Removable Tops Pigs

[FJBen]

Ok...since it's a little slow...I've had some wonder thinking time...as usual...

Anyways I love the looks of a pig...(who doesn't) but also like the top off sometimes...especially tight trails that might have roof eating rocks on them...

Anyways the simple answer is don't hit those rocks... ;p

I know this would necessitate a roll cage which is fine...and some sort of bolt/clamping system...and then have someone marine shop create soft top...

And the door pillars tied into roll cage for stability...

Any other thoughts on this craziness?? really bling would be to fab a folding windshield ala 70 series...


thoughts??? curses?

 

[MiniPigg]

I have seen a number of people cut the roofs off of pigs. With a nicely done full rollcage I think they look good. But I also cringe knowing that pigs are getting harder and harder to find.

 

[lingo]

My 55 has the roof over the cargo area cut already. so going to this really isn't much of a big deal. I think that it looks really good. However, if my truck had a full roof there is no way I would consider this an option.

 

[FJBen]

Well it won't be just a "removed" top...I want it to be like a hardtop...

in the summer...I can pull that top and wheel harder...winter put the top back on.

The hardest part is going to be the windshield connection...

 

[MiniPigg]

Like the first gen. 4runner hardtop or like an IH Scout hardtop?

 

[Wayneraintree]

Like the first gen. 4runner hardtop or like an IH Scout hardtop?

hmmmm... anyone think it would be possible to use a 1st gen 4runner hartop?

Photochop please anyone?


I have no skills to chop but I could measure my 4runner dims and compare tomorrow...

 

[clemson55]

I think I would build the roll cage to fit inside the pillars so that I could cut them at the bottom of the windows and then roll the windows down to give some nice clean lines and full convertable type feel to it. I do think its possible but I think there are several problems. Wherever you cut it your asking for rust, and youll have to get some kind of seals made. Youll also have to create some kind of tabs or ledge or something above the windshield otherwise theres no way to attach it. Have to decide how to deal with the back pillars and they have a structural support inside them. You would also probably need to find a way to cap them but still allow the top to fit on correctly. Just a lot of little things that will all add up and I'm sure a lot more I havent thought of. I dont think I'd cut the roof off an intact pig either unless it was all rusted up like mine was. But if you do it I'll be here cheering you on as well.

 

[RHINO]

i have often thought about it, specially lately since i have the clean pig for dd'ing. roll cage and full length bikini would be way cool, wouldnt be too hard to make it removable. i dont know what you mean about wheeling harder with the top off, i feel i wheel my rig as hard as its built for already.

 

[Yotahilux]

I think one of you should do it!

by the way... I have a 74 that has a good top if anyone contemplating doing a removable toop conversion.

Speak now for the pig is leaving soon.

chuck

 

[MiniPigg]

Hmm... you know I just remembered that I did some photochops a few years ago on a pig. I removed the roof and put in a full rollcage... let me look for it... I think I still have it somewhere...

 

[ranger]

I just hacked my roof off, only becasue it was beyond repair. I would have rather kept the top on, but it was this or junk it. I saved a pig.

 

[RUSH55]

I've thought about this too, for years now. I think initially, the area of the rear section and the top of the windshield would pretty much be the easy part. You could cut the angle as presice as possible, weld flanges on either side and drill some bolt holes to use bolts like 78-79 Broncos. Put a good section of weatherstrip between and sandwich it in. At that point I'd weld in a full cage and make tie-in points from the cage to the sides of the body to help keep it ridgid.
Here's the weird part I'm not quite sure about. That odd pillar between the front and rear doors. It's thinner at the top and widens at the bottom not tho mention that it's a pretty small piece.
Then you would have to have a set of half doors, of course. That could get to be a pain, so I think it would be neat to build som door mounts in which you could just lift the door up and out.

 

[BushBoy]

Okay it's not a removable top, but it's an idea i've been toying with since before i even got my pig, and here's my latest photo "chop"

dualcab ute

i have a few photos on my computer of other 55's that have had this done to it, and i reckon it would be great. could also keep the electric window too.

cheers,
Dan.

 

[FJBen]

Here's the weird part I'm not quite sure about. That odd pillar between the front and rear doors. It's thinner at the top and widens at the bottom not tho mention that it's a pretty small piece.

Do you think cutting right above the tail light line all the way would help solidify the top more? maybe reinforce that smallish piece you would have? Not that I'm gonna go hacking tonight but...lol...I would be great to have that setup in a pig!

 

[clemson55]

Bushboy you should have just photoshopped my pig white and put it up there, thats exactly what I did.

 

[BushBoy]

Bushboy you should have just photoshopped my pig white and put it up there, thats exactly what I did.

do you have a photo of it somewhere?
i've been meaning to ask for a while.

 

[clemson55]

Theres a pic of it in the 55 owners section still I think. Its a different angle though and I don't have a tailgate on it right now.

 

[BushBoy]

Theres a pic of it in the 55 owners section still I think. Its a different angle though and I don't have a tailgate on it right now.

thanks mate, yeah i saw that one, just wondered if you had better shots of the chop, no biggie if you don't.

 

[poseidon]

I know a guy that took the top off his PU and made a removable hard top. He just used the hardplastic/rubber caping that they use to hold the door seals to the pinch welding on the top and bottom of all the conecting parts.

For conections you could weld a piece of tubing into the pig and have a rod or smaller tube that fits into it and would stop at the right height like the front of a 40 hard top. Get some locking binders on the inside to hold it on.

for removable doors you can replace the pins with a bolt of the same size and then just grab the bolt heads and lift them up to take the doors off easily.

Instead of half doors have you thought of tube doors like the one shown below?

For the front window support if you could get a cage that fit under the hardtop that tied into the front window for support neer the top that might work.

Just some thoughts I have had.

E

 

[PabloCruise]

That pic is hurting me...