A Couple of Things About My Top

[K5Fan]

I hope everyone is doing well today...
I recently bought a 1970 Blazer that I'm doing a partial resto, and I've had a couple of them in the past, but its been a while. I have a couple of questions that I think I know the answers to, but I would like to get some other ideas and input.

First, I'm pretty sure I have a two wall top, since on the past Blazer tops I've had, the bolts for the sides of the top went down into the body from the top of the sides, with the chrome pieces. The one I have, the bolts go in from under the bed up into the top, and you can't see the bolts when they are in. Also, the inner underside of the top has the lines going fore and aft, and there seems to be a hollow space between the underside of the top and the top side of the top. I know it sounds silly to ask, but that is what is called a two wall top, right?

The other thing that I am doing is making a bikini top that I want to attach to the front of the windshield and stretch it back, over the roll bar. I was looking to make the top out of Ottertex and wanted to know if anyone has used this material. What ever material I use, I wanted to have the front of the top wrap around the underside of the ledge on the front of the windshield frame, and didn't know what the best way was to secure the front of the bikini to the underside of the ledge. 100 years ago, the last time I made a bikini top for my 67 Blazer, I don't remember if it had the same ledge on the front of the windshield frame or not. Either way, what I did was I found a wrecked Blazer with a smashed top, but the front of the fiberglass top was still good. I cut the fiberglass top to where i was able to bolt it on to the windshield frame seal, and glassed in the canvas with biaxle and epoxy. Worked Great!! I wish I hadn't sold it with the truck, but... I was able to roll up the canvas with the fiberglass top front, and it fit in back between the roll bar and the bedside, but even when I had it strapped in the back it was still kind of clunky and would get in the way of stuff. Worst of all, it wore a couple of holes in my roll bar covers because of the shape of the fiberglass.

I would like to try to figure out a way to just secure the material across the front top of the windshield frame and wrap it around under the ledge that sticks out from the front of the windshield frame. I was thinking Velcro, since that would make a continuous connection unlike snaps or something . I have looked for some kind of frame or even a bikini top I could buy, but the closest thing I could find was from Bestop for a Scout, and it specifically says that it will not fit my Blazer. Any ideas or suggestions?

This is a great forum, and I'm glad to be a part of it. Thank Youuuuu!!!

Chris.

[notsolo]

There was a member here who made a molded piece for the top of the windshield frame. Might use the search function, hope someone else has a link. Don't know if he still has them for sale.

[K5Fan]

Yeah, that's kind of what I made for the last one I had. Does anyone know who makes and/or sells them?

Chris.

[Thealien]

I bought one of those and I am not going to use it. I will try to take some pictures today or tomorrow and I will post them in this thread.

I have posted a couple pictures of it somewhere on this forum but for the life of me I can’t remember where?

[K5Fan]

Sounds good. Thank You!

[Thealien]

Here are the pictures in this post


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...6&postcount=19

[K5Fan]

That looks pretty cool. Like I said, I was going to maybe put Velcro along the underside of the front ledge, but that looks like it would be better. Can you get me in touch with the member or person you got it from?

[A1971Blazer]

I made on for my '70 from aluminum sheet 1/8" thick
I cut and bent it to conform to the contour of the windshield frame and to use the existing mounting holes for the top.
I bought some sewable plastic "J" channel and had my buddy at his upholstery shop sew it to bikini top that I had bought from someone on face book.
It isn't exactly like I want it yet but I bought some more material to make another one this spring.
Here are a couple of pictures of the header I made from aluminum.


the tabs on the back are bent down to catch the mounting holes in the windshield frame




top is loosely fitted here

[Thealien]

Originally Posted by K5Fan

That looks pretty cool. Like I said, I was going to maybe put Velcro along the underside of the front ledge, but that looks like it would be better. Can you get me in touch with the member or person you got it from?

He is in Canada and shipping was expensive. Took a while to get. If I could find an inexpensive shipping option I would sell you this one for less than I paid?

I'll see if I can find his contact info but I think I deleted it. Might have his email in my PayPal account?

[Blazerowner]

How did you get those bends like that?

Originally Posted by A1971Blazer

I made on for my '70 from aluminum sheet 1/8" thick
I cut and bent it to conform to the contour of the windshield frame and to use the existing mounting holes for the top.
I bought some sewable plastic "J" channel and had my buddy at his upholstery shop sew it to bikini top that I had bought from someone on face book.
It isn't exactly like I want it yet but I bought some more material to make another one this spring.
Here are a couple of pictures of the header I made from aluminum.
Attachment 2078620

the tabs on the back are bent down to catch the mounting holes in the windshield frame
Attachment 2078621

Attachment 2078622

top is loosely fitted here
Attachment 2078623

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by Blazerowner

How did you get those bends like that?

I machined a bending shoe to match the contour of the windshield frame
I had to make it so that it would bend one side at a time because my CNC mill only has 50" of travel in X direction.
I took a thick piece of aluminum and milled the contour on both sides in order to get the left and right side contour.
I clamp it down with a top plate and bend it with a soft hammer using the softer 1100 aluminum rather than 6061
I'm still working on the final shape, also will add a piece of weatherstrip underneath to seal it

this is the bending shoe...clamped it to the manual mill to hold it while bending.


installed with tabs bent and bolted down...
I know....I need to repair the outer windshield frame where the weatherstrip attaches...
it's on the list

[best view]

That is all Greek to me nice work some skill there ,I took a hard top and cut the front 6 in off it same idea

[SeventyOne]

A1971Blazer - if you ever decide to make a small production run on the aluminum header I'd love to buy one.

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by SeventyOne

A1971Blazer - if you ever decide to make a small production run on the aluminum header I'd love to buy one.

I’m trying to evaluate the options for producing these at a reasonable price...looking to get a full sheet of aluminum and have them waterjet cut. Machining them on the CNC mill is just too expensive. I’ll create a thread if and when I’m able to proceed with them. Thanks for the interest.

[Blazerowner]

I would be a buyer. It’s much cleaner than the one I made since I don’t have access to that type of equipment.

Originally Posted by A1971Blazer

I’m trying to evaluate the options for producing these at a reasonable price...looking to get a full sheet of aluminum and have
them waterjet cut. Machining them on the CNC mill is just too expensive. I’ll create a thread if and when I’m able to proceed with them. Thanks for the interest.

[Moecarroll]

Looking good. I would be willing to buy one.

Morgan

[1972CST]

That's a piece of art, definitely interested.

[72jimm]

Interested as well!

[Chad Alder]

I'd be a buyer assuming the cost is reasonable.

Thanks!

Chad

[CG]

I want one and I dont even own a Blazer =) I love stuff like this, someone sees a need and makes it happen. Nice job!

[best view]

That’s a needed part for a soft top

[RookDogg7]

Would buy one today if they were available. Nice work!

[HotRod4me]

Have you gotten any closer to making these available?
Nice work!!!

[1972CST]

I know this is an older thread, just wanted to bump it to see if there is any chance of this being available?

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by 1972CST

I know this is an older thread, just wanted to bump it to see if there is any chance of this being available?

Sorry, I haven't had a great deal of time to devote to this idea.
With the interest in them, I hope to get back to it before long.