Real Steel Soft Top Bow Fitment (1 Viewer)

[UZJ40]

I hate to make another thread on it, but I haven't really found any definitive solutions to this issue.

Early and late factory 40 doors taper in toward the top, above the window belt line. The Real Steel B pillars do not taper in, they go straight up. This causes the top of the door to contact the door frame, and not allow the door do close. I stopped by BTB this morning and every window frame they had (maybe 30 or so) looked just like mine. See pictures below -

I also have a set of bug catcher window frames in the shop. They are vertical to match and match the Real Steel pillars, BUT because the window frame extends further up and contacts the top of the door frame, since there is not weatherstrip flange on them.

Being that early and late model doors taper in toward the top, and the popularity of the Real Steel soft top bow kit, I'm surprised there aren't more people discussing this issue.

The 3 solutions I see are:

1. Cut and bend the B pillar to match door

2. Cut all 30 spot welds off the door weatherstrip flange and re-weld it on vertically

3. Bend the weatherstrip flange (I don't think this would look very nice)

I am curious if the OEM soft top doors to not taper, and this 'kit' was made for them. I haven't seen any in person, so I can't verify. The Real Steel website makes no mention of B pillar options, and says it will work for 1965-1984 FJ40's. I would think for $1450, it would at least mention possibly having to modify to match a hard top door.

Please enlighten me... Thank you!

 

[whitey45]

This is why factory bows and doors comand high prices! …. They fit…

 

[UZJ40]

This is why factory bows and doors comand high prices! …. They fit…

You don't think $1450 is a high enough price to expect a part to fit?

 

[whitey45]

I agree, but I have had everything from factory, to aftermarket, to home brew, nothing fits better than original. Its really not that big of a deal to make few tweaks and make the aftermarket bows work?

 

[Living in the Past]

There were factory bows that fit hard doors. Most markets soft top models had hard doors. The straight B pillar fit the OEM soft doors. I thought a vender offered a B bow that had the angle that matches the hard doors?

 

[EWheeler]

Some info here:

Soft top b-pillar

how are you guys adressing the use of late model doors with the straight (vertical) b-pillar on aftermarket soft top bows? Looks like there is nearly a 1/2" bend inward of my doors to match the hard top. This results in the door contacting the b-pillar at the top before it's actually shut. Do I...

forum.ih8mud.com

On edit, i see you were a participant of that thread back in 2019. Keen to hear if there is an aftermarket option for the slanted bows. I have an aftermarket FST on the way, and need to source some bows. The doors on my ‘69 are just like yours, about 5/8” inward tilt.

 

[UZJ40]

@EWheeler , thanks for the link and pics. I went ahead and modified one of my pillars this morning like a couple other members did in the other thread. It wasn't too bad, and definitely easier than modifying the door. Luckily, I didn't need to cut into the soft top track as it bent pretty easily.

I tried to get away with just an internal cut, but the pillar wouldn't bend, so I did an external cut also -

 

[UZJ40]

If anybody does currently have the Real Steel kit installed, I'm trying to figure out how far this tab should be above the B pillar. On the Real Steel website, it shows the tab actually resting on the B pillar, but that makes the rear bow much higher than the B pillar bow.

Thank you

 

[miller]

This factory bow kit is sitting 1.125” above to center of fastener both sides

 

[miller]

1.250”

 

[UZJ40]

1.250”

Much appreciated!

 

[Living in the Past]

I'm currently moving my dead weight 73 FST around in the garage to make room for another dead weight cruiser. My 73 is slightly over 1.25". Not sure how Real Steel does the center bow but on OEM bows slightly lower can be solved with a few washers to tighten up loose fitting top around the middle bow.