Single Wall Top Holes

[Tweeder]

I just bought a Single Wall, but I need to drill the holes for it since mine currently has a Double Wall. I noticed that NONE of the holes for my DW match the holes in the SW.

Has anyone done this install that can give me some measurements, like how far apart the DW holes are from the SW holes?

How should I go about doing this? Windshield bolts first to insure that its squared up?

Thanks everyone.

Adam

P.S. What size bolts do I need for the ones that go through the visor brackets? Mine have always been missing.

[LUV2XCLR8]

YES, Bolt up all of the windsheild stuff 1st, then the 2 at the rear that hang
down from the top, then you can just mark the holes and drill, the top has a
lil bit of a slot type hole, so exact placement of the holes is not a big issue,
if you can get them with in a 1/8 of the marks you should be ok, cya later

[Tweeder]

Cool

Now, can anyone tell me what size bolts I'll need for the ones that go through the visor brackets

And also, what size I'll need for the ones that go through the bedrails!

ALSO: What do I use to put threads into my bedrails for the top bolts to bolt down into???

[tom71]

my blazer seems to have both its a 72 it has holes that are threaded and holes that are just holes i could get a measurement for you . tom

[LUV2XCLR8]

some 72 models have both, "GQ" has both sets of mounting points

[vtblazer]

I also have a single walled top purchased to go on a blazer drilled for a double and I just decided rather than drill the bed rails, I'm going to drill the top to align with my current holes.

Some will scream 'NO' but it's easier to fix the fiberglass top than re-clear both of the quarter panels for sure.

[13lazer]

Originally Posted by Tweeder

Cool

Now, can anyone tell me what size bolts I'll need for the ones that go through the visor brackets

And also, what size I'll need for the ones that go through the bedrails!

ALSO: What do I use to put threads into my bedrails for the top bolts to bolt down into???

1) the bolts through the visors are 3/8" or 5/16" the threads are steel plates embedded into the fiberglass. its not easy to locate the bolts because the philps head is undersized to fit into the visor. you can use a bench grinder to get the right bevel under alan head bolts so that they seat into your visor mounts.

2) and 3) the sheet metal bolts just like the ones that your connect your inner fender to your fender. they have a 1/2" hex head, a pointy tip, 5/16" coarse threads, and a washer attached under the head. you use a nut on the bottom of your bedrail to get threads under there. you have to remove the side panels.

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by 13lazer

1) the bolts through the visors are 3/8" or 5/16" the threads are steel plates embedded into the fiberglass. its not easy to locate the bolts because the philps head is undersized to fit into the visor. you can use a bench grinder to get the right bevel under alan head bolts so that they seat into your visor mounts.

Mine have always been bolts needing a 1/2" socket to be removed.
Same as the bed side bolts only longer.

The only phillips heads I've ever seen go to the brackets for the windshield frame and to hold the rubber weather stripping in place at the top of the windshield pillar.

[BobbyK]

In this pic of my 71's bedrail you can see both sets of holes are there.

One set of holes is threaded(single wall holes) and the other set is not(double wall holes.

[Tweeder]

Thanks everybody. You guys

I'm trying to avoid drilling mistakes when I make the holes for the SW.

BobbyK or tom71: Could one of you guys measure how far apart "center-to-center" the DW holes are from the SW holes? I would really appreciate it.

[BobbyK]

sorry man,the top is on as well as my side panels.
That's an OLD pic I posted.

[Tweeder]

Originally Posted by BobbyK

sorry man,the top is on as well as my side panels.
That's an OLD pic I posted.

No worries. Maybe Tom71 can help me out if his top isn't on too. If not, then I'll figure out something. I suppose if I just make sure that they are consistently spaced apart from the existing holes, I should be alright.

Thanks for the info. guys.

Adam

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by Tweeder

No worries. Maybe Tom71 can help me out if his top isn't on too. If not, then I'll figure out something. I suppose if I just make sure that they are consistently spaced apart from the existing holes, I should be alright.

Thanks for the info. guys.

Adam

Why not just mount it and mark the new hole locations on your bedrails?

[Tweeder]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

Why not just mount it and mark the new hole locations on your bedrails?

Uhhh..... because

Nah, the reason I'm not completely sold on that idea is because I'm not convinced that my body/frame (either/or) is completely straight, square and true. And since I plan on doing a restore on it in the next year or two, I'm afraid that if I drill the holes jsut how they sit with the new top sitting on it, I might be sorry down the road when I get everything else squared up again. I know. I'm one of those "do it right the 1st time and you won't have to do it a 2nd time" guys.

I also figured since I already have the holes for the DW, if there's a specific distance that the SW holes are from them, I could just measure, mark the new ones, set the top on to check that they're dead on, then drill..... I always make these things more complicated than they need to be. Go ahead and call me paranoid.

Adam

[vtblazer]

Okay, your paranoid but it makes good sense to me.

[jaros44sr]

I'll try and take a pic. tonight w/meas. It has both holes from the factory!

[tom71]

tweeder, my top is on at this point i still may gbe able to get a measure ment from underneath shoot me a pm if you want me to give it a shot

[Tweeder]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

Okay, your paranoid but it makes good sense to me.

I had that coming!

Originally Posted by jaros44

I'll try and take a pic. tonight w/meas. It has both holes from the factory!

I would appreciate that!

Originally Posted by tom71

tweeder, my top is on at this point i still may gbe able to get a measure ment from underneath shoot me a pm if you want me to give it a shot

Cool! Then I can compare the two results from you and Jaros44. I'll send ya a PM at lunch today.

Thanks guys!
Adam

By the way, I ordered some new window seals earlier this week, (SW and DW have different glass seals) they should be in before the weekend I hope. IF so, I'll get this done this weekend. And I'll be sure to take some documentary pictures of this ordeal.

Guess I should elaborate more: My SW has no side windows or rear hatch. So I'm moving the windows from my DW to the SW. Thus the reason for new/different seals!

[jaros44sr]

OK, here goes. The round holes that go all the way thru are 12 3/4" on center. If you need the oblong holes with the threaded inserts I will have to take more pics. and measurements. Just ask!








If you need more exact areas and locations let me know.

After looking at the pics, I can see I'll have to directly over the hole to give you proper orentation, I'll have to do a better job torommow night

[Tweeder]

All I see are these X

Probably because I'm not yet a paying member. I really appreciate your effort though.

But from your description, I think you've gotten pics of the holes for the Double Wall. I've got those! What I'm after is what the distance is from the Double Wall holes to the Single Wall holes. That way, I can just measure from my existing holes from my Double Wall, and mark the spot for where I need to drill the holes for the Single Wall. -Sorry if I make that sound retarded.... I'm just trying to be specific.

....Let's say you measured on your truck that has both holes (for Single AND Double Wall tops) and found out that the distance, center-to-center from the Double Wall holes to the Single Wall holes is 9 inches.... Well all I would do is go out to my garage, grab a tape measure and some sort of paint or marker, walk over to my topless truck and measure 9 inches from the center of my Double Wall holes on my bedrail and mark it! THEN... I would put my Single Wall top on, and verify that the spots I marked on the bedrails are in the right location in comparison to the holes that are in the Single Wall top.

That's my theory anyway.

HEY, BY THE WAY: What do you mean by "oblonged hole? Are the holes for the Single Wall purposely oblonged and do the threaded inserts move back and forth giving you some "free-play" for when you bolt the top on?

Again, thank you for your efforts to help me out, jaros44. I'm going to send you a PM or an email that way I can get those pictures from you.

Adam

[jaros44sr]

OK we are kinda stuck on pics to the email, don't know how to do that yet!
Yes mine are oblong with inserts that move back and forth.
I will give you demensions off of the centerline of the big holes. But not right away as I'm tied up tonight!
As far as the big red X's, not a clue...

[tom71]

tweeder sorry its taken awhile to get back to you one of my daughters friends died so its been a tough week , she s only five , so was here friend .my measure ment from the 2nd set of holes from the front was 3 .5 inches center to center the double wall holes where in front of the single wall hope this helps . tom

[Tweeder]

Tom,
I am so sorry to hear that. My prayers and thoughts to everyone involved in that tragedy. Life is so fragile.

I got into an accident last Friday morning on the way to work. My Blazer is probably totalled. I can hardly believe it. *sigh* I'll find out later this week whether or not they're going to give me enough money to try and replace it. I'm going to post a thread of the story and then I'll link you guys to it from here. So... needless-to-say Tom... I appreciate you getting those measurements for me.... but now it does not matter.

I was just getting started on this project...

Thanks everyone. Case closed.

Adam

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by Tweeder

My Blazer is probably totalled.

Man that sucks