Building a hard top

I was wondering if anyone has tried to make a fiberglass hardtop for a pre 76 CJ 5. Also if anyone has do you have plans? Or are there plans for a meyers hardtop that i could use to mak a copy?

 

The guys stationed at Adak, Alaska made their own cabs. Lots of pictures around somewhere about it.

 

Interesting. It crossed my mind before I found a cheap parts Jeep with a good Meyers cab. Are you talking about using chopped-mat with a mould? I built a wooden powerboat a few years back and thought about using 3/16"-1/4" marine ply glassed on both sides with 4oz blanket and wet out with epoxy. It would be like building a cabin on a boat--you would need cieling beams, backers, etc. made of solid wood. But what scared me was the thought of an accident and shards of splintered wood impaling someone, probably me. Safer to build a mould, but lots of work, especially for a one-off project. Probably easier to build one out of sheet metal & hat channel or, easier yet, keep looking for a Meyers. I seem to remember seeing something called a Rally Top that was a fiberglass top for a CJ5, but don't know if it fits the early CJ's...

 

Acme made fiberglass hard tops for both early/intermediate CJ-5's and lates. Might be able to find one with some patience or use as a guideline. I'm sure an Internet search would net some pics.


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Search jeepforums for the hard top thread. Tons if good pics, I'll post a link when I get to work and off my phone.

 

I'm not sure about this but I think you can use a '76-'83 cj5 hardtop as long as you change out the windshield. Please correct me if I'm wrong guys.

 

Here's the link I promised.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f8/picture-request-cj5s-acme-hardtop-844844/

 

I used to have an acme fiberglass top on my 71 CJ5 in the 1980's.
Bad things:
1)It was very heavy which tended to cause the jeep to want to roll more in the corners. It also means you need to beef up your rear suspension.
2) the front lip did not attach easily to the windshield frame, had to put in about 20 sheet metal screws into the frame.
3) hard to take on and off.
4) hard to store when off.
5) very noisy, engine and road sound resonates inside.

good things:
1) warmer in the winter
2) windows made out of glass, won't scratch up like the soft top.

 

Having used both hard and soft tops, I will say that the soft top is nicer over all.

The negatives listed above probably apply to all hard tops. Some sound deadening insulation may help that problem, but you would need to do both the floors and the top to be effective.

 

I have seen some pics of Retro "woody wagon" type tops built on jeeps. All varnished wood panels and frames. Way cool.

 

Now that would be cool! Got any links?

 

I hacked a yj top up....

 

Don't have a pic of a CJ woody, but about 5 years ago someone on eBay was selling plans. Just copy a Model "A" station wagon or something of that style. Hemming's Motor News would have vendors for parts.