Problem or not (paki top)?

[71/monarch]

Ok, I'm working on installing my paki-top bows today and ran into a problem. I've got a factory soft top cruiser and when I tried to install the main door seam bow it would not full seat because of this.....

(does every 40 have this stopper part in the tub were the pole seats in for the hard top and soft top?)
now I'm want to cut the excess off the bow but I don't want to have any problems later. Or should I even attempt to cut out this top stopper in the tub and leave the bow alone.
I need a third opinion before I cut the bow right now....
thank you for your help.
chris

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

I feel like I dropped acid when I look at that picture.

Take a better picture from farther away so I know what I'm looking at.

 

[antFJ]

i actually think i know what you are talking about.. normally i thought there was just a bolt that loosened/tightened onto the tube that goes into the B-pillar (not sure if that is right) it is very possible that the stock bows didn't have as long of a tube.. i would cut the tube before i messed with the tub.

 

[71/monarch]

AntFj - Your right on the money, that is what we thought over here so I'll chop the thing right now.....
thanks for your advice.

S.B.FJ - I hear what your talking about but with out a strong light source hitting dead center on the post hole it comes out as a black hole. I took about two dozen shots and this is the best one. To better explain its the hole where the hard top poles line up, I have to go with AntFJ term as the b-pillar. Nevertheless, I'm going to cut it tonight and install everything tomorrow.

Sorry about the choppy explanation.
have a good one,
chris

 

[bsmith123]

pic

just a tip --on my camera there is a setting called macro and super macro that take really detailed up close shots in sharp focus

that might help you for pics like that

 

[71/monarch]

Could anyone verify for me with your own rigs, hard and soft tops if your rigs have this stop welded in the pillar.
thanks....

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

AntFj - Your right on the money, that is what we thought over here so I'll chop the thing right now.....
thanks for your advice.

S.B.FJ - I hear what your talking about but with out a strong light source hitting dead center on the post hole it comes out as a black hole. I took about two dozen shots and this is the best one. To better explain its the hole where the hard top poles line up, I have to go with AntFJ term as the b-pillar. Nevertheless, I'm going to cut it tonight and install everything tomorrow.

Sorry about the choppy explanation.
have a good one,
chris

Take a look at the tub area directly behind the door striker and see if the pole is sliding in past the tension screw. If it is, then you should be all set. If not, you need remove whatever is blocking the pole's path.

 

[Coolerman]

It's probably there on the soft top models for this reason: The soft top bow is made from much thinner material than the hard top pole, and would be crushed by the retaining bolt if it were used to try to provide the depth stop for the pole. With the stop in place the retaining bolt just helps keep it from wiggling around. I can check my FJ40 tonight (if I ca remember!) as it is a factory soft top.

Cut the bow...

 

[Shawn Russell]

I had the same thing on my '72 hard top... Not sure if it is there on my '70 hard top, never looked... I have a set of OE soft top bows I can measure if that will help you... I am in San Bernardino....

Shawn

 

[MDH33]

It looks crushed. The holes in my tub for that part of the bow are perfectly round.

I would just trim the length of the bow down.

 

[uted]

Could anyone verify for me with your own rigs, hard and soft tops if your rigs have this stop welded in the pillar.
thanks....

My 68 soft top doesn't appear to have it

 

[Coolerman]

I went home for luch and checked mine: It has a perfectly round hole. IT is very hard to get a pic of this but here ya go....

 

[MoCoNative]

I didn't look down in mine, but my paki bows would not go all the way in. All the bolts were lossened, as was the door striker bolts. But as I slid it in, it would stop, same spot on each side. I took a peice of pipe nearly the same size and slid it in, stopped at the same spot. Measured hard top posts at 9 inches or so as I recall, and cut my bow to match, good fit now.

My question is, how deep can you get in? I seemed to feel and recall going through the top hole, past the stop bolt and into a second hole, then hitting the end on mine. Either way, bows are very solid once the bolt is tightened and they are connected to each other.

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

I didn't look down in mine, but my paki bows would not go all the way in. All the bolts were lossened, as was the door striker bolts. But as I slid it in, it would stop, same spot on each side. I took a peice of pipe nearly the same size and slid it in, stopped at the same spot. Measured hard top posts at 9 inches or so as I recall, and cut my bow to match, good fit now.

My question is, how deep can you get in? I seemed to feel and recall going through the top hole, past the stop bolt and into a second hole, then hitting the end on mine. Either way, bows are very solid once the bolt is tightened and they are connected to each other.

Time to change your sig line.

 

[MDH33]

I didn't look down in mine, but....would not go all the way in. ...But as I slid it in, it would stop, same spot on each side. I took a peice of pipe nearly the same size and slid it in, stopped at the same spot. Measured hard...posts at 9 inches or so as I recall, ...good fit now.

My question is, how deep can you get in? I seemed to feel and recall going through the top hole,...and into a second hole, then hitting the end on mine. Either way,...very solid once ...tightened and they are connected to each other.

Something about this thread is starting to sound a little

 

[ehsankiani]

The rigs we have here have the bolt on the inside that needs tightening once the bow is in there. There should be a bolt somewhere on your rig too. You can cut the pipe but once it is in place, it should be tightened by this bolt so the bows and the top are secure and dont jump up and down on bumps and dont make any noise.
Please do post pictures here of whatever solution you find.
Thanks
Ehsan

 

[MoCoNative]

ya, you should have seen me ramming away at the old girl, even tried the twist manuever, still couldn't get it in all the way.

 

[Liam]

The rigs we have here have the bolt on the inside that needs tightening once the bow is in there. There should be a bolt somewhere on your rig too. You can cut the pipe but once it is in place, it should be tightened by this bolt so the bows and the top are secure and dont jump up and down on bumps and dont make any noise.
Please do post pictures here of whatever solution you find.
Thanks
Ehsan

yep, i put my bows together and fit it. I ended up cutting 3 inches off...fits perfect now....

 

[71/monarch]

I got this far:

measured it out and realized that the post needed to be cut in half which works out to be six inches since the post is about a foot long. I'm heading to work right now but thought I'd post up the solution, it worked out good

I'll be done with it tomorrow.
thanks for your help.
Chris

 

[Liam]

I got this far:

measured it out and realized that the post needed to be cut in half which works out to be six inches since the post is about a foot long. I'm heading to work right now but thought I'd post up the solution, it worked out good

I'll be done with it tomorrow.
thanks for your help.
Chris

what did you paint your bows with? they look exactly like my finish...i used appliance epoxy