Looking good Tim!
I never realized that the best way to reassemble a hard too was by bolting it in place. I’m calling that my lesson for the day!I got it all bolted together tonight, literally finished about an hour ago. I think I have around 40 hours into this hard top refresh; about 10 today, solid 12 yesterday, had a couple half days this past week and then last weekend was at least 10. And what's scary is I'm actually better at it than I used to be, and it still takes forever.
Pic of the first body panel in place...
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With a front door added...
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I'm either terrible at the "string method" for windows, or my string is too big, or my gaskets are too old. I tried the string on the first door window and just kept tearing the gasket. So the next fastest window install method was me hold the window while my son Gavin pries the seal into place with a screwdriver. he actually got pretty good at it... didn't scratch anything either. But it took most of the afternoon to get the windows in, doors on, then well into the evening getting the cap bolted on, I had to use a ratchet to get things to line up, but that's kinda typical on these. I ordered a new head liner from CruiserCorps, but those guys are notorious for taking forever to actually ship anything so I didn't bother waiting to put the cap on. that'll be its own project. Same with painting the top- for now it's just plasti dipped so it looks fresh & clean, at some point I want to paint it though, but not this week.
Other mods I'm working on is I took the roll bar out to get more interior room, and I'm going to swap the '72 jump seats from the trailer into this, so I can haul more 8th graders. I also want to lower it by pulling a leaf from each of the packs, and I'm going to get my OG rims powder coated Cygnus white then slap those on here with some new tires. These gray rims & hub caps will then go to the trailer. But all in good time, for today I've got a hard top again for the first time in a few years so it's kinda like a new truck.
I'll get some daylight pics tomorrow...
I can't part with it Abe, sorry man. I must hoard any/all 40 parts just so I have the complete package someday. However, if you want to borrow the rollbar for a little while, & give it to someone who can fabricate you one, we could work that out.If you decide to not out that roll bar back in, I would happily buy it from you.
No worries. I honestly didn't think there was much chance. But just in case you were planning to stay with the hardtop & big jump seats permanently, I figured I had to ask. Thanks for the offer to loan, but I think I'm good without it. I actually have one downstairs, but I'm looking for a second one for Erica's BJ43. I want to run the, "two OEM roll bars connect by straight spreader bars" type of set up on it & your bar would be perfect for the front since it is late model & has the shouldn't belt mounting stuff on it already. But not a crisis at all. Her truck doesn't run yet, so it is more of a long term low grade search.I can't part with it Abe, sorry man. I must hoard any/all 40 parts just so I have the complete package someday. However, if you want to borrow the rollbar for a little while, & give it to someone who can fabricate you one, we could work that out.