FJ25 Hardtop for my 1975 FJ40...

[gifu]

Scored an FJ25 hardtop. I think it's an FJ25 because:
The fiberglass had the vent in the top/back area.
The bifold only has a window in the top part of it, and only has the buttons to open (no levers).

So, I want to put this on my 1975 FJ40 tub.

Questions:
1: I keep reading that these have a "tall b-pillar". What are people referring to? Placing one of the hard top sides on my 1975 tub... it seems to fit and line up.
2: I also read that the fiberglass lid is "longer". In this case, the fiberglass is trashed... was delaminating. Can I rivet a newer fiberglass lid to the FJ25 gutter?
3: All the glass is there... but the window rubber is trashed. What can I use as a window rubber?

Thanks in advance!

 

[tahoe40/45]

1:Tall b-pillar in red circle. 2: I have never compared the two, seems possible with some modification. 3: SOR has new rubber, i would ask your local auto glass guy to see what they can find

 

[gifu]

ohhhhh
ok that explains this front section welded on.
someone must have already put this on a 40 series.

 

[nuclearlemon]

newer fiberglass and rain gutters are different and will not directly bolt up. the later model tapered in a bit more at the back than the early tops did

 

[gifu]

the FJ25 gutter looks salvageable... hoping I can rivet the newer fiberglass to the older gutter.

 

[whitey45]

Fj40's had that b pillar and vent up to 63, very hard to find early corrugated top fiberglass.

 

[gifu]

so then... there's no difference between FJ25 and early FJ40 tops? Ok.

And where do I get the bifold rollers??? dangit.

 

[whitey45]

Need some too, coulda swore someone here was reproducing them a few years ago?

 

[gifu]

Can someone with a bifold door with existing rollers measure the outer diameter?

my buddy just had an idea... order delrin close to correct width... use hole-saw to cut out. boom.

 

[Splangy]

the FJ25 gutter looks salvageable... hoping I can rivet the newer fiberglass to the older gutter.

That won't work without chopping up the newer fiberglass to make it fit.

 

[gifu]

hmmmm
if the FJ25 metal drip rail fits and meets the 1975 Windshield...
and I use the 1975 windshield-cap part... and the drip rail is just a flat u-shaped piece of metal...
What's so different about the two fiberglass caps?

 

[nuclearlemon]

the difference is in the back. it doesn't make sense, but the earlier tops were more squared out and the later model fiberglass/rail taper in a bit and just don't quite match up.

 

[Splangy]

If you look at the rear of an early (1958-1965) top, you'll notice that the doors and hardtop panels are vertical. With the newer tops in 1966, the hatch and rear of the hardtop side panels angled inward, making the fiberglass top a bit shorter.


I believe I have a good late model drip rail I can trade you for the FJ25 drip rail.

 

[gifu]

tempting... but the only way we could be further apart is if I stood on a pier out in the Pacific. (CA vs NH).

This thing is going into hibernation for the winter (yeah yeah, CA has winters... truck is in Truckee CA... it's cold and snowy).

 

[tahoe40/45]

I don't want to step on any toes. Ill go second in line if you decide you would want to trade newer rail for your older rail, i have one in Tahoe City.

 

[gifu]

TC? right around the corner. ha!
So are you guys suggesting that if I had a later hardtop drip rail... I could bolt that to the FJ25 sides?
So... 1975 Fiberglass. FJ40 (year?) drip rail. FJ25 sides/bifold rear?
Or maybe I should go full crazy and graft an FJ40 rear hatch? (been researching rollers and weather stripping for the bifold/guillotine... could be a nightmare)

hey @tahoe40/45 what else you got stashed away? ha ha. Bought this beater 40 from the guy who owns Big Bear Auto (brown bear?) on 89 between River Ranch and TC. He offered to drive it to the house (I'm working out of a buddy's place in ponderosa palisades) and engine seized in the driveway. I guess owning a repair shop doesn't require you to do basic things like... check the oil (zero). Been building it into a "loaner Rubicon rig" for past few months (2F/SM420/35's/disks/Harrop-locker). Everything I've touched has had to be replaced. Was barely worth the $800 I paid (once the motor seized).

But it's getting damn close to being a running/driving/wheeling rig...

 

[nuclearlemon]

TC? right around the corner. ha!
So are you guys suggesting that if I had a later hardtop drip rail... I could bolt that to the FJ25 sides?
So... 1975 Fiberglass. FJ40 (year?) drip rail. FJ25 sides/bifold rear?
Or maybe I should go full crazy and graft an FJ40 rear hatch? (been researching rollers and weather stripping for the bifold/guillotine... could be a nightmare)
.

no. newer driprail and fiberglass will have to go on newer side panels and visa versa

 

[Splangy]

Ahhh, somehow missed that part about wanting to bolt it down to the early hard top sides.

 

[gifu]

The more you guys keep telling me I can't do this… The more I want to try to do it.
FJ25 sides
FJ25 drip rail
FJ40 fiberglass
Bifold rear hatch welded into one piece with struts to open like later rear hatch.

Just need to figure out a latch.
Did I mention this is Rubicon "loaner" built from an $800 beater?

 

[Splangy]

Youre going to have to do some pretty series fiberglass work and some creative way of latching down the bifold door. Not to mention the fact that the early hardtop doesn't have a header pane to support hinges.