Soft Top

[Ford Mechanic]

Good info on those little bars now to fix mine.

Any one know if someone makes a bikini top for the M35 like the jeeps? All top, no back? Would be cool for the beach.....It's 45* here and you see where my mind is at

 

[SSG ALBANESE]

I used JB weld on each bar. No clatter.

 

[vincentbsll]

This may sound stupid but my top rails clanked so bad going down the road so I took and used a zip tie on each one and used it on the windshield side. Ran the tie down through the hole and wrapped it around the rod. Now it makes no noise at all. I tried the bending of the rods but eventually they would pop back out.

 

[Blueduce]

I found a neat trick that worked great. I used copper pipe insulation on all my poles and spreaders. It stretched the top the 1/2" or so it needed and quieted the wind and chatter noise considerably. Here's before / after picks.

 

[greenmonster]

anyone have any pics of the top as it is in the channel on the windshield. my new top is not fitting right. It was missing strip when I got truck so I am not sure how it is supposed to look. Thanks.

 

[LowTech]

I actually added 2 more bows in-between the others to give even more support to the top. Works great and the top fits tighter.

I saw when you did that and put it on my "Upgrade" list right away.
Right now my whole top assembly is not up to what I want, . . . still collecting parts
and I put too much time into the She Beast . . .

 

[LowTech]

I found a neat trick that worked great. I used copper pipe insulation on all my poles and spreaders. It stretched the top the 1/2" or so it needed and quieted the wind and chatter noise considerably. Here's before / after picks.

That is the coolest! I'm doing that.

 

[joshs1ofakindxj]

I didn't want to start a new thread on this.

I went to put a nice new 3 color vinyl insulated soft top on my truck last night. I'm using door window frames from another deal, and they look old but still good.

The problem came when I tried to slide the vertical window frame engaging strips into the channels in the old window frame. I greased them and the farthest I got them was a few inches. Both sides are equally tight and don't appear damaged. Do I have the wrong frames from an older type of top? I'm hoping I'm making some simple mistake someone can advise me on before I pound a drill rod through there to widen the slot.

 

[brianp454]

Can you take pics?

I didn't want to start a new thread on this.

I went to put a nice new 3 color vinyl insulated soft top on my truck last night. I'm using door window frames from another deal, and they look old but still good.

The problem came when I tried to slide the vertical window frame engaging strips into the channels in the old window frame. I greased them and the farthest I got them was a few inches. Both sides are equally tight and don't appear damaged. Do I have the wrong frames from an older type of top? I'm hoping I'm making some simple mistake someone can advise me on before I pound a drill rod through there to widen the slot.

 

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Can you take pics?

Well in this picture below I found online, I circled the area where the strip is engaging the frame, and it is inserted in the channel in the direction of the arrow.

 

[caliber1]

Is the frame rusty or...? Look for burrs on the metal that would jam the top up. Also, I use silicone spray on stuff like that. Just a few thoughts.

 

[RAYZER]

Take a big screw driver and pry open the channels a bit, this will give more room for the insert.

 

[Blueduce]

I Had to clean both channels of the window frame. I found a piece of "all thread" about the same diameter as the hard rubber engaging strip and ran it through the door channel a time or two. That should re-round the channel and remove any rust or burrs.I then used a shotgun cleaning rod and a brass bore brush. I think a 9mm brush was the one I settled on. Lot's or crud came out along with the CLP I used as lube for the brush. With the CLP still wet inside the channel I gently tapped the rubber engaging strip into the channel (From the top) with a rubber mallet. It took some time but worked well. Good luck. I tried the "pry with a big screwdriver" option and that caused more dammage to the channel.