FJ25 and Early FJ40 Soft Top Project. (1 Viewer)

[foxfab]

Ehsan,

Picture a similar channel to the one that goes above the doors that is welded directly to the A hoop. That's basically what it is.

 

[ehsankiani]

Ehsan,

Picture a similar channel to the one that goes above the doors that is welded directly to the A hoop. That's basically what it is.

I would be willing to send, free of cost, the rear bows to anyone who can send me the front bows..
Ehsan

 

[foxfab]

Do I get my front bow back plus a new one?

 

[ehsankiani]

Do I get my front bow back plus a new one?

Definately..

 

[landcruiserdude]

Definately..

Ehsan, if you can successfully replicate these early FJ40 softtop bows, I'll definately buy a complete setup. My 62FJ40 doesn't have the top or bows, but I do have the original door framework, which I'm sure you could use for a pattern.

Lance

 

[ehsankiani]

Ehsan, if you can successfully replicate these early FJ40 softtop bows, I'll definately buy a complete setup. My 62FJ40 doesn't have the top or bows, but I do have the original door framework, which I'm sure you could use for a pattern.

Lance

If you are sure that would be what we need then we can talk on this further..
Ehsan
email me at ehsankiani@yahoo.com

 

[foxfab]

ok, back on track now that those FJ45 and FJ55 guys are satisfied...

My 25 is going to http://www.badgercoachworks.com/ next weekend it looks like. So who'se in on one? Seems that the original color was OD green oiled canvas? Do we want to update to a better material that looks similar? I'd thik so. Anyone that is interested in these, I'd like to get them samples of the material before we proceed further. Badger will be making templates, but I can leave my 25 there for as long as we need to get the initial run done and fit to a truck.

I have so far:
Me x 2 (1A and 1B)
Jim C x 1
Phil x 1?


John 1, 2 or 3?
Anyone else? It doesnt seem like it'd be an issue if you wait since they are making templates.

 

[Living in the Past]

I'm in for at least one maybe two depending on the cost. but one for sure. The only concern I have is the height of the rear bow. Is it from a FJ25 or from a FJ40. I have three of the rear bows for the FJ40 and there are at least two different sizes. Your picture makes it look like the rear bow is a little taller than the front while Jim's looks level. I know at least one of my FJ40 rear bows is taller than the FJ25's bows. I would hate to have a loose fit at the back because it was a little too tall. I'm going to the cabin this weekend and can compare the 40s to my 25. Could also compare it to Jim's since I pretty sure his has the original 25 bows. Right Jim?


John

 

[foxfab]

I believe we compared it to Jim's and it was identical. I'll confirm it with him though. I'll throw a level across all three also to be certain. If you look at Jim's pic,just below, it also looks slightly higher than the middle bow?

 

[Living in the Past]

I would rather have it a little tall than a little short since the A style bows are higher in the back so it would still have that factory look. One of my old Kay Line iFj40 tops is shorter in the back and I don't like the look. The top is in bad shape but for $150 for all the bows and doors I'm not complaining. It make it perfect for the trail don't have to worry about damaging it. It would be easy to space the back bow up if needed or add alittle on to it.

Mike are you saying they are willing to make it out of more than one material? I would vote to as close a original in color and look. So you guys back east don't like the mildew smell of old canvas?

You might post a link over in the 40 forum since some of those guys have the early 40 with the same bows and doors. Is the repro of the bows a dead issue because of a lack of interest?

John

 

[70eb]

I have a 61 FST FJ40 that I would be interested in the bows and top for. Not quite sure what the difference in the 25 and early 40 bows are since the body lines are so similar. I am finding out that I have alot of 25 parts on mine.

Thanks

 

[Living in the Past]

You are going to have provide extra material for the door skins?


John

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Well, I know I said that the 25 bow and 40 were the same, and that's what I remember...............................but that's not what the picture says. Better measure John.

 

[FJnotCJ]

Sew Fox, is that loaner top just faded from green or not an original? I kinda like the musty, leaky canvas...would prefer tan/beige, went to their website and it sounds like they have a variety. Would the windows be removeable with the studed twist fasteners or zipper?

Probably in for two 25s and options on a 61FST40

 

[JohnnyC]

i had a canvas top made of military grade stuff...if i had to do it again...i would get the stinky od green canvas again...it holds up the best over time. the smell does go away over time and is still noticable in hot weather but not too bad. they (badgerCW)are a respected company in the LR comunity and have been doing canvas for some time. my canvas came out a bit tighter than i would have liked ...but...it seals great. Canvas WILL shrink when it gets wet...thats what makes it seal soo good.

Fox: you saw my canvas...make yours a bit looser...also...brass zippers as much as they look good...they dont hold up and recomend the plastic zippers..when cold and canvas is tight it is really hard to zipper brass...twistties work really well...but let alot of air thru (exhaust fumes, in my case)...mine for reference is an OD#7 as well as the cotton webbing...oem would have been very close to this (more like an OD#4...which is very hard to find and impossible to find od#4 webbing) and fadded over time...it looks grayish/green...like the edging on my canvas...which was untreated od#7 that has fadded in just 2 years from a dark od color like the rest of the top.

old oem canvas like yours has been sitting along time untreated...if treated it would have retained its color longer.

 

[foxfab]

I am quite sure its an original faded green top

Sew Fox, is that loaner top just faded from green or not an original? I kinda like the musty, leaky canvas...would prefer tan/beige, went to their website and it sounds like they have a variety. Would the windows be removeable with the studed twist fasteners or zipper?

Probably in for two 25s and options on a 61FST40

 

[foxfab]

Ok, I delivered my 25 to Badger today and got a tour of the shop. If the impressive amount of tools and material is any indication of what the final product will be, then they are going to do one hell of a job They have all of the hardware in stock that we need for our tops. I have 6 sample colors to send out to whomever would like them. They have a color that almost matches Phil's faded OD green top. Thats the color that I'll be using I think. They aren't crazy about using actual OD canvas due to the shrinkage of the top when it gets wet. He's not opposed to it, but feels that we wouldn't be happy with the finished product compared to the materials that he'd like us to use.

Chris and I talked for quite a while. He and I both feel that the way to handle these orders is to just go directly through him. So, he will be using my truck, Phil's top, make a prototype top for us to see, and then will be making a template for all future orders.

Send me a PM if you would like color samples.

IMPORTANT: I want to confirm the height of the rear bow. Can everyone measure their rear bow from the center to the ground?

 

[Living in the Past]

Send me a PM if you would like color samples.

IMPORTANT: I want to confirm the height of the rear bow. Can everyone measure their rear bow from the center to the ground?

I won't be up north until nextweekend. I can measure them at that time. I remember the 1964 and later fj40 back bow being taller than the 25 and early 40 bows about as much as Jim pictures show.

Mike, I would like some samples, with the one closest to the OEM color ID. Plus these will come with enough extra material for the doors which will be more than needed for the later Fj40s since the skin covers the whole door while the Fj40s only needed it for the bottom half? How about the placement opening for the twists?

John

 

[foxfab]

OEM was OD Green. The only way to get OD green is to use the old stinky canvas. Badger didnt have this in stock since they don't recommend using it. It will fade to the color that Phil's top is over time. I have a sample that matches the faded color. You can get as much extra material as you'd like to order from them, but the material will not be finished at all . He has a set of FJ25 doors. He will need to finish the trim around the the window opening and then we'd stretch them onto our doors. I do not have FJ40 doors so I don't know what if any stitching would be needed.

If anyone who knows that they have an FJ25 rear bow is it just cutting some length off of the bottom of the hoop and re-welding the tab for the cross bars to match?

 

[FJnotCJ]

I'm a little under a week from being home, I can measure/compare frames between a 25 and '61 40...

Are they doing zippers or twisters or customer's choice? So now I'm wondering about doing seats covers in the same fabric, hmmmm...Samples please, and thanks for doing this for all of us Mike.