Anyone interested in a bikini top?

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by LUV2XCLR8

Mine has 4 mounting points, 2 L shaped brackets, and then the 2 that go
through the visors, I think that would be plenty but not everyone runs a
set of visors. I will take lots of pic's and measurements tomorrow, then I
can go from there and see what we have that might be usable at work.

After looking at mine again I have to agree, good luck. Keep us posted.... J.

[WORNBRAKES]

Interested, but currious to see how it mounts for us with out a rail or exsisting snaps. If we can get a rail at a reasonable price, thats good.
Otherwise, if they install the snap heads in the top and proved measurements to install the buts (not sure what they are called) on the frame, that might work as well.

[Yukon Jack]

Luv2xlr8 - if you can come up with a mounting system, I'm sure the top guy can work with it, just would have to get a prototype from you to work with.

Vtblazer, the lenght can be flexibile. Right now the order form gets a measurement from the front windshield to the rollbar. If you wanted something longer, I'm sure that could be done. It could result in a slightly higher price, just have to check with the upholstery guy.

Blue4x4 - one could be done without straps I imagine - how would you secure the back side of the top?

You know, if Luv can work up a good attachment system, we could look into having some full soft tops made by this guy to use that system. Wouldn't that be awesome to not need snaps up front! The rail system still uses a couple snaps but I sure would prefer no snaps at all. He has made a first gen K5 top before and we might be able to iron out some of the things we don't like about the existing tops.

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

Luv2xlr8 - if you can come up with a mounting system, I'm sure the top guy can work with it, just would have to get a prototype from you to work with.

Vtblazer, the lenght can be flexibile. Right now the order form gets a measurement from the front windshield to the rollbar. If you wanted something longer, I'm sure that could be done. It could result in a slightly higher price, just have to check with the upholstery guy.

Blue4x4 - one could be done without straps I imagine - how would you secure the back side of the top?

You know, if Luv can work up a good attachment system, we could look into having some full soft tops made by this guy to use that system. Wouldn't that be awesome to not need snaps up front! The rail system still uses a couple snaps but I sure would prefer no snaps at all. He has made a first gen K5 top before and we might be able to iron out some of the things we don't like about the existing tops.

You read my mind Yukon

[vtblazer]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

You know, if Luv can work up a good attachment system, we could look into having some full soft tops made by this guy to use that system. Wouldn't that be awesome to not need snaps up front! The rail system still uses a couple snaps but I sure would prefer no snaps at all. He has made a first gen K5 top before and we might be able to iron out some of the things we don't like about the existing tops.

Working through the bugs on our existing tops and making a better system all around would be sweet for sure.

Like a soft top that actually seals/works around the front windows.

[jaros44sr]

Also on the tr4 top it had a flange of extra matrl., about 1 1/2 -2" long extending around the window opening. In this flange was elastic that connected to the windshield and the top of the door opening rear with a small d ring. It also had a small puffy sack sewn into the flange to apply pressure onto the window, almost like a pocket the window would crank up into, but not quite, more like pressure against it.

Anyway that's my .02 worth.... J.

[Burt4x4]

Hello everyone.
I have had both Kayline snaptop and now FastTrack.
Both require holes drilled into the windowframe. The fast track rail mounts with like 5screws & 4snaps for the corners so you do save some driling with the rail type.
I installed all screws or snaps with a dab of RTV to keep the water out.
Inorder to get the hardtop back on, the snaps & screws must be removed(fill holes with RTV).
THe rear straps are needed to snug up the top nice and tight, like a sinch strap. Otherwise the top will flap like mad if you don't sinch it down nice and tight.
I don't have pics...shortly after TonyP got me the snap bikini top I won a FastTrack soft top at BlazerFest so I only used the bikini for one trip and then I swapped on the FastTrack.
The probelm with making a rail for it is the curve of the window frame. The fasttrack rail is only in the center of the windowframe and then the ends are snaps, like this:


You can see the fabric is tucked into the rail, bairly see the screw for the rail.

The rail is al the way forward..but again just in the center and the snaps secure the corners.

For a full rail you would need to have a bend to it..but you still have to drill holes....

Hope this helps you all.....

YJ ~ I have the top in my diesel, I just need to find a box and drop it off at the POffice

[Huck]

I've got two Blazer parts vehicles. What I am thinking about is cutting apart the windshield frame and use the top section as a Bikini leading edge ---attaching it with brackets to the regular hardtop mounting positions---both the centered ones and the visor mounts. This would give me a strong leading edge for the soft top and should overlay my windshield frame pretty snug. This is not intended as a waterproff solution but a simple mounting idea that would eliminate the need for drilling holes in my good windshield frame top.~~~hummmmmm

[Blue4x4]

I meant without the snaps...good catch.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Maybe Sunday? My week was busier than expected

[badchev69]

I would be all over one of these for mine... count me in!

[Yukon Jack]

Any great thoughts Luv?

[LUV2XCLR8]

I completely forgot about this, I'm going outside right now

[Yukon Jack]

Recieved Burt4x4's snap top bikini top in the mail early this week and will be making a trip to the upholstery shop early next week to start finalizing the production of some bikini tops. My crystal ball tells me Luv has been doing some head scratching on the alternative attachment system - will be interesting to learn more about that. I'll keep everyone updated.

[RckyMntnKng]

Id definately be interested in a bikini top!

[Blue4x4]

Keep my name in the pot.

[72 Blue Belle]

I am interested as well... Of course, I guess I need that rollbar first...

[ugly]

lemme know, I would be interested in one.

Snaps are what I have, but they Su-k! Not ready to get a new soft top though.

[Yukon Jack]

Well, that's 18 potential people who are interested so far - that ought to make the upholstery guy happy and make it worth his time.

I'll try to get over to his shop this week and get some more done on this project. If Luv comes up with a different attachment method that works and is economical I'm sure the upholstery guy will be able to make all three versions.

[Yukon Jack]

Took my bikini top which is the Fastrack style and Burt4x4's snap bikini top to the upholstery shop today and the man took measurements and is figuring out pricing. Previously these tops were available in vinyl or canvas and he highly recommends not using the vinyl as it doesn't wear well he said.

Should have pricing shortly and actually be ready to get a post going in the classified section to make these available soon.

I spoke to him about making a full soft top and he said the top he made before was not a full soft top and making the bows and everything involved is more than he would want to undertake.

[Burt4x4]

Cool!
So is he making it out of that "Sunbrella" material. ?

[Zoomad75]

Yukon-

You are doing a great service by putting something like this together. One question for the 73-75 2nd gen full convertible crowd. How hard would it be to fit this top to the 73-75 windshield header?

I know they are different shapes but the dimensions are close. If you need measurements, let me know.

[Yukon Jack]

Can't imagine it would be too hard. Is the windshield frame contour about the same? If so, probably could work as the tops don't have the snaps installed - the user installs the snaps to get them exactly where they need to be located.

I think the upholstery shop guy is looking at canvas material made by Dickson.

[Burt4x4]

Cool!
Make one just like the one I sent you but FastTrack version

[Zoomad75]

I think the 2nd gen header has more of a continuous curve to it as compared to the first get being more straight through the middle.

I guess it would depend on how the top fastens to the header. If it's all snaps it really wouldn't matter if the dimensions were close. If the top uses a rail like the fastrack tops do, then the rail might need a little shaping to fit. If the rail is aluminum it wouldn't be hard to shape it to fit.

I'll have to go outside and measure the width.