Re: Softop installation no Holes
 

Gel coat color matched nearly perfect

Re: Softop installation no Holes
 

Just need to add the last two missing snaps and it's done. Notice the profile is low and when the softopper is on its virtually undetectable

Re: Softop installation no Holes
 

Carving or sculpting around the door swing path (vent window) is important to keep close. I will try to get closer picture

Re: Softop installation no Holes
 

Before sculpting around door swing and after sculpting

Re: Softop installation no Holes
 

To get good clean lines your installation may need to be trimmed to the shape of your truck at each end breaking sharp edges around the door and window seals and again along the rain gutter. Provide adequate clearance to prevent chafing . Door Seals seem to have variations and preferences . First place the Header on top of the windshield . Gently push down at each end simultaneously until the Header bottoms out at the mounting locations (each visor location). Briefly check that the two center brackets are also at the correct side to side you may be able to shift it side to side for best location . Then go drill the 5/16 holes holes and drop the bolts into each hole at each sun visor then proceed to drill the center bracket holes by pushing down on the Header till It bottoms square to the two center bracket locations. (I used one hole in each bracket) When Header is bolted down there should be no gaps under either of the four bolt down locations and should be squarely seated to he top of the windshield .
Refer to the softopper installation instructions for the softop installation of the 17 snaps . I personally used snaps that came with screws , marked the hole locations as accurately as possible with ink pen ,drilled the holes in the Header and tapped with self tapping screws . I then removed the screw and ground down the screw so it did not pertrude into the inside of the Header ,then installed the snap/ screw with locktite . Once you have drilled the location of the snaps you should gel coat the Header to your color match or finish to your own specs per normal auto body practices . I have personally gel coated twice sanding between each application and then painted on final or final gel coat .
Once the Header is installed it should present with little to no visibility which my insurance company had no problems with as far as collector plates after understanding the delema of drilling holes in the mast . Hope your project comes out as expected and then some.
I will be happy if I can be available during your install for questions . As far as I'm concerned this was a no brainer installation requirement for my Blazer and the applications this Header has in Making a custom chalet really helps knock the project into reality while trying to mentally invision what your trying to build. See my post for custom Chalet as that build progresses.

Re: Softop installation no Holes
 

I seen in some of the original post that these were going for $260. is that still the case? I have been doing some research on running a soft top year round and its looking more like a possibility. Anyone else run theirs year round in snow and rain? how is the protection? does it stay warm inside?

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I dont have a soft top but I can tell you from other convertibles if you are in cold weather it will be cold!
Still need to get one! PG

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robs71k5- can i get one?

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Taxidermist check your in box

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If your serious about purchasing this header please email me at srpenner@hotmail.com . I don't check this site as often as Id like to and winding down production

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There's nothing there

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10-4

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Please don't get discouraged. A lot of us still want them and are just hoping to find the funds. I was saving to get a hood but I cannot find one. Maybe I should just pull the trigger on this as you seem to be discontinuing the product. Reviews seem to be good and it appears to be a quality piece that not everyone would recognize. Truly custom. Hmm.

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JJzepplin no worries I got you covered .

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Ive removed the bickering here. it needs to stop. Taxidermist youre new here this kind of stuff will get you banned and Robs71k5 if youre selling parts here regularly you need to be a vendor. Ive forwarded this to the parties that handle this if there is any more garbage posting threads locked suspensions handed out

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:metal:

Re: Softop installation no Holes
 

Thanks for removing the stain. As for the being a vendor here I think not . And it has proven itself throughout this board as an excepted form of moving parts and have whitnessed on many occasions with other parts being offered in the same fashion . My position is merely one of middle man . Yes I designed and built the mold for a one off part solely for use on my truck. I presented photos of my truck here as proof of concept and was congratulated with many questions to supply more , much to my surprise. I had and still have not the facilities for this production so I have been getting them built individually from a local fiberglass shop . I merely provide the info to the shop . The shop employs a experienced diabetic person from the street to built them but this person has recently lost a leg to his disease. I had no idea these parts would be as popular as they have become . If this board finds this arrangement in contrast to its rules I shall only be to happy to comply and move this site to a more fitting environment such as EBay where I would be forced to step up production or just pack it in all together I shall not take any further orders until this has been resolved Thanks

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:buh:

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I have one I purchased when robs71k5 first started making them. Still new, never installed I'm considering letting it go since I wont be running a soft top anymore.

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Sent you a pm

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Having problem with that email account . Can reach me at 604-999-9574 Rob

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Looks great. Definitely a market for them. Now design one for a Bestop and I'm first in line.

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Whats different about bestop?

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not really sure, I've never installed it I just recently picked it up. It's used but in excellent condition previous owner hardly used it at all really. I'll let you know.

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Any word if these are being sold anywhere?

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Is this for an existing top, or are you buying new? This will not work on the newer tops.

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These are for if you want a soft top but don’t want to drill into the header of the front windshield. The maker built a header the same measurement of the very front of a hard top. This way you could bolt it on to the windshield header and drill into that for the soft top. It makes it so you preserve your windshield frame. I wanted one years ago for my blazer but life happens and I had to put my build on hold. Now I’m starting up again where I left off. I was curious if there is anything like this still being sold. I suggest going Back through the thread and look at some pictures. It’ll prolly explain it better then I can

Re: Softop installation no Holes
 

First off this post is not intended to be an advertisement of any product that is currently for sale in any form or fashion.

Further, I have been looking into the possibility of producing these but, as of yet, haven't been able to do so in a way that would be affordable.
I am still pursuing the idea.

My business is in CNC machining. Mostly contract work for industrial customers but, being a 67-72 enthusiast has compelled me to make some custom pieces specific to them.

I will share what I did to mount my bikini top to my Blazer without drilling holes into the header.

Starting out by doing a bunch of measuring and CAD drawing, I was able to closely recreate the geometry of the top of the windshield header on my '70 K/5 Blazer.
I then created a machine program and some fixtures to fasten on a piece of 1/8" aluminum sheet. I had to do it in two sections because of the limit of my largest CNC mill.
I milled the shape and put the holes and slots in at the calculated positions.

Then using a larger, thicker piece of aluminum, I machined a fixture to clamp the piece on and bend the proper angles to match the header geometry.

I used a malleable grade of aluminum and used a soft hammer to shape it to the fixture.

The center tabs are slotted and bent downward to align with the factory hard top mounting holes. and I simply bolted through the outer visor/hard top mount.

The bikini top I have uses a "J" channel along the front to fasten to the mount piece so there are no snaps to attach, but it would only be a matter of drilling and riveting them on if the application called for them.

This is only the prototype and again I'm still trying to work out a way to produce these that would be both profitable to me and affordable to the buyer. I won't go into the specifics of the manufacturing costs but it would be a substantial investment on my part, especially for such a niche product.

Any way here are a couple of pictures of the concept.
These are before the center tabs were slotted and bent into position and one is after the bikini top is loosely attached onto the header.
The additional hole are simply used to clamp the piece onto the fixture for machining.
Attachment 2326815

Attachment 2326816

Attachment 2326817

Re: Softop installation no Holes
 

Still dig this!

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some nice work

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Hello there A1971Blazer- Did anything ever develop since we last talked about Softopper being interested in your design for the windshield header?

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To be honest, I had forgotten about it.

I'll probably reach out to them whenever I get it worked out to where I can produce them at a reasonable price.

I'm trying now to get the blanks laser cut at a decent price and I'll still have to build a set of bending dies.