Builds My Tucson 40's
- Thread starter JackA
- Start date
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middlecalf
SILVER Star
Hmmm grill is cold, nothing on the barbie yet? 
- Thread starter
- #384
I am trying to keep this truck in it's original paint. Unfortunately, I have had to repaint a few items. The tailgate being one of them. Also, I need to modify the spare tire carrier as it does not clear the tailgate latch. It's always something....... 
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
What type of top you planning on running?
I am trying to keep this truck in it's original paint. Unfortunately, I have had to repaint a few items. The tailgate being one of them. Also, I need to modify the spare tire carrier as it does not clear the tailgate latch. It's always something.......
View attachment 3021131
My OEM tire carrier hit the latch also. I found a different style OEM carrier that does not hit. It is like this, with the embossed ribs. It bolts right on in the same mounting holes.
- Thread starter
- #387
Factory style repop soft top. I ordered the bows awhile back. Not sure on the soft part yet.
Thanks for the info. I will probably just notch out the rib.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
You running hard doors or soft doors? Never come across any 74/75 soft% doors, those are suppose to have the same bend the hard doors have at the B pillar. Prior to 74 soft doors are straight along the B pillar. The B pillar bow has to match what doors are running.
middlecalf
SILVER Star
Looks like you have the tire carrier for a non-tailgated rig. That’s what I have on my 45 (not original to it), and it needed notches trimmed in it for the tailgate latch and tailgate hinge to close.
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Living in the Past
SILVER Star
If you have your bows already put a straight edge on the outside of the B pillar bow. If it angles in there are made for the later soft top doors or hard top doors made from the mid sixties on.
Here is my 68 playing dress up with a Kayline top and 69 bows. This one is very interesting because the back bow is shorter than other sets of bows. Never figured the reason why.
I checked my 10/75 and it is made to work with a tailgate. Same with another 75/76 spare ture carrier I have. Believe on 1/76 when three point seat belts were required in the US no soft top was imported after that date. Changes both my 75/76 originally were on soft top models is very slim. Only early spare tire I know came off a soft top is still attached to the tub. That top is one of the few early soft tops with barn doors so would be the same as the FHT. I do have a FJ25 FST that a PO installed an early spare tire carrier. Never paid attention to how it mounted.
While at the LCHM I paid particular attention to the topic of the "bent" doors.
Straight soft door:
Straight hard door:
Bent hard door:
Checking my hard top, it definitely bends in.
The two piece doors must be fairly flexible because I ran these hard doors with the soft top for a few years and didn't really notice a problem.
This topic got me to wondering about my soft top bows since I am working on refurbing a set of soft doors, and they are straight. Ehsan was looking out for me.
Sorry for the hijack, I just wanted to share the info I had gathered on this.
It appears the corrugated tops were straight then the smooth tops leaned in?
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
The end of the corrugated top and start of the corner windows is the change in doors as far as I can tell. The corrugated top itself was straight on the sides and the back. This it why the few corrugated tops that people have added corner window look odd. More than the fact they use FJ40 corner windows which are taller the corner glass is made to fix a top that is angling in on both the side and the back.
Yours is a 73 correct? Is it a hard top or soft top model? My 73 is a FST that was sold to me with a hard top doors off a 72 FHT. Luckily the original doors and bows came with it.
I brought up the topic of the B pillar and doors to be sure Jack knew there was a difference. Years ago was a soft top junky and bought everything I came across that was soft top related. Same with PTO winches. Then went the FJ25. How I managed to stay married is a mystery.
73 yes, it was a hardtop from the factory. I bought bows and a top from Ehsan years ago.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
Did all of Ehasn's tops have the posts in the back? If I could have located the two piece ambulance doors would have considered his bows and top. Wish someone made soft top soft door handles. Few sets of my doors are missing the handles. Guess better that than rust.
- Thread starter
- #398
I apprecitate all the door and soft top chat. I am heading down this road.......so it's all good info to me.
I got the motor back in the chasiss this morning. Still need to work on the trans and trasfer, so those will go in later. It's nice to be reclaiming floor space.
I got the motor back in the chasiss this morning. Still need to work on the trans and trasfer, so those will go in later. It's nice to be reclaiming floor space.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
@JackA have you received your Bows yet? If the A pillar has a bend your probably going hard doors. If straight the correct two piece hard doors would probably be a tight fit but work or soft doors pre 74. 74/75 soft doors would be hard to find. I know my 2/73 has straight B pillar bow and matching soft doors.
