Really silly soft top question...

[Chase77]

All,
Just bought a supertop cause I dont have time to restore my hardtop and was wondering how bad Im goin to freeze my ass off in the winter. Never owned anything without a hardtop. Here in Cincinnati we dont have sub zero temps so I figured it wouldnt be unbearable since I at least have a garage to park in. Am I right or am I goin to be faced with some severe shrinkige?

 

[Romer]

Depends on how good your heater is. If your concened, you might "revitalize" your heater core. Do a search. It will probably be a little colder when you get in, but with a good heater, it should be OK.

Ken

 

[Chef BoyarDEE]

i was the wondering the same thing awhile ago until i cleaned out my heater core, now it's like a furnace when i turn it on. if i do get a soft-top i don't think i'd have any problems.

 

[Recombobulated]

I have run a softtop and soft doors for 2 winters and it has been fine. Highway driving gets a bit chilly but around town no problem.

 

[Plowboy]

In my daring youth, I went to see my parents in Alaska, during the winter, in my soft top 40. The trip up wasn't too bad, but on the way back, in Dawson Creek it was 30 below. The heaters front and rear were blowing luke warm air, even with a cover on front of the radiator. I even had additive in the gas to keep it from jelling. A local helped me with at least keeping the interior livable. Went to a store and bought wall insullation and got some large cardboard sheets. stuck the sheets next to the roll bars and stuffed the insullation between the cardboard and soft top. Got the inside up to a comfortable ??? 60 degrees. Left it that way for the rest of the winter. Purely a one time cure for a cold interior.

 

[kc_chevota]

ran soft all last winter needed a light jacket on the hiway but all in all it was quite fine

 

[gater75]

i was a little chilled the other night driving home, in the middle of JULY, but my front heater doesn't blow so good. I wonder if the 2 buttons I am missing, or make it so it stays tight to the body if that would help. And I have on the hard doors, no softies.
Rod

 

[65swb45]

In my daring youth, I went to see my parents in Alaska, during the winter, in my soft top 40. The trip up wasn't too bad, but on the way back, in Dawson Creek it was 30 below. The heaters front and rear were blowing luke warm air, even with a cover on front of the radiator. I even had additive in the gas to keep it from jelling. A local helped me with at least keeping the interior livable. Went to a store and bought wall insullation and got some large cardboard sheets. stuck the sheets next to the roll bars and stuffed the insullation between the cardboard and soft top. Got the inside up to a comfortable ??? 60 degrees. Left it that way for the rest of the winter. Purely a one time cure for a cold interior.

Great story!

When I ran a heater and a soft top (don't have either now) the front heater alone was keeping a comfy 72 in the truck on the highway with a light snow falling outside.

Mark

 

[IDave]

I've found my black soft top is actually warmer under some circumstances (like when the sun is shining), than the hard top. Steel and fiberglas have lousy insulating properties. (On the other hand, I haven't figured out a way to mount a ski rack to the soft top! !)

Definitely having a good clean heater core, and that damn top thermostat gasket, makes a huge difference on the heater capability.

 

[Bailey]

trick i learned from 7 yrs of nothing but a soft top... remove the transmission cover, lets a lot of enging heat up into the cab. watch out for deep puddles though.

 

[IDave]

trick i learned from 7 yrs of nothing but a soft top... remove the transmission cover, lets a lot of enging heat up into the cab. watch out for deep puddles though.

Clearly, you haven't been slapped up enough lately.....

 

[nspctr1]

trick i learned from 7 yrs of nothing but a soft top... remove the transmission cover, lets a lot of enging heat up into the cab. watch out for deep puddles though.

Ha, that's great, ingenuity at its finest. I ran a hard top on my 75 for years w/ no problem. Of course I'm in South Texas and hell, we dont even get below freezing half the time.

 

[Chase77]

Thanks

Sounds like I have a little heater project to address before winter.