Soft Top Installation - HELP!!!

[Bluegoose972]

Having problems with my soft top installation. The directions that are provided from STC are the pits. Here are a few questions:

1) There's a small angle bracket that bolts onto the window frame, for support of the horizontal window brace. There is three holes in the window frame. From the STC directions, it looks like the bracket uses the outside bolt hole. On my blazer, on both sides (passenger and driver), there is only an open hole at this outside mounting location. So:
a) I'm using the wrong location;
b) This is the right location and I'm suppose to weld a nut in position.
c) There was a nut there at one time, but it has been removed somehow and I need to weld a new one in position.

2) The aluminum bed rails are suppose to line up with existing holes in the bed. After the first call the STC's tech line, I finally figured out how the brackets were suppose to be installed since none of the bolt locations matched up. I actually had to just drill new holes and I'll weld up the old holes when I get to the body work. But they didn't supply nuts for the bolts. Not a big deal, but is there suppose to be nuts welded in position on the bed rails? Does anyone have these nuts welded on their blazer? I would just like to make sure that I'm not missing something.

3) Does anyone have a picture of how the horizontal window brace mounts in position? I thought I had things pretty well positioned last night, but when I closed the door, the door frame at the top of the vent window hits the window brace. I'm not sure if this is right since the directions are so bad. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks guys/gals,
Rick

[smokekiki]

My bracket is bolted to the lower hole.On my frame there are 3 holes in a triangle shape.The lower hole is in farther than the outermost hole.And it was a threaded hole.I had to use nuts under my rails.

[3wbdriver]

You seem to have a Blazer that was rigged for a double wall top. On the single wall top Blazers there are threaded inserts under the bed rail (4 per side I think).
My Bestop came as a direct bolt in for this setup, ergo no nuts. I'll have to think about the window brace. I took all of that off of mine 18 months ago, and put a hard top back on. I put on a double wall top, and had to drill holes in the rails for it! I'll post again this evening if I figure out the brace.

[Bluegoose972]

Thanks for the assistance. Making more sense now.

By the way, anyone interested in purchasing a soft top from STC should be prepared to deal with a very arrogant individual in their tech department. This will be the second time I'm had a run-in with him and given the chance, I would never deal with STC again. I'm not going to go into particulars since it would just sound like whining. Just be warned that customer service is not a big issue with them.

[smokekiki]

See if these load....http://www.hpphoto.com/sessions/7858...38062870lg.jpg http://www.hpphoto.com/sessions/7858...38062872lg.jpg

[Bluegoose972]

Wouldn't load.

[smokekiki]

I have not figured out the pic loading yet.Hope they are what you need

[Jimmy72custom]

Who is STC?

[3wbdriver]

There is a link to them at http://www.coloradok5.com. They picked up the Kayliner top line when that company folded. They make lots of cool, and expensive aftermarket parts for our babies. Mostly suspension.

[charles oliver]

Here is where Pierce gave instructions for the Fastrack top install.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php3?t=55149
Charlie

Originally Posted by 3wbdriver

There is a link to them at http://www.coloradok5.com. They picked up the Kayliner top line when that company folded. They make lots of cool, and expensive aftermarket parts for our babies. Mostly suspension.

[3wbdriver]

OOPS!!! Sorry folks. Got them mixed up with Off Road Design. They are both linked thru Coloradok5.

[Bluegoose972]

Thanks for the help guys. The link to Pierce's writeup was perfect. I knew I had seen something like that before, but I haven't mastered the search engine in this new format yet and couldn't find it.

Thanks again,
Rick

[mister.freeze]

why not weld nuts to the rails in the kit? Then you bolt from the bottom like the doublewall does. I've got the same top, but panned from the get go to fab new rails all around... I AM NOT PUTTING ANY RUSTY SNAPS PERMANENTLY ON THE FOX!!!

[Blazer1970]

Originally Posted by mister.freeze

why not weld nuts to the rails in the kit?

The rails are aluminum.

[mister.freeze]

OK. Aluminum nuts. They might cost a bit more, but what doesn't?

[Bluegoose972]

I wouldn't want the threaded portion of the bolt to be sticking up where you could snag skin or clothing. You could probably adjust that with bolt length and washers, but it still won't be as clean as have the bolt go in from the top, I'm afraid.