Single wall top question

[Tom Vogel]

I was in Utah this weekend picking up some toner for the Jimmy when I ran into this local guy who turned me onto a nice single wall top which I promptly bought and dragged home to Calif.
My question is this; Anyone ever have a look at the inside of one of these? It sure looks to me like they are more than 'one peice'. That observation would include the top portion. What do you think?
Thanks in advance...Tpm

[LUV2XCLR8]

I'm not a expert on singles, but pic's might help me learn more about em

[tnblazerk5]

i am just taking a guess here but i think a single wall top it in all reality has 2 layers of fiberglass to them( and inner and outer) there just closer togeather than a double wall the double wall, a double wall has the same but they are spaced farther apart hence the double wall part of the name

[jamie72]

yea they are 2 layerd, they even have some metal in it in high stress areas for support.

[RunTMCfan]

When I joined recently I was complimented on my single wall top. I was very thankful for the compliment. I can't remember what my old top looked like in my 70'. This is from my 72' that I acquired recently and like I stated before it was called a single wall. It looks like it has a number of pieces to it.

In my first post I stated that the top would score an 8 out of 10 but it's showing cracking at the seems.

What I'm getting at here is that I don't know why it's called a single wall.



Rob

[71jimmy]

They are referred to as single and double because they ARE different and its an easy way to understand.

[Huck]

Tom, both the single and double wall tops were manufactured from many pieces, including metal framing and fiberglass sections. I doubt that either would protect anyone in a rollover thus the option for a "roll bar" from the factory!!!!
If you look at a top closely, there are seams all over the place that were filled at the factory. Over time, the stress and aging process results in the seams showing as the filler cracks a bit. This is not a structual problem. If your cracks are straight lines or manufactured curves, then you can see the sections. In restoring, you can simply remove the old seam filler, re-fill with a non shrinking, semi-hard caulking, and repaint. If you have fiberglass cracks that are jaggered, then you may have a structual issue to repair. Both single and double wall tops are heavy and should show no flexing if good. Double walls tend to go concave on the roof so beware. Can't tell you how many tops I've seen where someone tried to remove without removing the mounting bolt that goes through the sunvisor mounting bracket only to break out a corner of the top!! Huck

[jhow66]

"double wall tops tend to go concave" ---any way to fix this condition?

[smbrouss70]

My singlewall is slightly concave too. So any info on how how to fix would be greatly appreciated.

[LUV2XCLR8]

I had a boat shop look at mine, they said they could fix it, but
right now I don't have the greenbacks for the job, one member
here, bobbyk, did a real nice re-paint on his, might be in FAQ

[krue]

Originally Posted by LUV2XCLR8

I had a boat shop look at mine, they said they could fix it, but
right now I don't have the greenbacks for the job, one member
here, bobbyk, did a real nice re-paint on his, might be in FAQ

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=146442
This might help?

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by jhow66

"double wall tops tend to go concave" ---any way to fix this condition?

I do not know if this is PC but I put expanding foam in mine and the sag dissappeared. It is much quieter and evn more solid to remove. I had a copule of holes in my top so I speyed the foam in and covered the holes with tape. I day or so later the sag had risen and I patched the holes with fiberglass. If you do not agree with my method that is OK, it is just the way I did it and it worked excellent for me, try it and you be the judge. BTW it cost like $20 to do it, and in my opinion it was worthit and I do not have a fortune in my top.

[jhow66]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

I do not know if this is PC but I put expanding foam in mine and the sag dissappeared. It is much quieter and evn more solid to remove. I had a copule of holes in my top so I speyed the foam in and covered the holes with tape. I day or so later the sag had risen and I patched the holes with fiberglass. If you do not agree with my method that is OK, it is just the way I did it and it worked excellent for me, try it and you be the judge. BTW it cost like $20 to do it, and in my opinion it was worthit and I do not have a fortune in my top.

Thanks for the reply 70'--that was just what I wanted to know(if anyone had tried it). That what my son (orangeuavol) was considering.
thanks-jhow66

[Pop's72]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

I do not know if this is PC but I put expanding foam in mine and the sag dissappeared. It is much quieter and evn more solid to remove. I had a copule of holes in my top so I speyed the foam in and covered the holes with tape. I day or so later the sag had risen and I patched the holes with fiberglass. If you do not agree with my method that is OK, it is just the way I did it and it worked excellent for me, try it and you be the judge. BTW it cost like $20 to do it, and in my opinion it was worthit and I do not have a fortune in my top.

The PO for mine also used expanding foam. As he described it, he and his friend cut 3 holes along the center of the top. They then sprayed in the foam until the sag was gone going from hole 1 to 2 to 3. I think he said they had a friend push from underneth the top to make sure the "sag" went the right way (not sure about that). Giving it a day to "rise" like 70rs/ss did sounds like a good idea to me.

[krue]

If it works, it works.

[RunTMCfan]

True that. Can't argue a cheap and easy fix that works and looks good. Hmmm if only our politicians subscribed to this.

Rob

[krue]