CJ5 half alumimum half cab

I just scored a Sears aluminum half cab for my CJ5, but of coarse it appears to be for a pre 71 CJ since the windshield on mine appears to be about 2-3" too wide.

Here are my questions:
Does anyone know which years these tops fit specifically? I can really only find one site that has much information on them (filmqueens something or other)? There is a catalogue page, but it's unreadable.

Second, can I install a pre 71 windshield frame on my 74CJ5? I can make the front attachment of the doors work since it's sheet aluminum and somewhat flexible.

Thanks folks. I hope I can make this work without butchering it up too much.

 

CJ windshields are the same size and shape from 1954 through 1975. The differences are in the glass area, and top or bottom mounted wipers. All CJ-5s use the same top in that year range. From '76 on, the windshields narrow at the top and tilt back more, and the wiper motor moves in to the cabin.

 

Never mind what I posted. It was a random thought that had no real revelance to what I thought the solution was..........


Nice score BTW.

 

Timgr, do you have an idea how many degrees different a pre and post 76 ws frame is? You can see from the second picture there is a small (3-5deg) difference between my windshield and the door area. I thought this was just because my top is so rotted and it's very 'sloppy' in the up position.

I keep coming to the conclusion that this top is for 76 and later models, but I didn't think they made the aluminum tops for that range of CJs. You can see from the second picture also that the top is about 2-3" too narrow to fit my windshield frame. Is this a case where I can swap out a 76 and later frame (I need a new one anyway)?

Thanks!

 

With it being that much narrower, my bet is it's for a flatfender, but I'm only guessing. I would guess that Sears was not doing these for later model CJ5's. By that time, fiberglass was coming into play.

 

I'm thinking it is for a '76 and up. The doors don't have the brake (angle) built into them to follow the body angle change of the flatty's. At least I can see one from the pic. Measure the top where it meets the windshield and see if it matches a '76 and newer w/s frame.
Somewhere I had a Sears catalog that showed '76-'77 Jeeps and I want to say some metal tops were available for them. I think the catalogs are still over at Mom's.

 

After looking at it again, it could go either way. The sheet aluminum is flexible enough that the whole section forward of the hinge could angle inboard to follow the brake in the body on flatties, but it could also be for a 76 and up. I think there were metal tops for later CJs, but I don't think I've ever seen an aluminum one....not that there isn't.....

The catalogue page I did see was for 71 CJs, so there must be at least 2 versions since this one doesn't fit mine and I believe a 71 and 74 have the exact same tub and ws frame, correct?

 

The door are for early cj maybe a cj3a . I have full top on my cj3a and it looks just like that . Same screw hole on the door and top of windshield . My cj3a is a 1951.

 

Any idea on ws frame size difference on pre 1955s? I'm trying to get a hold of the previous owner to find out what year his was, but he's not responding to my calls. He probably thinks I want my money back....little does he know I stole this from him for what I paid

 

That looks almost exactly like the top on my 2A except mine is steel

 

The top looks close, but look at the section in front of the door. Mine is much narrower.

Are all flat fender windshield frames flat across the top? If so, this wouldn't work on those either and I would say almost for certain it's for a 76 and up. Mine definitely has curvature across the top.

I will ask in the Flattie forum. Good idea Sparky.

 

In Khamill's pic if you look close you can see the brake in the door to follow the angled contour of the flatty body, just like I mentioned before. I can't tell if your doors have that in the pic. Are yours flat or do they have that brake in them (angle)?

 

Nope, no break. I'm almost 100% sure it's for a 76 and up now.

I wonder what year they stopped making these tops? I didn't realize they made them into the late 70s but I guess so.

Thanks for all the info everyone! If you happen to find any new info on these aluminum tops, please resurrect this thread!!