Hardtop and Soft Doors

[Mount Sopris FJ]

I recently acquires a '69 FJ40 that the previous owner had sold the doors and was wondering my options. Hard door are harder to obtain the previously though. People seem to covet them. I have meet 3 people this week that have a set but don't want to part with them. It has the original top and hinges on the body. I was thinking of saving some money and purchasing soft door since they will be stored during the summer but I am worried about the fit to the hardtop. I also live in the mountains were it get pretty cold for a couple of months.

Has anyone every run a hardtop and soft doors? Pictures and fit? Best manufactures?

Any other recommendations or thread I should look at?

Thanks

 

[antFJ]

What kind of soft door? Factory soft top (FST) or bestop? FST doors are just as or more expensive than hard doors

 

[Mount Sopris FJ]

Bestop seem good. I just nervous of the fit.

 

[70fj40]

I think your best bet is to keep looking for hard doors. They are available. Why not buy a soft top and doors and then save the hard top until you find a set of doors? Never a bad idea to have both.

 

[JohnnyC]

The problem about the soft doors (aftermarket) is that they almost always have a straight edge where it rests against the b pillar

On a hardtop it overlaps a bit because the hardtop curved on the portion where the door rests on the b pillar

I have a picture of my truck with hardtop and soft doors ... I'll see if I can locate it

It wasn't all that bad a fit or look.., but the lower portion did have a minor gap

I am partial to the old kayline doors with double windows because the handle latched around the hardtop and you didn't need to swap door strikers

 

[JohnnyC]

Oem fst doors fit very good to hardtops btw

 

[JohnnyC]

I have a better pic someplace... Probably need to scan it ... But... Here's one from 93'

 

[DSRTRDR]

in my experience (early Bestop/Kayline style softdoors), they like to fling open above 35mph speed - useless on the highway even if you strap them in with bungee cords

I will only use hard doors anymore with the softtop on my 40

 

[JohnnyC]

Yes that does bring back memories Claudia... I had it happen to the kayline doors in the pic above... I recall using a spring to hold the latch from working its way open... But... Yes that does happen

I also had bestop doors with a bestop ... Never had the door opening issue... But that was the latch style

 

[erics]

I have doors for sale...

For Sale: - 1974 FJ40 front doors (IA)

For Sale: - mid-70's front fj40 doors (IA)

For Sale: - late model fj40 front doors (IA)

 

[Swompdog]

I am having an issue with soft top with hard top doors. Reel Steel bows and a trollhole top fit like a glove and very good quality. The lower portion of the doors fit excellent on the tub. however, when the upper portion of the door is inserted it is off at the cross member at the top of the door. It strikes the cross member above the window before the door is allowed to close. The doors look straight. Is there a solution?

1964 - FJ40

 

[JohnnyC]

there are two problems

1st is that real steel bows look to be for later model cruiser 75+

2nd ... the bows were for the doors that seal all the way around.... you can make your own door horizontal bow to match that of the hard top door header that has the seal incorperated into it

but... you still have the issue with the bow

are you good with cutting and welding?

 

[John Smith]

Looking at your pictures, it appears your door top is tweaked / bent away from the tub.

 

[John Smith]

I have a better pic someplace... Probably need to scan it ... But... Here's one from 93'

View attachment 1137942

Thread Hijack, Was this picture taken in the Pine Barrens NJ?

 

[Tennessee80]

My bestop soft doors provide a better closed door seal than my hard doors, but my hard doors are also in need of new weather stripping, and the bestop rubber is new, which makes a difference. My heat retention last winter was better with my soft doors.

HTH

 

[Landpimp]

early doors are different, think 66 was the change

this is a 65 door on a 65 hardtop(so same as your hard doors), you can see its much more straight up and down at the upper portion. also the upper bar is much smaller than on the latters

this is a latter door(66 in this case) you can see the upper is curved inward and the top bar is thicker

someplace I have pics of the 65 doors in the 66 and they make it very clear what the issue is.

 

[antFJ]

I am having an issue with soft top with hard top doors. Reel Steel bows and a trollhole top fit like a glove and very good quality. The lower portion of the doors fit excellent on the tub. however, when the upper portion of the door is inserted it is off at the cross member at the top of the door. It strikes the cross member above the window before the door is allowed to close. The doors look straight. Is there a solution?

1964 - FJ40

This is why I would always recommend to test fit everything before paint :/

 

[Swompdog]

Thanks land pimp the pics are very helpful it seems that a rework of the upper bar maybe the solution. Thinner and positioned further back to align with the window frame.

 

[LucyProject]

My bestop soft doors provide a better closed door seal than my hard doors, but my hard doors are also in need of new weather stripping, and the bestop rubber is new, which makes a difference. My heat retention last winter was better with my soft doors.

HTH

Are you using bestop doors with a hard top or soft top?

 

[Tennessee80]

I sold my 40, but I was using the soft doors in the summertime with my troll hole soft top. I switched from the hard top to the soft top many years ago and I never looked back!