Soft Top Revival

[theadamnc]

So, I do a little bit of sewing. Actually the last 10 years of my life have been dedicated to textiles manufacturing.

I have a BJ44 that needs a soft top. I think there is pretty much no one who makes them anymore. (could be wrong, and would love a contact)

That being said, I am pretty certain I could make these if I could just get an FJ43 soft top and bows on loan to replicate.

Anyone else looking for soft top support?

 

[JohnnyC]

All you need are the bows… and you just need to extend the center horizontal bar for swb 40 bows to work

Easy to build if you got the bows to measure from … however there are measurements and notes online for 40 tops at the canvasmakersguild

 

[JohnnyC]

Here’s an example of a 43 tops:

Canvas Makers Guild - Ambi Door

Ambi Door

sites.google.com

 

[JohnnyC]

Btw is your trucks trim code KB01?

 

[theadamnc]

Btw is your trucks trim code KB01?

KB01 it is.

 

[JohnnyC]

That was a luxury version …. code was only 81-82

 

[theadamnc]

That was a luxury version …. code was only 81-82

Correct. The hard top was beyond saving. The truck itself is in pretty rough shape... right now. Staring the process of sorting it out and I am going to go the way of the Soft Top.

 

[JohnnyC]

Are you looking to do a type B rear opening (rear lift curtain) or type C (ambi door) hard lower and soft upper doors

Type B would be much easier

As I said before all you need are the bows from a swb40 to make it work in your 44 … you would just need to extend that center horizontal bow

 

[theadamnc]

Are you looking to do a type B rear opening (rear lift curtain) or type C (ambi door) hard lower and soft upper doors

Type B would be much easier

As I said before all you need are the bows from a swb40 to make it work in your 44 … you would just need to extend that center horizontal bow

A or B to be honest. I may just convert it to the tail gate style.

I am going the resto mod route since it's pretty far gone and I am probably going to drop a more modern drive train into it.

I am good with using whatever bows, but I just need some haha.

 

[JohnnyC]

You may want to contact @RevISK

He is a vendor for TROA … you could at least get bows from him for a 40…. He may be able to get the bows and top for a 43/44

And can do the ambi doors or tailgate

I think it was Julie that had done troopie and a 43 before… however she’s out of the game afaik and that would be for top only anyway

TROA would be the best bet … DM him and inquire … ya never know

 

[Living in the Past]

As I said before all you need are the bows from a swb40 to make it work in your 44 … you would just need to extend that center horizontal bow

The B pillar now also depends on OEM soft doors or hard doors. OEM soft doors the B pillar is straight with hard doors the B pillar angles to match the doors. Not sure but I believe most aftermarket bows from other markets I believe have bows to match hard doors. All OEM soft tops in the US market had matching soft doors.

 

[theadamnc]

The B pillar now also depends on OEM soft doors or hard doors. OEM soft doors the B pillar is straight with hard doors the B pillar angles to match the doors. Not sure but I believe most aftermarket bows from other markets I believe have bows to match hard doors. All OEM soft tops in the US market had matching soft doors.

I think I want to retain my hard doors to be honest. I need to fix them up, but I do want to keep them.

The look I am going for.

 

[gr8ful]

I’ve got OEM RHD bows in hand if you want a set. They are for a SWB so like johhny C says you’ll have to modify the spreader bows. But that would be pretty easy. I can also give you correct measurements for a MWB spreader bow as well (just can’t sell that one)

 

[RevISK]

I think I want to retain my hard doors to be honest. I need to fix them up, but I do want to keep them.

The look I am going for.

View attachment 4199787

Sent you a quote and a bunch of other deets.

 

[gr8ful]

I’ve got OEM RHD bows in hand if you want a set. They are for a SWB so like johhny C says you’ll have to modify the spreader bows. But that would be pretty easy. I can also give you correct measurements for a MWB spreader bow as well (just can’t sell that one)

Oh also, the late model bows (like what I have) are built for hard doors & match the bend in the door. A perfect match for 75+ doors.

 

[Living in the Past]

A perfect match for 75+ doors.

Curious what the difference in fit is on the two styles? Latch style and limiter changed 1/75. But from the end of the corrugated tops the hard doors had the same angle.


68 tub, 73 hard top and 79 doors.

 

[gr8ful]

Curious what the difference in fit is on the two styles? Latch style and limiter changed 1/75. But from the end of the corrugated tops the hard doors had the same angle.


68 tub, 73 hard top and 79 doors.
View attachment 4199907

Sorry, I butchered that. I started down a long winded path of 75 being the last OEM soft tops in the US, and that early doors & OEM soft doors are flat, vs. having the bend at the window. Then decided to be succinct but still had 75 stuck in my head.

Basically, early two piece doors & soft doors are flat, later model doors have the bend. My bows are late model bows & built for late model doors….

Is that 100% a 73 top? It’s got pop out windows, which usually indicates late 76 and later I thought?

 

[Living in the Past]

Sorry, I butchered that. I started down a long winded path of 75 being the last OEM soft tops in the US, and that early doors & OEM soft doors are flat, vs. having the bend at the window. Then decided to be succinct but still had 75 stuck in my head.

Basically, early two piece doors & soft doors are flat, later model doors have the bend. My bows are late model bows & built for late model doors….

Is that 100% a 73 top? It’s got pop out windows, which usually indicates late 76 and later I thought?

No, not 100% correct 73 hard top. Bought the 73 top in 1976. I flipped my 68 on it's side in fall 1975 Lake Tahoe. This was Thanksgiving weekend moving back to AZ. Not real easy to tell but back window opening is just plastic taped on.

I added vent windows, posts and weatherstripping off a 78 wrecked mid 1980s. Large glass was broken on both sides. At that time I bought both new windows from Toyota for $35.
77 model (8/76) is when vent windows started in some markets. The side sliding windows do not work with the factory roll bar so US only got the pop out vent window. At that time the radius on side bars on the roll bar was shorter to clear the latch on the vent windows.

I have to disagree on early doors being flat. Once the rear corner windows started the sides angle in from B pillar to B pillar. The long wheel base picked had corner windows from the begining. My 9/64 FJ45LP-B has the angle and corner windows. At the time FJ40 still has corrugated hard tops with no corner window. That changed some time in 1965.

 

[RevISK]

Sorry, I butchered that. I started down a long winded path of 75 being the last OEM soft tops in the US, and that early doors & OEM soft doors are flat, vs. having the bend at the window. Then decided to be succinct but still had 75 stuck in my head.

Basically, early two piece doors & soft doors are flat, later model doors have the bend. My bows are late model bows & built for late model doors….

Is that 100% a 73 top? It’s got pop out windows, which usually indicates late 76 and later I thought?

The TROA bows are about 1/2" - 5/8" wider (B bow is anyway) to accommodate the earlier doors I guess?

I didn't notice is on mine for a while. I'll lop out and reweld that at some point. Will also offer that to anyone who is willing to swing by my place, whether you bought a top from me or not.

Could also be variance? It's pretty slight.