Soft top questions

'75 CJ5

I went to put my old softtop back on and it's like the thing has shrunk. It just ain't going on, the spacing between snaps on the top has actually gotten smaller by 1/2" to 2 1/2" (the snaps on the top just won't line up with the snaps on the body).

This is an old tattered top. The door handles are the old style L shape (not the new paddle style besttop).

So I have a few questions:

1) Is there a way to stretch out a top that has shrunk so much? (it is a bit brittle)

2) Does anyone still sell tops with the L door handle? Or is the new Betstop paddle tops the only way to go.

3) If I wanted to do a replacement top, what would yuo recommend?

4) What is involved in switching from my old style top to a new style top? Will the snaps line up? Will the windshield rail work as is?

My top looks like this one http://www.collinsbrosjeep.com/images/restorations/76tancj5/DSC00019.JPG

But it has a built in aluminum rail in the front, and it actually goes OVER the top of the windshield and the aluminum rail slides into a rail on the windshield.

 

When it gets cold the material shrinks significantly as you found. Needs to be warmed up before installing or you may tear it where the snaps are. Take it in the house and let it warm thoroughly or set in sun so it can get nice and pliable before trying to install. Using a heat gut or hair dryer can be helpful also. As far as I know, the only dependable source for tops nowadays is Bestop. I'm not 100% sure but I think the tigertop still has the l style handles unlike the Supertop that has the paddle handles.Nickmil

 

Just put mine back on. laid it over the Jeep in the sun for a few hours. Then stretched it on about 3:00 in the afternoon in the sun.

Mine had a tattered top and I replaced it last year with a Supertop with the snapless rails. Tight fit, no noise, drafts and worked with windshield channel. Recommend this top - watch ebay.