Soft Top install ?

The bracket for the bows uses these two holes, unfortunately. I ended up cutting the socket out entirely and am working on a plate with a threaded hole to span the gap. I ain't pretty but the track will cover it up. I barely missed the socket on the other side. For some reason the holes and socket on the driver's side measured out different.

 

To me, that's not compatible. Every CJ of your vintage has a bow pocket in that location. This is what Bestop expects you to deal with? I'd ask for a RMA.

Your bolts are a good solution though. Good work.

 

Here is my fix, 3" span on the holes.

 

On mine, those bolts a just in front of and right behind the bow pocket. Double check your measurements!

 

No measurements to check. By the Instructions, I installed the pre-formed rear corner pieces, then the side pieces butt up to them. On the passenger side the bolts straddle the socket, but just barely. Measuring from the rear of the tub, the sockets are off from each other by the amount that's in the pic. I hacked out the socket tube and made an insert out of 1/4" plate that I threaded for the screw that goes through the side rail. Going to form and weld in a patch piece for the tub. When I painted the Jeep I had the paint shop put some of the left-over paint in a rattle can for me. That's how I painted the "elevator bolts" I made. I hope to actually get the top installed today to make sure it clears those bolts.

 

This would be funny if it weren't so frustrating. So the front door stop screws to the windshield frame. The directions say to use the stop as a guide to mark the two holes that need to be drilled in the windshield frame. No problem, right? Apparently no-0ne at Bestop ever installed this particular top on an Early CJ as the bottom hole that they require you to drill goes right into the SOLID STEEL of the hinge leg that goes up into the frame. Someone should let them know that a sheetmetal screw will not screw into a piece of solid steel. I tried and it will only go so far and jam. A little more force and it snaps, which I had the good sense not to do. In the end I cut the screw short so it would go in. But come on guys, nobody at Bestop ever noticed that this doesn't really work by the directions. If the hole was 1" higher it would miss the hinge leg. Here's what I mean:



For those of you who have never pulled one of these hinges, here's what it looks like. Note the upper hole on the leg takes the bolt you can see at the front of the windshield by the tape with the line where the hole is supposed to go.



While I'm in rant mode, here's another. The directions say to install the rear corner track first, then install the side tracks and mentions that there "may" be a gap of about 1/4" between the corner piece and the side piece. Obviously that must mean that you don't butt the two together. That would seem to indicate that there is a specific point along the tub where the front of the side track goes. But they don't bother to tell you where that spot is. In fact I emailed a tech at Bestop with this very questions and her reply was: "where the tub starts". I don't know about you guys, but I don't know exactly "where the tub starts". Maybe I'm just stoopid or something.

 

I was furious with Bestop when trying to explain similar issues with my Tigertop.

When I needed parts, they were excellent, considering I bought the top used.

But support for instructions that weren't rooted in reality? They were totally useless. I never mounted my Tigertop.

 

I hear ya man. It's not like this is some new model Jeep that they haven't worked out all the kinks yet. Despite their crappy instructions I got to this point today. I can hardly wait to install the doors as there are few reference dimensions for locating the hinges. On a cold day I'd never get this top on. Hopefully it'll stretch out a little.

 

Nice work John. I had the same issues with the bow mounts as you and had to shim the windshield to get the doors to fit right. I was never too happy about it, but that was all I could do. The door hinges had to be bent too.

 

I had problems with the windshield angle too, but I always figured it was the crappy aftermarket windshield frame I bought.
Maybe it's the top instead....
I will say that the SuperTop is my 2nd favorite Jeep accessory (after the Warn OD)
Mine has held up vey well, and the versatility to use it in different configurations is very nice.

 

Nice job Posi.

Farther than I ever got!

 

my tiger top doors fit like crap too. the top puckers in odd places.and i replace snaps every couple of times i pull em off...my rant glad you got the top to fit.

 

I had the same issue on the windshield rails. I have not corrected the problems yet.
Nice pictures and information for the hinges.
I did not get so frustrated as you have, I guess I expected the instructions not to be so good.

 

"This would be funny if it weren't so frustrating" Its really one funny when its happening to someone else....nelson haha


"Maybe I'm just stoopid or something." I remember back about two year ago, maybe longer years. I'm trying to figure out how the heck the brake and clutch pedal fit in between the transmission and frame rail. Took me a good week, send me near the ends of my brain. Then, and only then did I find a pic that showed the clutch pedal went outside the frame rail. I felt stoopid too.

BTW, the top looks great.

 

The door hinges are pretty basic. If you stagger them just a little (so you can put 1 hinge pin in at a time) it makes it easier to put the doors on.

 

That looks great. I also had some anxiety installing a Tiger Top on a CJ6. You did a nice job.

 

Looks great John. Now you have me thinking.

 

Looking good Posi. How nice will it be when you get stuck in another torrential downpour and can climb in your nice dry Jeep?

My top is always a pain to install. I usually leave it spread out on the drive way for an hour or so in the sun. This softens it up considerably, easing the install.

 

Thanks guys. I even got the lower doors installed yesterday. They were pretty straight forward. No pics yet. My wife is making me play golf with her this morning.