Custom top help needed

[Traveler]

I have a CJ5 that the original owner built a custom cage in. The front and middle rollbar looks original but over the back seat is where I am having the problem. If you look at my jeep from the side you can draw a straight line from the rear roll bar down to the tailgate/body. In other words there is no angle the line is perpendicular(90 degrees) to the ground. If you look at any soft top out there you will see the rear of the top is at an angle starting from the top of the tailgate to the top of the roof.
I have the hardware from the original top but am pretty sure I don't have the know-how to fabricate my own top. Does anyone know a custom place or have you had to modify soft tops for your own use?

If you can help me, or want to know just what the heck I am talking about I can email you a picture that might help explain.

Until then its topless! After all thats what a jeep is for right?

[Bull]

I would check around at some local uphousltery shops and see what they would charge you to a) make a top for it, or b) modify an existing aftermarket top to fit it. You would probably come out cheaper in the end this way.

[Rollbar]

Look in the Yellow Pages for a MARINE Custom Top mfg & then check @ your local dock & get some info, you will be suprised where you can find a Marine top mfg, plus it would be water proof.

Check it out, it might be worth it.

Have A Great Day!

JB
:)
:USA:

[Ueland]

Ok.. here goes...

You could probably use a modified CJ7 top on your rig. You would need the lenght (over the driver and pasenger area) cut down and resewn. I haven't done this mod before but from what your asking its a good place to start. I would find a CJ7 and break out the tape measure and start writin everything down. find out what the length is from the back of the door opening to the rear corner. Also find out the width of the body tub. as for the length (front to back)theres 2 things I would measure: 1 bring a big stick and do the "right angle guestimate" using the stick as a vertical extension of the tailgate. 2 measure from the top of the windshield frame to the top of the tailgate. now do the same thing on your cj. You "SHOULD" be able to just chop down the CJ7 top and have it work fine. Also you may need to raise up the soft top frame using a 1" block or two.

Good luck

[Ueland]

Heres one more option for ya.... www.californiatops.com (yeah I know the got some bad press in the past. makes a "frameless top" thres not one for the CJ5 but you could do the same thing as far as cutting down a CJ7/YJ top to make it fit a CJ5. I'm pretty sure I've seen another frameless jeep top but I can't remember who makes it I want to say its a Rock top??? not sure though. I'm pretty sure that the calitop will be the more price conservative option.

Also, after you fab/fit a top onto it most standard cj5 doors should fit just fine.

[Traveler]

thanks for the help folks. I am almost ready to change the rear roll bar and buy a reg soft top. The point was brought up to me that if anything every happened to a modified top I would have to modify a 2nd top to replace the first one. I have found a marine upholstery place that will modify one for me at $40 and hour. Problem is getting material to match.

anyway thanks, I'll keep ya posted

Bob

[Ueland]

That seems a lil high for upholstery work. I'd hate to see you get rid of a good solid functional cage just for the reason of a soft top. If you do all the measurements It should be a simle task of resewing. just one cut and making one new seam. have you checked with Kayline tops?? they might have somethin. Also the only way you'll know if its gonna fit or not is to actualy try a standard CJ5 top. We could be trying to figure this out for nothing. You may be able to get the top to stretch over the roll bar with no problem at all.

Do you have a pic to post so we can see what we're actualy talking about??

[Traveler]

I tried kayline tops and found them to be out of business. All the manufactures from the catalogue told me to get it custom done. I would love to post a pic.....but can't figure out how. How did you get the pic in your signature block?

[Ueland]

How did you get the pic in your signature block?

standard BB code.



You just have to have the image on a website somewhere so you can link to it.