to see a top with that window removed.
Click to expand...

I have no idea how the guy in that photo did that top. That cut line goes through the middle of the two layer portion in the front and through the glass in the back (maybe 4" from the top of the glass?).

Maybe he's good with fiberglass?
 
I like that myself, and is an excellent option if you like the hard top but want some added flexibility for ventilation. In that picture, are you sure that is still a full top or is that just a very good shell on a different frame. As you guys have already covered that guy would have to have to have made a filler panel out of fiberglass to make that look like that. And the "C" pillar looks like it was just kind of wrapped around to cover, doesn't look like the rear window used to live there.

I guess a guy could build a cage into the skin for rigidity and just use the main shell.

Hmmm... I think I know where I could find a good top for reuse if I wanted to Hack up the one I have now. the metal "L" trim on the outside is shot anyway....:hhmm:, oh what I have to get the **** thing moving first. :meh: Oh Well, good food for thought though.

Would look killer with a set of these rub rails on it (the ones along the top of the bedside right under the canvas top)
Powertank 4Runner.webp
 
I know this is random, but this top thing had me. After studying it a little more I am almost positive that if that is a cut up factory top it is just the upper portion of the top and the rear window frame. If you look closely you can see the crossbars of a cage under the shell.

I think it might be some type of molded or glassed flat top with the rear glass track worked into it.

I still like the chopped up factory top idea so I think I might look into that more when the time comes. Awesome picture and if/when you get going on your project, document it cause I want to copy it.:D
 
i dont know jynx,

i cant say for sure, cause its been so long since i found the pic, but I want to say the guy removed the rear window from his top, and added a wood filler covered with fiberglass to make an even straight cut all the way from the front to the back. and fabricated his own drip rail. he cut out the whole front window frame and everything.

could be wrong though.....
anyways here is a different pic I rustled up in my secret toyota 4runner porn folder that has been growing over the years...
1000356custom0xw.webp
 
jynx said:
Would look killer with a set of these rub rails on it (the ones along the top of the bedside right under the canvas top)
Click to expand...

I have been thinking or making a set of rails like that for a while. Something that would tuck right under my cap and use those existing bold holes. I have been afraid of leakage though. And also the little bit of lift my cap would get.
 
Bryan, I hope I didn't come across as a SA. I tend to over think things and had just been looking at it and pondering and was thinking out loud.

And toy4x4 I think those rails are mounted more to the body below the flat instead of up on the mounting face. Course he has a soft top so jacking the top up a little probably wasn't a worry for him.
 
jynx said:
Bryan, I hope I didn't come across as a SA.
Click to expand...

oh no prob. i didnt think that. i was just merely thinking electronically as well. did some searching and found it.

jynx said:
so when are you doing yours?
Click to expand...
lol i have to find a junkyard that even has a toyota in it at all first..(let alone a first gen 4runner),,.im serious they are like gold around here. there is only one pick'n'pull in town and they rarely get anything toyota at all, except corollas. people use them until they literally fall part here
 
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