Am I The Last To Know?

My project is a 73ish cj5, built out of 3 piles of parts, 73, 75, 76. So,I recently purchased a Bestop super top, older top, but new, for my 73 CJ5. I installed the top on an old warped, fiberglass tub. I started fitting the doors and found the fit of the upper to the lower Terrible. The pins didn't line up, 1/2" off. OK, I can cut the pins off and relocated them. That was this weekend's plan, so I went out tonight to form a plan. I was fondling the uppers to see how much stitching I needed to cut and there is a lump in the middle of the lower cross bar. So I grabbed the ends of the door and pulled, there is an expansion joint in the middle of the door. After several combinations of words that will get this this deleted. I installed the upper door halves on the lowers.

THE SLOW KID IS NOW KNOWS MORE THAN HE DID BEFORE.

You don't have to be nice, I've been the slow kid for a number of years.

I hope this helps someone Ron

 

Sorry for your trouble, but it reminds me of a similar headache.
Even the Bestop for the early CJ5s have a serious design flaw. They try to fasten their rail directly over a factory bow location. Needless to say, you can't drill a hole into air.
Some will say move the rails forward or aft, however each of those solutions cause trouble with either the rear bow location or the door latch striker. Pick your poison.
I had to build splice plates for both sides. My bows fold down flush with the rear tub AND my door strikers work well. A 3-hour estimated install became 30 hours.
It is a great top! It holds in heat well...maybe too well - ha!

 

I understand, I lowered the main hoop a 1/2', just to be able to clip the sides of the top. Then I drilled the "A" pillar rivets so they would lock into the top. Thanks for the reply, Ron

 

You can get one bolt in at the original bow pocket location, but not the second. I've had no problem only having the one fastener. I also had to lower the front bow by a 1/4" on each side (the vertical rails) for the side curtains to engage better into the channels.
Other than that, the Bestop Supertop is awesome (my Jeep is a '66)
The doors worked out fine in the opening. The latch engagement is just ok. The issue is the design of the catch, that one you catch your arm on, lol!

 

Here's that clasp

 

I'm sure we have all had that moment after the BFH or saw was applied that we then realize, "oh, that was adjustable"... Followed closely by those same combinations of words..

 

Thanks for all the replies an support, so I figure I owe some pics.
This is the collection, except of my son's 06 TJ with some mods

 

Looks good , Ron. Just Frustrating as all get out, working on these old kids......AMHIK

 

Thanks, I started building what I wanted, with the parts I wanted. Then at some point I turned left and started using parts I had instead of what I wanted. I bought a Tiger top, but I had trouble getting in the jeep. I didn't have the funds(that I wanted to spend) on a Super top with half doors. So, I was browsing Clist and a fellow had a new/older Super top in the box, never installed for a very reasonable price. So when things were getting back on track I ran into the upper door fitment issue. Yes I was miffed a bit. I finished the Super top install this last weekend. I also verified all the hardware for the Tiger top, it will be going up for sale soon, Thanks all, Ron

 

I ran into the same issue. I ended up just using a long toggle bolt through the factory bow location to fasten that part of the rail.