So...

[Living in the Past]

Trying to gauge and see what kind of interest there is on a group buy for replacement canvas soft top. Back in 05 everybody seem gung ho about it. Not sure if that the case anymore. I read "I'll buy one when I need it". That option is currently available at Badger as far as I know. For me unless I plan on selling after the restore I would rather spend less on a top for a cruiser I wanted to use. Last week a new twist was thrown in with original top in CA. The top belongs to Ken if he decide to take it somewhere and get new top made I guessing the chances of getting one made with replaceable windows will be very little. I do understand that the top belong to him and if that is what he chooses to do that is up to him no hard feelings. My personal feeling is if you take it to a shop who makes tops the metal rings will be out sourced and a much higher cost. For Ken this is a non issue since it appears to have good rings already. For the rest of us I believe the best option would be to get the rings made as a group purchase separate of the rest of the top. Just to bad Kevin Awl_TEQ isn't taking on new projects. I believe the inner ring needs to be stamped to do it right. Which is something right up his alley.

Before going any further looking for feedback. How many are still looking for canvas? Do we have members who need bows and can that be address? If they is no interest then I know how to approach getting a top. Sometimes getting one top or ten tops will not only make a difference in price but who is willing to do the work.

 

[67azcruizr]

I would be in for 2 WITH the metal rings.

In my opinion the rings will/would be a HUGE finishing touch to a more appropriate soft top reproduction

 

[nuclearlemon]

i've already got canvas, but we are wheeling annie, so who knows how long it will last , but i know justin at redline needs a top.

as for bows, i'm working on matching my hobbled together bows to specs previously posted (hard to do with very poorly built paki bows and some scrap tube), and justin will be copying them for at least one set for himself, so if you need bows, you may want to contact him.

 

[FJnotCJ]

I've always wanted a couple, just can't throw down that kind of cash all at once, so I've been in the "I'll buy it when I need it" crowd. And I remember the Paki top...

I missed it, what are the vintages of the sewn in vs. ringed windows?

For a daily/less expensive top, I've imagined a "full length" bikini, no provisions for side or back, which is how I like to drive mine if I must have the top on.

As always, mine is still available to The Cause.

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Looks like the inner ring could have the outer profile cut and have the ridge rolled into it with a bead roller rather than stamping?

 

[treerootCO]

I'm interested in a few assuming it can be done for a reasonable amount. 100% original if possible because I like the little details. Don't confuse my cost statement with quality if that makes sense. Quality is important just hard to commit to 4 of them upfront without a price in mind.

What colors did FJ25 and early FST 40s ship with? All 25s are tan? Was there a white or gray offered by Toyota?

 

[Living in the Past]

I'm interested in a few assuming it can be done for a reasonable amount. 100% original if possible because I like the little details. Don't confuse my cost statement with quality if that makes sense. Quality is important just hard to commit to 4 of them upfront without a price in mind.

What colors did FJ25 and early FST 40s ship with? All 25s are tan? Was there a white or gray offered by Toyota?

As far as I know the tan/OD color was the only color offered. I know there were no colors choices in the 25 parts manual. I can check my 62 and 63 FJ40 micro-fiche to see if there were colors options in those years but I serious doubt. I also noticed the rings around the windows appear to be grey in color. The cruiser was red so I guessing there was no color options on the rings. As for materials buying quality materials myself to insure we end up with product that doesn't have quality problems like the early paki did.

As for price to early to tell. Not asking for anything at this point. The Badger top was $3K. I think the OCD was going to be under $700. Besides the other problems OCD had I think he was trying to price them to low for the labor involved. Besides possible piece meal the materials think I could maybe do some work myself. Things like drill the holes in the ring. Pre cut the vinyl windows. Items like that to try and keep the cost down.


Besides interest in buying I'm looking for any kind of input good or bad.



I'm not trying to steal any ones thunder and if some one else wants to do this all I ask is it's done as a group buy so everyone who wants one will get it.

 

[Living in the Past]

Looks like the inner ring could have the outer profile cut and have the ridge rolled into it with a bead roller rather than stamping?

I thought about that. Just not sure how it would work on the corners. Afraid it might distort and end up with ridges and not be flat. But that might be a option. I thinking cutting them the same size could be done. Not sure if holes could be drilled before it's rolled/stamped or do it after.I'm thinking drilling four pieces a complete set together would guarantee each would be a perfect fit.

 

[eltioloco]

I have been following the options for making a soft top for a few years. Ehsan is still in the buisness of making tops, but does not have the pattern for a FJ25. I don't know anything about the OCD tops or the Badger tops.

I wish Dave (cruiserloser) would chime in. We have traded a few emails about the possibility of one of his canvas guys making a top or 10.

The metal around the windows can be made by most sheet metal shops, and I would be happy to send my top to someone who could make a copy.

I too thought about making only the top, without the sides or back. It would be perfect for 90 % of my wheeling. But, "In for a penny in for a pound."

Ken

 

[67azcruizr]

I too thought about making only the top, without the sides or back. It would be perfect for 90 % of my wheeling.Ken

I like this option also, for running the vehicle in an "all around mode", including "wheeling". but any shop in any state can offer any of us this option.


for those of us looking for a realistic true restoration, there aren't any level of options. It's either "All In" or "All Out"

 

[JohnnyC]

My 2c

With all that pics and images I have all the tops were the OD green ... Depending on lighting it could look tan or green as that style of canvas would and varied with lighting as many military tops did... I had not noticed with toyota tops... But... Color shots of military jeeps from Korea had this variation in lighting... And it was the same truck in the pics....

The white tops didn't come out until the vinyl

The fasteners you can get from beachwood canvas in PA ... They are of Very Good quality ... Heavy duty and buckles are very good as well ... They would be a great option ... If... There was an fj25/early 40 to drop off there... The canvas is true canvas and top notch craftsmanship

 

[Living in the Past]

I have been following the options for making a soft top for a few years. Ehsan is still in the buisness of making tops, but does not have the pattern for a FJ25. I don't know anything about the OCD tops or the Badger tops.

I wish Dave (cruiserloser) would chime in. We have traded a few emails about the possibility of one of his canvas guys making a top or 10.

The metal around the windows can be made by most sheet metal shops, and I would be happy to send my top to someone who could make a copy.

I too thought about making only the top, without the sides or back. It would be perfect for 90 % of my wheeling. But, "In for a penny in for a pound."

Ken

Ehsan was contacted many years ago about this. If he had shown more interest I considered getting the section from the A pillar to the B pillar and ship it to him. At that time I knew of a early soft top tub in a junk yard. If you read thru this thread you will see most mudders probably wouldn't trust buying a special top from him. https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-classifieds-corner/141615-project-hub-cap-pakistan.html I had a few emails with him about the hub caps but didn't like the idea of a direct bank deposit so didn't get involved.

Badger was the first attempt. They make high end Rover tops in MA. Price is $3K a copy and not sure if it includes canvas for the doors. But it didn't include making new skins for the doors which is more complicated then the later doors.

OCD made one top to get a pattern with the idea of being able to make tops for the rest of us. Just about this time his wife left him and everything changed. A few threads about it. If they are still around they will be in chit chat section. OCD has been banned from mud.

There was a rumor of someone getting his equipment and patterns. But at this time if it happens I'm not holding my breath that it will include the early soft top.

I was also in contact with Abe in CO who is currently bringing FJ40 tops from out of the country. At that time he was planning on making top locally and would be willing to make the a batch of early tops. If need be I would have transported a early tub and bows to make it happen. The contacts he had weren't really interested and since he was already setup to import he went that route. Again the issue of no tub and bows to work with.

This top showed up a couple of years of ago https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/534141-my-friend-mexican-fj40-61-62-a.html I believe a member here was in contact about getting it made in Mexico. This was going to be with some mods to make it more correct. I haven't heard anymore and I don't believe he did either.

It has been said that making Land Cruiser tops carrys a curse. Besides OCD another guy back east trying to make Fj40 tops died. Every attempt to make a batch of early tops has failed. Most FJ40 tops have had there share if issues. Even Specialty Tops that took over for Kayline went belly up. I can see this might be going the same way with a difference option on how to handle this. Instead of getting into a debate of who is best qualified to get this done I have a honey do list a mile long and will gladly back out now.

As for just having a top with no sides guessing anything made to fit the later factory bows should be really close. Maybe a little adjustment. It is a little narrower but biggest different is the location of B pillar and the shape of the door. Those are a non issue when not dealing with the sides. A few years back I bought a bikini top from Alex (southbostonfj40?) who was handling paki items shipped here by Ehsan. The top is designed to fit the factory FJ40 bows. Never tried it on my early bows. I've stored it out of town. Picked up another set of early bows last year so I'll bring it back and take a few pictures of how it fit the early tub A to B pillars. The length front to back is the same or real close. So if it fits the front part should be okay from there back. Another cheap option would be to use a cheap used top to make one. At some point that's what I might do with this top.

 

[JohnnyC]

Bill mcC also had a lead btw... He hasn't been on mud for quite some time now

 

[Splangy]

The soft doors on my '62 have black material, and it appears to be OEM. Were tbinzo's black, too?

 

[Living in the Past]

The soft doors on my '62 have black material, and it appears to be OEM. Were tbinzo's black, too?

Tom's avatar has a picture of it with white doors. The doors in the picture I posted I believe still has the original canvas. Took and posted pictures of how it was made. Unlike the later doors that just cover door and the outer weather stripping holds it on. These are 3D with sewing involved.

 

[nuclearlemon]

I have been following the options for making a soft top for a few years. Ehsan is still in the buisness of making tops, but does not have the pattern for a FJ25. I don't know anything about the OCD tops or the Badger tops.

last i heard, ocd was selling his stuff and i'd be leery of eshan after the hubcap fiasco. that leaves badger, who charges more than i paid for my rig and all the parts i've put into it . with a good top and rig to use as a pattern though, maybe we'll have another source to try. i would really like a top where the sides completely unhooked (as opposed to rolling up)

 

[tahoe40/45]

Im assuming if this works these would be B-type tops, or does anyone else need a A-type top?

 

[nuclearlemon]

Is a type the angled bows? If so treeroot needs one for hope

 

[tahoe40/45]

Is a type the angled bows? If so treerott needs one for hooe

Yes, angled bows and the b pillar bow is a bit lower than the B-type one.