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Old 05-10-2010, 11:38 PM   #1
frostie_122
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The bikini write up...

Take four 1" aluminum strips and bend them into L brackets. One side of each bracket drill a hole/slot that is in line with the existing four sun visor mounting threaded holes. On the other non-drilled side of the L bracket drill a few randomly spaced 1/8" holes. Now you have four matching L brackets that bolt to the factory hols and wrap on top of the windshield frame. top of frame has the random 1/8" holes. (see pic one)

Next tape off entire top off windshield frame and plastic off ALL surrounding areas...fiberglass is gross ****. Tape over the drip rail, tape off a good couple inches outside of where a hard top would touch down in the front. I used green tape. The tape acts as a release agent. Once the fiberglass is laid and kicks you can pull it off like a mold.

Take fiberglass mat and resin and make the first layer, prob 1/8" thick. MAKE SURE ITS STILL WET FOR THE NEXT STEP. Take the four L brackets, bolt them into the four sun visor holes. Make sure they are snug and the side with the randomly drilled 1/8" holes is touching the already laid 1/8" fiberglass, this is where a slot vs. a hole is nice because you have some adjustment. Make another 1/8" layer of mat and resin and sandwich the L brackets in. The random holes act as a mean of resin going from top and bottom of the fiberglass layers so the brackets don't just slide out. Really get the fiberglass and resin in the holes as much as possible (I also used chopped strand and cabosil, kinda of a powder to make a paste in the holes. Prob not necessary). Your final piece should have about 1/4" of fiberglass with the four L brackets sandwiched in.

Go get a good micro brew and wait for the glass to kick.

Once the glass is cured and is nice and hard pull the four mounting bolts and peel off the 1/4" fiberglass piece. Trim it up with an air saw or grinder and mimic the factory hardtop for shape. Next bring it to a local upholstery shop with a pic of mine and they should be able to reproduce the same effect. Different roll bars will determine length and shape. I ended up making three different roll bars till I found the one I liked and then built the soft top around that. I used snaps on the roll bar in these pics but ended up making a new bar and have straps that extend to about mid bedside in a triangle fashion and attach with a d ring.

This is about as good as I can come up with for a "write up" but a lot of people had questions so I gave it a go.

any more questions feel free to pm me.

colin

I attached a few more better pics that might help show what I'm explainin'
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Old 05-11-2010, 10:17 AM   #2
VanceH
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Re: The bikini write up...

Very nice
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Old 05-11-2010, 03:25 PM   #3
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Re: The bikini write up...

nice job, thanks for takin' the time to splain everything! Pics help alot. I was just goin' to use an old hardtop that I have layin' around, but your system seems to work well...thanks again
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Old 05-11-2010, 07:47 PM   #4
Dusty71blazer
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Re: The bikini write up...

Nice top!
Do you have more pictures of your roll bar?
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Old 05-11-2010, 08:13 PM   #5
frostie_122
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Re: The bikini write up...

No that bar I yarded. The new one is smaller and conforms more to what the hard top was. This is because the soft top wasnt covering all the side window.
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Old 05-11-2010, 08:18 PM   #6
VanceH
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Re: The bikini write up...

Frostie! Two questions? How much to make me a front bracket? and what are those seats out of, they look great, i am thinking of changing my original seats out, would like to get something more comfortable as my jimmy is my DD.

Thanks,

Vance
PS i can drive to bend and pay you!!
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Old 05-11-2010, 09:35 PM   #7
frostie_122
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Re: The bikini write up...

the seats are out of a 2006 pontiac GTO. I added heated elements as well. Full power and heated seats is a great upgrade from the stockers.
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Old 05-12-2010, 09:40 AM   #8
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Re: The bikini write up...

Do you have any pics of the fiberglass bar with it uninstalled from the truck?
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Old 05-12-2010, 09:50 AM   #9
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Re: The bikini write up...

unfortunately not.
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