Homemade early CJ5 hardtop?

I have a quick question has anyone ever made a homemade hardtop for early 1955-1971 CJ5's ?
I found this on ebay and thought it would be a cool project this one is not homemade but its just an example of what I would like to build someday.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

 

I’ve never seen a home brew hard top that turned out looking worth a damn but if you’ve got the fabrication skills why not? Go for it, and post pictures of what you end up with.

 

That looks like the top Sears and probably several others sold in the 50's. My father put one of those on his 2A and I recall that I didn't like it near as well as the factory soft top-remanents of which are still here. No compound curves so probably not too difficult to build if you have a break and rolls.

 

I would say you would have allot more money and time in making one, than finding one in good shape and refinishing it.

 

Not in good condition, better to find a good one. I have a Meyer in metal and you can find some in good conditions.
Other problem : the weight! I put a hook in the center of mine, so I can move it.
Maybe you can find some light ones in ther materials, probably more expensive.

 

It was just an idea I came across this today wooden hardtops

http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=195576

 

Look up the jeeps of Adak, Alaska some time.
The stuff from WWII and through the '50's.

 

why did I have to read this thread, now I want to make a wood hard top. nice cherry color for outside trim part, with main parts lighter colored. (marine varnish will do nicely.)

I like the carriage bolts on the top, I have a feeling there there because it has lap joint joinery.

 

I know the wooden top looks pretty sweet. I would be cool to just bolt your top together rather than having to use a lift or alot of help to remove a steel top. Plus it would be alot easier to store if it was in panels.

 

I thought some of the metal hard tops came apart into like 4 pieces. I could be getting it confused with a intermediate metal hard top.

knowing how wood acts and stuff, I wonder if they had any problems being taken apart once a year. I know weather would be a issue but that is a matter or varnish and some dap or something along those lines.

 

I never knew some of the metal hardtop came apart into separate pieces. Shows you how new I am to a Willys!

 

I have been around them fro a long time, and I never knew it. Makes sense, though.

 

It seems to me that a wood hardtop would be awfully heavy, with adverse effects in power and handling-not to mention trying to remove or install it.

 

Those metal tops are really heavy.

 

I cant find any blue prints for them tho I would make a great winter project!

 

Mine is in pieces- top, sides, rear door (missing), front doors. It's very simple, all flat panels except the edges of the roof which is curved. The glass slides in tracks, the windows in the doors have a handle on the glass to raise or lower the window. I was going to try to resurect it but it's hard to get a flat panel too look decent after it's been dented and abused.

 

I always forget the brand of mine but it weighs over 400lb with doors, steel sides with fiberglass roof. the father in laws Meyers top is aluminum and easily 1/2 the weight.
if you are wanting a rollbar now is the time, build the top around the bar as structure.

 

I just posted my home made top in the build forum if you are interested

 

check this out on ewillys, just saw it posted today. An old how-to kit for a cj5 top.

http://www.ewillys.com/category/artistsdrawings/