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!
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!