Real Steel soft top bows?

[Seamus]

I got my bow setup and am still waiting for my top to come in but was trying to fit the windshield rail and have some questions. Does anybody have a pic of how they installed it, the top of my windshield frame is curved but the rail is not. How do you attach it? The rest seems pretty straightforward.

 

[Living in the Past]

The holes mount directly over the glass section. Flip it around so the opening is in the front side along the bottom.

 

[Seamus]

The holes mount directly over the glass section. Flip it around so the opening is in the front side along the bottom.

The wipers are in the way and the holes aren’t even close

 

[Curt]

 

[Seamus]

Thank you, makes a ton more sense seeing it.

 

[Catching Neutral]

@Seamus ...waiting impatiently .....can’t wait to see the finished product.

 

[Judger]

what Curt showed.

 

[SuperDuperCruizer]

I have an OEM channel... they were slightly curved to match the contour of the windshield frame.

 

[Living in the Past]

The wipers are in the way and the holes aren’t even close

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What year is your cruiser? Does it have the seven fixed nuts across the top of the windshield to mount the channel. My 9/67 68 factory model hard top has them. Bought a 73 FST over twenty five years ago and installed the bows on the 68 and bought a new Kayline top while there were still available.

Back in 2009 bought bows and used Kayline top off a 67. The channel was shaped like the early channel when they were welded on but used the same seven bolts. Late model FJ40s no longer had the fixed nuts but did have the holes where they would go. Assumably for markets that still got a FST. Like mentioned the OEM channel has a radius to match the windshield which makes it simple to tell where it mounted.

 

[Seamus]

What year is your cruiser? Does it have the seven fixed nuts across the top of the windshield to mount the channel. My 9/67 68 factory model hard top has them. Bought a 73 FST over twenty five years ago and installed the bows on the 68 and bought a new Kayline top while there were still available.View attachment 2548281

Back in 2009 bought bows and used Kayline top off a 67. The channel was shaped like the early channel when they were welded on but used the same seven bolts. Late model FJ40s no longer had the fixed nuts but did have the holes where they would go. Assumably for markets that still got a FST. Like mentioned the OEM channel has a radius to match the windshield which makes it simple to tell where it mounted.

Cruiser is a 69, and I just checked, it has the holes on the top of the frame that match the channel. I never looked for them. At first I wrongly assumed that the holes for the hard top would be used. Can’t wait for the soft top to show up. I think I need to build a new roll cage though, the mounts for it interfere with the bows, I may have to reconfigure something.

 

[Seamus]

I have an OEM channel... they were slightly curved to match the contour of the windshield frame.

View attachment 2548277

The channel will bend to conform, I just looked and the holes are in place for the rail.

 

[Seamus]

@Seamus ...waiting impatiently .....can’t wait to see the finished product.

I can’t wait for the top. I ordered it in the beginning of November but had custom stuff done to it, hopefully it shows up soon.

 

[thebigredrocker]

I just looked and the holes are in place for the rail.

OEM welded nuts behind the holes?

 

[Seamus]

OEM welded nuts behind the holes?

Yes there are, I need to chase them with a tap and should be good to go.

 

[igotta40]

I have the same. I started threading screws in loose in at the center, working outwards, then tighten them all down. I used rubber washers to seal the holes.