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Canvas Top Information

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by gotime, Feb 15, 2013.

  1. Feb 15, 2013
    gotime

    gotime Sick with the car bug

    Minneapolis,...
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    Oct 22, 2007
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    I searched the forum and couldn't find answers to my questions so here goes.

    I think I'm going to get a Beachwood Canvas top for my CJ6 restoration project. My jeep didn't have any holes drilled for the footman loops or anything that I could see. Can someone tell me how many holes need to be drilled including the door fasteners and for footman loops? I had originally planned on finishing the body and doing the top later to spread out the cost, but I'm not super keen on drilling holes into a fresh paint job.

    My second question is about the door frames. I asked Beachwood and they didn't really answer my question. I have the door frames from my Bestop, will their doors fit on those frames? I'm trying to avoid spending all that money on the bows, rods and frames.

    TIA
     
  2. Feb 15, 2013
    1955CJ-5

    1955CJ-5 Member

    Boise, Idaho
    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2012
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    My '55 CJ-5 did not have all the footman loops installed, but it did have indentations in the body that indicated where the footman loops were meant to be. The canvas doors have a bead sewed into them that slips into a channel that is screwed onto the windshield frame and around the door opening in the body. No snaps like an aftermarket door. Of course a 63 could be a little different, they changed things all the time......

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    As you can see I did not get the doors either!!
     
  3. Feb 15, 2013
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    I would put the footman loops in when you get the top so that way the buckles line up nicely with them. You'll be mad if they are off half an inch. ;)
     
  4. Feb 15, 2013
    1955CJ-5

    1955CJ-5 Member

    Boise, Idaho
    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2012
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    Here is one picture showing where the loops are

    [​IMG]

    And if you look real closely you will see a couple of evenly spaced indents along the top of the side. One pair about 6" from the front bow pocket and another set about 6" from the rear...I expect a CJ-6 would have three footman loops in this area....click on the picture for a larger version...

    [​IMG]

    The Gnome mentioned the other alternative...get the top and bows, make it all fit until you are satisfied, and only then get the jeep painted....
     
  5. Feb 15, 2013
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    Thats the way I did the top on my '53. You can paint the body first and then put tape down and drill your holes. Then put primer in the holes with a small brush to prevent rust.
     
  6. Feb 16, 2013
    durk

    durk Member

    Ontario/Canada
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2005
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    206
    Hey there 1955cj5, buddy love the black canvas top!!!! This is from beachwood? Did the canvas black dye run, or do any weird color change or fade with weather??? Are you impressed with the top?? Did you look into exact replacement doors from beachwood??
    Thanks J
     
  7. Feb 16, 2013
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Aug 10, 2003
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    Do you really want to go with Beechwood?

    When I contacted them about a top, I got the impression that they really weren't interested in my business. When a business responds with a combination of low enthusiasm, lack of commitment, and wildly high prices it usually means they don't want the work.

    I would look around for other options. The Tiger Top is available for the CJ-6, and although it was a PITA to install, it seems to be holding up fine. And I don''t see any way you can avoid putting holes in the body for snaps and such. The only original holes for footman loops IIRC are in the tailgate, and on the windshield. So you either drill the body and install footman loops for straps, or drill holes for snaps. And I think the straps, ala the military tops, are way inferior in terms of drafts and noise to the civilian tops that anchor with snaps.

    There are other shops that do canvas work too. I think the main issue for Jeeps is lack of a pattern to build the top from - making a pattern requires a lot of effort. If you have an old top, you could contact a local upholstery shop and see if they can make new fabric for you.
     
  8. Feb 16, 2013
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    I don't know Tim, mine with the half cab on has very little draft. ;)

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Feb 16, 2013
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    So you agree with me, except for the flapping/drafty part? :)

    Looks great against the snowy background, Nate. Vintage plates too...
     
  10. Feb 16, 2013
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    I didn't buy mine from Beachwood, so I can't speak about that. I have bought small items from them and those were reasonable. The thing with canvas tops is, they tighten up after a few years and look like that. When I first got it and I drove it around, the thing was real noisy and would balloon up. Also, you want to store it on the jeep to keep it from shrinking too much to where the back section doesn't reach. I leave mine on all winter long while in storage.

    Thanks!
     
  11. Feb 16, 2013
    1955CJ-5

    1955CJ-5 Member

    Boise, Idaho
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    I have not had the top long enough to notice any fading or dye running...it is only a couple of months old and hasn't even been wet... and frankly I won't mind some runs or fades. I would rather have found a used top that matched the doors than get new doors that match the top....! They do have the doors....and I have to say that the binding and edging and all the stitching on the top matches the old original doors exactly.

    I am impressed with the top. Many folks don't like Beachwood. But I found no alternative..I absolutely did not want vinyl, nor was I going to drill a bunch of holes for snaps and non-original hardware. I called several local auto upholstery shops and one specializes in convertible tops, and he suggested I look on the internet! No one has the patterns and the labor cost would be huge, with an unknown result.

    I had the original top bows and door frames.

    Getting a good fit requires lots and lots of measuring and adjusting of the top bows, making sure everything is as square and even as possible..I made the two spacing rods that fit between the front and rear bow, and threaded one end of each so I could adjust them for a good fit.

    It was in the driveway yesterday and when I came home I was struck by how nice it looks,that green and black contrast is perfect...I was going to paint the jeep to it's original red, but now if I paint it, it'll be green again
     
    Hellion likes this.
  12. Feb 17, 2013
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
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    my 2c is canvas. i had a terrible time with bestop. tim you mention lack of enthusiasm how about lack of quality? took 3 tops to get a best top that fit good or even had all the snaps and zippers sewn on in the right spots. there are others making canvas. ive seen a beechwood top and it was nice may be overpriced but so are the bestop offerings imho
     
  13. Feb 26, 2013
    gotime

    gotime Sick with the car bug

    Minneapolis,...
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    I'm confused with this. In your picture there are some clips, but no footman loops on the side. Are they suppose to be footman loops? I haven't seen any mention of those clips before. Did all CJ5/6 with canvas tops have those clips or footman loops?
     
  14. Mar 2, 2013
    GeoffreyL

    GeoffreyL Well-Known Member

    moorestown, nj
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    Garage gnome, could you email me some close up pics of you top? I'm trying to build my own and really like the way yours looks, Thanks! Geoffrey021597@gmail.com
     
  15. Mar 3, 2013
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    I can sometime this weekend.
     
  16. Mar 3, 2013
    GeoffreyL

    GeoffreyL Well-Known Member

    moorestown, nj
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    Thanks!
     
  17. Mar 3, 2013
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    Oops, I meant sometime this week. The weekend is over...
     
  18. Mar 3, 2013
    GeoffreyL

    GeoffreyL Well-Known Member

    moorestown, nj
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    Take your timel no rush, what tires are those btw, I really like them
     
  19. Mar 3, 2013
    68BuickV6

    68BuickV6 Well-Known Member

    Hesperia, CA.
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    Look like STA's
     
  20. Mar 4, 2013
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    Super tractions from walcks.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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