1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

convertible top for cj5

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by kamel, Nov 10, 2004.

  1. Nov 10, 2004
    kamel

    kamel Senior Curmudgeon

    Erlanger, Kentucky
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2003
    Messages:
    891
    A fellow that I know called me today and told me that he finished his invention of a soft top that would go up and down just like a normal convertible and clear the roll bar.

    He has a currently operational show quality convertible top for a CJ5.

    I haven't seen the top yet, but he described it to me a year or so ago.
    It sounded quite interesting, and if looks anything like he described then, it will be a radical change from the conventional soft tops.

    Now, this guy is pretty good - He has done some show quality radical custom work on a lot of other kinds of vehicles.

    I'll see it next week -- could be interesting.

    He tried to put it on the web, but his web site isn't up yet.
     
    kamel, Nov 10, 2004
    #1
  2. Nov 10, 2004
    dauntless_powered

    dauntless_powered SUB COB 2024 Sponsor

    Groton, CT
    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2003
    Messages:
    1,000,081
    pics!!!!!!!! that sounds very cool
     
    dauntless_powered, Nov 10, 2004
    #2
  3. Nov 10, 2004
    jd7

    jd7 Sponsor

    Nacogdoches,Texas
    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2004
    Messages:
    1,745
    To say it like Billy would... worthless without pics. ;)
     
    jd7, Nov 10, 2004
    #3
  4. Nov 10, 2004
    kamel

    kamel Senior Curmudgeon

    Erlanger, Kentucky
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2003
    Messages:
    891
    If I recall correctly and if it was finally built the way he conceived it there is no need to remove the doors when stowing the top.

    It was supposed to be either electric or hydraulic.
     
    kamel, Nov 10, 2004
    #4
  5. Nov 10, 2004
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,197
    What year CJ5?

    IMHO, it wouldn't take much to knock off Besttop as the main source for ECJ5 softops. The Supertop is nice, but has weaknesses that aren't getting fixed because there is no solid competition for it.
     
    Boyink, Nov 10, 2004
    #5
  6. Nov 10, 2004
    kamel

    kamel Senior Curmudgeon

    Erlanger, Kentucky
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2003
    Messages:
    891
    Boyink

    I agree.

    I always tried to buy Kayline when they were still around. I know that one customer wouldn't keep them in business, but I was hoping that there would be some competition in the top market.

    Without it Bestop will jack those prices up and quality down on tops other than those for new Wranglers. It always happens that way when competition disappears.


    OH, by the way, this 'convertible' top was made for a 68 cj5. It was green -- I have some of the old body parts in my shop. We did a little horse trading for some old top parts and roll bar for some surplus body parts about a year ago.
     
    kamel, Nov 10, 2004
    #6
  7. Nov 10, 2004
    vanguard

    vanguard

    Kayline is still around - now doing business as Specialty Top Co. Herm carries their stuff.
     
    vanguard, Nov 10, 2004
    #7
  8. Nov 10, 2004
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2003
    Messages:
    8,522
    yea and I have had several contacts with them pleading them to bring back some of their older stuff ! even referred them to this site to see what others were saying about their competitors and to read about what Jeepers are asking for....................to no avail...
    even though some of the older patterns were lost in the shuffle, they should have the capability to remake them...if they wanted to
    guess they don't care...and we were a dealer for them over 20+years!
     
    jpflat2a, Nov 10, 2004
    #8
  9. Nov 10, 2004
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,197
    Specialty doesn't make a rail-type top for ECJ5's.

    That feature alone would sway me to the Supertop, even with it's weaknesses.

    The only nice part about Specialty is they make colors other than black.
     
    Boyink, Nov 10, 2004
    #9
  10. Nov 10, 2004
    kamel

    kamel Senior Curmudgeon

    Erlanger, Kentucky
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2003
    Messages:
    891
    I wonder...

    If one fabricated a "top" side of the rail with a metal strip that had snap fasteners located at all the right spots, and then put the "body" side rail on the body, wouldn't it be effectively a rail type top?

    It'd just have a set of snaps on the intermediate strip.
     
    kamel, Nov 10, 2004
    #10
  11. Nov 10, 2004
    65CJ5

    65CJ5 Member

    Albuquerque
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    156
    If they came out with a viable EASY up and down top I'd buy one in a heartbeat. I like my Supertop but I'd LOVE to be able to raise and lower the thing in less than 10 minutes each way!

    Stan
     
    65CJ5, Nov 10, 2004
    #11
  12. Nov 10, 2004
    kamel

    kamel Senior Curmudgeon

    Erlanger, Kentucky
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2003
    Messages:
    891
    Stan

    One of the specs on this top is that it is supposed to go up and down just like the convertible top on that 57 chev convertible that we all either had or would love to have.


    Like I said, I know what he had intended to build, but I won't see the top 'till next week.
     
    kamel, Nov 10, 2004
    #12
New Posts