bikini top 1st gen

[RLONG]

I have heard of people using a CJ5 or CJ7 bikini top and using it on a 1st gen. Does anyone know how they attached it to the windshield frame? Any Ideas?

[RckyMntnKng]

You may want to contact Yukon Jack.....He worked with a gentlemen that builds bikinis for the 1st Gens. I just picked one up and the quality is excellent and fits our models right on.

[Yukon Jack]

I saw a post a while back about a guy using a, maybe mid 70s CJ's bikini top and if I remember correctly the price was hard to beat. I'll have to do some digging to see if I can find it - the post was either here or over at ck5.com

[cleszkie]

I made a bikini top out of a Bestop bikini top made for a '72 CJ 5. The earlier jeeps had winshield frames that did not taper at the top, so they are the right width for use on a K5 Blazer. I already had a full Bestop ragtop for my Blazer with the snaps along the windshield frame, so I just had an upholstery shop modify the leading edge of the CJ bikini to copy the leading edge of the K5 full top. They rounded it to match the curve of the windshield, put snaps on it so it worked with my existing snaps, and even sewed in a strip of weatherstripping to form a nice water tight seal acress the windshield frame. As I recall, the bikini cost me like $50 new, and the upholstery shop charged me like $30. That was 8 years ago, and it still looks brand new. Sure saves wear and tear on the now rare full ragtop.

Craig

[Gary 70 Jimmy]

Here is one I got off of a post here the guys name was Harry I will try to find the post.

[RLONG]

Thanks for the input i would like to keep from drilling holes if possible. My area is high rust not many 1 gen around.

[cleszkie]

I agree, drilling holes in the top of the windshield frame is not the best thing you can do to it, but doing this does not increase rust out of your frame if you apply a dap of silicon sealer to the hole before you screw the snap down. Most rust out is due to water leaking into the frame from at the endcaps and through the seam under the body sealer in the drip rail. These things were just spot welded together, so when the weatherstripping or drip rail body sealing bites the dust, water just cruises on in and hangs out a while.

Craig

[Yukon Jack]

Here's the for sale thread for the bikini top that I got produced - it is the one that Gary 70 Jimmy purchased from.

[RLONG]

Thanks for the info.

[Tomahawk30]

I know this thread is a little long in the tooth, but thought I'd post a follow up question. Does adding snaps to the top of the windshield frame prevent the use of the hardtop? Can it be reinstalled without removing / sealing the snap holes? I haven't had my top off yet to see exactly how everything fits together, so I thought I'd ask before I take on the bikini top project this summer...

[cleszkie]

I can leave the snaps in the windshield frame and still mount the hard top. There is no interference. Should be noted that my snaps are for a Bestop soft top and may be in different locations than a Kayline.

[Facetime]

sorry to Hijack, but cleszkie, what kind of tape/padding did you use on your roll bar? I am looking to do something similar. Thanks.