PO Hosed me... Whats the Fix?

[elks]

So I am picking up a hard top tomorrow. I need to get a top on my blazer for the winter. Soft top fell apart, its only like 8+ years old. Windows have all turned yellow and the cold this winter cracked em all.

At any rate looking across the front window frame, I have 1 of the 2 needed holes for the sunvisor braket on each side. Basically the one on the upper vertical section is there but the one on the lower angled part is gone. Looks like they welded over the hole and ground it close to flat.

If I am only running the top for the remaining winter can I run with just 1 bolt each side? Max speedo n my blazer is only 55 and most of its duty is coyote hunting. It will not see any real hardcore wheeling this winter.

Are there insert nuts? Can I weld a nut to a flat piece? I need something, but will one of the 2 kind of hold?

Thanks

[jaros44sr]

You do have the two brackets by the mirror, dont you?

[elks]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

You do have the two brackets by the mirror, dont you?

Yes I will end up with the 2 inner locations and one each at the visors for now. I am thinking that should be good with the limited use the blazer sees until summer.

I will definitely have a lot of repairs come summer, but everything is able to be fixed.... Right? LOL

[Dale99]

I've not had the top off of mine in the 2 months Ive had it. So I'm partly confused. Did you happen to take pictures?

[truckster]

I think you'll be OK, but I wouldn't do anything crazy with it. If there were enough flexing to move it significantly, the forces on the bolt into the top would be an angular shearing force. But if you drive it nicely, the other bolts should keep it from having too much force on it.

[elks]

Sorry no pics. Basically there are like 6 bolts across the fron that hold the top down to the top of the windshield frame. 2 are located near the rear view mirror and then there are 2 associated with each sun visor. On the sun wisor I am miising the lower hole. Welded over, I bet rusted out first then when they redid the body work they cut out rust and patched. PO never had any intention of running a hard top since it was a toy vehicle. I am looking at a utility vehicle, not just fun.

I will get pic tonight. I am going to pick up my top tonight as well...

[fun in dirt]

It'll be fine as long as you have at least the ones in by the rearview mirror & then those along the bed rails. Never had the visor bolts or brackets & bolts by the tailgate. I ran mine for several years like this & no issue whatsoever.
Oh yeah, don't throw away that old soft top...cut it up & make a bikini top out of it if nothing else

[blazer1972]

i only have the 2 front hold downs, and the 2 brackets on the back, i race up hill, off road anywhere and never had an issue, i welded a nut on the windshield frame to fix the hold down point, i looks good. u can bolt it down on the side rails too

[elks]

I believe that I am going to weld a nut also. Do you have pics of your fix or a post?

I am not so concerned about the looks, but more about the function.