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#51 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
I drove my K5 today so get some measurements and I can run out and compare. At the windshield area these bikini tops measure about 60" wide
I'm gonna pm you some pictures with measurements.
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 |
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#52 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Meridian, Idaho
Posts: 316
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Are these Bikini tops going to come with a set of snaps or rail, for those of us who only have a hard top at this point, and no existing pre installed soft-top ?
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#53 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Modesto, CA
Posts: 1,842
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
The only advantage of having a pre-existing softtop is that the holes are already drilled. For someone like you getting a snap only version is the way to go. The top will have no snaps installed so you will need to install snaps on both your truck and on the top.
Hope this helps Burt
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1972 K5 MPFI454/Sm465/Np205/D60/14FFd/Re-Centerd H1s w/Swamper Iroks ![]() |
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#54 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Meridian, Idaho
Posts: 316
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Great thanks.
So I can just find a set of snaps and install them as I see fit for the top....and remove them for the hard top to be re-installed. It would be nice to have a template from a Bestop..so that I could have the snaps in the same place, for when I eventually get one of those full soft tops. |
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#55 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Modesto, CA
Posts: 1,842
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Yup, places like OSH or ACE harware store sells a snap kit.
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1972 K5 MPFI454/Sm465/Np205/D60/14FFd/Re-Centerd H1s w/Swamper Iroks ![]() |
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#56 | |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Quote:
Burt4x4 is correct, the bikini tops do not have any snaps installed so you get them placed where you need them. Probably gonna have people source their snap kits locally too. The upholstery guy mentioned some of the kits don't install the snaps very securely - if it were me, I'd probably see about having a local upholstery shop install the snaps with their snap press.
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 |
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#57 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Here's a link to a snap kit available at Ace Hardware stores.
__________________
1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 |
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#58 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Meridian, Idaho
Posts: 316
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Great Thanks for the snap info!
Here is a link to the Bestop Installation Manual: http://www.bestop.com/index.php?s=6 On page 5 it shows a template to use for the Windshield screw. I bet they will send a spare template if asked...to copy for the bikini's |
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#59 |
K5Camper
![]() Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pueblo, CO
Posts: 1,513
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Well since bestop is the only one still making full tops for either 1st or 2nd gens it woudn't hurt to line up the snaps for the bikini with the bestop template. I just went back to the STC site I had bookmarked and see that it's no longer active. Who knows if the actual fastrack top would ever come back.
<rant on> I'm kind of peeved that they ran that article in 4wheel and off road last month with the STC top on the 74 K5 project truck they have. By the time the article went to print STC was already sold and closed up shop. <rant off>
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Rob Z. 1975 K5 350/465/205/D44/12b 4" lift on 35's- RIP 1991 K5 8.1L/NV4500/241/D44/14b FWC Camper Last edited by Zoomad75; 04-23-2007 at 04:16 PM. |
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#60 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Here is a link to the post in the classified ad section!
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 Last edited by Yukon Jack; 04-24-2007 at 05:32 PM. |
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#61 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
I think the rail STC was selling with their Fasttrac soft top was probably something they bought rather than made.
A ck5.com member posted a link to parts available from McMaster-Carr and this diagram shows the shape of the rail ![]() The rail has the following dimensions: Length = 46 15/16" and comparing to the McMaster-Carr diagram # 2 the diminsions are: A Side = 3/16" B Width = 1 1/16" C = 9/16" Here is a pic of the rail that I bought from STC before they went out of business with the dimensions placed on the picture ![]() The screw holes are 3/16" wide and just 1/16" from the edge of the rail. At least from looking at the McMaster-Carr diagram, it looks like their holes are about in the middle of the rail - I don't know if that would cause a problem with attaching the rail to the windshield frame. The next pic shows how the edge of the bikini top is bent into a u shape and slipped into the rail. Then the tension of the rear straps and a couple snaps on each front edge secure the bikini top to the vehicle. ![]() I believe the most critical dimension is "A" as the 3/16" is the right dimension to allow the bikini top edge to slip into the rail. If someone finds this rail from a parts house or store, please let us know.
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 Last edited by Yukon Jack; 04-26-2007 at 10:40 AM. |
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#62 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: La pine Oregon
Posts: 1,668
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Yukon I would love to get a top too...
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1972 Cheyenne K-30 6"lift {502 PROJECT} 1972 Cheyenne K-30 8"lift 454 450hp {Ol'Blue} 1972 Cheyenne K-20 Custom Stretch 6" lift 454 1972 Custom Deluxe K-20 4" lift 2007 GMC Crew Cab Diesel 6"lift {The Tow Rig 2017 Ford F-350 Crew Cab 6.7 6"lift (Wife's) 1977 El Camino SS Grandpa baught new 1986 K-30 Crew Cab 502 1955 Chevy 2-Door gasser 454 550hp{project} 1956 Chevy Bel-Air 2-Door hardtop 572 700hp 1979 Ford F-350 All Original 4x4 (Wife's) |
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#63 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Sounds like a couple bikini tops have been ordered and shipped out earlier this week! If it was anyone here who ordered one of these, I look forward to seeing pics and your opinion of the tops.
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 |
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#64 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Pine Ridge Florida
Posts: 4,125
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
I had talked to him about the bikini tops. He said he was not making any untill he had more orders. I asked him to contact me when he was going to make them and I would order if I hadn't found anything. He never contacted me?
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#65 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Sorry about that. I think he has at least one extra on hand so I would say give him a call and see if it is what you need.
Plus, since he screwed up and didn't call you, surely he can make up another now if your still interested but need something other than what he has already made.
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 Last edited by Yukon Jack; 08-02-2007 at 05:04 PM. |
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#66 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2006
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454
Posts: 9,504
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
YJ, could you post up a pic. of the end of the channel please. We have all kinds of extrusions at work and maybe find something to match. Thx J.
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Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim |
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#67 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Here's the rail
![]() What you see on the bottom side is a piece of double sided tape.
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 Last edited by Yukon Jack; 08-02-2007 at 05:05 PM. |
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#68 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,229
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
yes, i think i would be interested in a bikini top, but i do not have a roll bar. i wonder if a support could be fabbed similar to a roll bar, except it just mounts to a plate that mounts on the bed rail, just aft of the seats... think it could work? I'd really like to see one installed...
bonus points to anyone who figures out how to mount one without drilling snap holes. like maybe an aluminum angle that is pie-cut to curve with the windshield and uses the original top mounting brackets, etc. then snaps could be installed in the aluminum instead of the windshield frame...
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"Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/ |
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#69 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
cstanley - here is an old post when that past member tonyp and I got these available. The ones I am making available are just like the ones shown in that old post.
As long as your support you made was fairly strong I'm sure it could work to support the bikini top but it would probably need to be triangulated for strength.
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 Last edited by Yukon Jack; 08-02-2007 at 05:35 PM. |
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#70 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Pine Ridge Florida
Posts: 4,125
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
how does the fast trac channel attach to the windshield frame?
Yukon, I'll call him monday I am in Carlisle for the truck show. |
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#71 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2006
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454
Posts: 9,504
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
So am I to understand that tension is the only thing to hold the top in the channel??? I'll start to look at the shop. Thx J.
__________________
Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim |
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#72 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 1,079
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I'm interested in a bikini top. who do we need to talk to, to get this done. Could someone let me know. Thanks
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- Jason ![]() ![]() Last edited by CJ5 Convert; 08-02-2007 at 11:14 PM. |
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#73 | ||
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Quote:
Quote:
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 |
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#74 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA
Posts: 12,684
|
Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
A couple bikini tops have been ordered and shipped at this point and I picked up one for myself and another boardmember who gave me his snap version for a template.
The webbing this upholstry man is using is a good heavy piece and the reinforcement plastic strip for the fastrack style rail is is also great. I'm very pleased with the quality. Here is an album with pictures of the bikini top designed for the rail system. Again, we are not able to produce the rail so you are on your own if you don't already have one. The snap style will look identical to these, without the plastic reinforcement sewn into the leading edge.
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1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14 |
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#75 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2006
Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454
Posts: 9,504
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Re: Anyone interested in a bikini top?
Found some canidates, don't know if you can weld the alum. extrusions. Would like to wrap it all the way around to the vent window. Weld tabs to pick up hardtop studs and viser mounting bolts..... J
__________________
Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim |
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