Starting my soft top - Great Lakes XJ

92XJT

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Date: Jul 28, 2008

Starting my soft top	Permalink

Well after summerfest, we found out the interior gets, way too hot - lol. So one our way home Scott and I talked about a few options. I don't want to chop the entire top off - one being losing any structural intergrity, and two want to keep it looking like a cherokee. SOooooo, here is my plan. In the front section above driver and passenger I am making "T-tops" in a sense. Here are some pics to hopefully explain. Leaving the center section (say above the center counsel of the roof intact). The black X's are whats being cut out driver side front: Passenger side front: The opening will go from the window back to the first lateral support (where the interior light is attached on the roof) Now for the next section too cut - this will be above the rear seat. From the lateral support I just mentioned to the cargo area - the next lateral support. On my old Gen II ram - I cut my tonneau cover down length wise to fit with a toolbox. Amazingly the length is about perfect, but will need to trim down the width. I am going to use the XJ cargo rack lateral bows, as the bows now for the soft top. This way water will run off the soft cover. I am looking so far at using snaps on all 4 sides to secure the cover, and may make some sort of wind deflector in the front so the air goes over the soft cover and not under. The next step in this plan too is to install a cage to get, and gain more support on the chassis - this will be done by Motion Offroad when I get the funding saved up (thanks for all the info so far Motion). So with all this, any advice, concerns, comments are welcome - please don't feel like you will offend me. I welcome all !!!! __________________ 07 Powerwagon, pretty much stock besides Line X bedliner and dual exhaust. Quad cab, fully loaded (minus nav), etc 92 XJ sport, 33" boggers, 4.56 gears, rear locker, more to add 07 Arctic Cat 400 4x4, lockers front and rear, 2500lb MM winch

dogwonk

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Date: Jul 28, 2008

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I am sure there will be plenty of nay-sayers and thoughts of possible problems. BUT, I do LOVE the idea!!! I am anxious to see how it all comes together for you.

And, to be honest, if my XJ wasn't my DD, I'd be right behind you. Maybe you can do it first, work out all the kinks, and then I can put a perfected version on mine.

Anyway, GOOD LUCK! and keep the pictures/updates coming!!!

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LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW

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Date: Jul 28, 2008

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I know we talked a bit at the Badlands about it; but here is a bit more in my "thought process"...

If your not going to reinforce the roof itself, than I'd leave all the supports there. You are however cutting holes in the roof. I know the roof it's really that strong, but if it was me I'd rivit the roof to the supports themselves since your taking extra metal out.

Also remember that your rear hatch still mounts to the roof. So with metal gone be cautious of opening the rear hatch. I'd tie that rear support into something (wether it be a cage or whatever).

Also as I stated at the Badlands, I think a cage is needed if your going to be cutting the roof. I know your not cutting a lot, but I still think it's needed; especially for the saftey aspect of it.

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aci4369

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For the wind deflector you could use those rain deflectors that people put on their windows that are tinted. I think that the rears on some vehicles are straight. I think that they would work just fine. Here is a link to the part that I am talking about.
http://www.properautocare.com/winraindef.html

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92XJT

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Date: Jul 28, 2008

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Well for the openings I am leaving an extra 1.5" that I will fold under - should as as both slight stiffener, and make a smoother, less sharp edge. Yep - will also rivet remaining of the roof to the cross braces, and all cross braces (2) will be left intact. In fact the rear section of the roof (over cargo area) will remain intact as well. I am assuming I probably won't be wheeling much the remainder of year, which in a few months (tops) will have cash saved up for rollcage.

This is about as far back as the cutting will go - actually a little less then that of the cover.

Here is about where the sides will be fastened up at:

For the rear I am going to get part of the old frame of the soft cover with some roof modification to fit in. Course the original frame is made flat, and the XJ roof is slightly curved so will have to do some work there.

As for the driver/passenger side for snaps - I found I can get a small rivet in the center, so am thinking I will just rivet the snaps to the roof.

Can't talk to the apholstry place till next week since I am going back to work tomorrow. Will keep you all updated.

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07 Powerwagon, pretty much stock besides Line X bedliner and dual exhaust. Quad cab, fully loaded (minus nav), etc

92 XJ sport, 33" boggers, 4.56 gears, rear locker, more to add

07 Arctic Cat 400 4x4, lockers front and rear, 2500lb MM winch

threeEs99

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Date: Jul 28, 2008

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I'll get some info for you from my friend who has done this. Maybe you two could swap ideas. He also cut in a huge sunroof and covered it with a tonnue cover. It seems to work great. __________________ 99 sport. rust bucket, DD, 3 car seats 04 wj (w/3 car seats too) DD duty for the lady

92XJT

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Date: Aug 4, 2008

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lol - it has begun......................................

Passenger side is cut out, and bending the lips over now - probably going to rivet sections down. Talked to the apholstry place - 10 to 15 bucks to cut my top down to the proper width. Also saving up a few checks for the rollcage - hopefully in a few months tops. I'll post some pics up probably either tonight or tomorrow.

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07 Powerwagon, pretty much stock besides Line X bedliner and dual exhaust. Quad cab, fully loaded (minus nav), etc

92 XJ sport, 33" boggers, 4.56 gears, rear locker, more to add

07 Arctic Cat 400 4x4, lockers front and rear, 2500lb MM winch

92XJT

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Date: Aug 4, 2008

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Okay here is what it looks like for now. I folded the edges over and need to smooth them out. May still have to put some kind of rubber weather stripping or something over the edges, or maybe put some spray on liner over edge - still a little sharp.

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07 Powerwagon, pretty much stock besides Line X bedliner and dual exhaust. Quad cab, fully loaded (minus nav), etc

92 XJ sport, 33" boggers, 4.56 gears, rear locker, more to add

07 Arctic Cat 400 4x4, lockers front and rear, 2500lb MM winch

threeEs99

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Date: Aug 4, 2008

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Very cool, cant wait to see the project. I love one of a kind fab work!!!!!!!! __________________ 99 sport. rust bucket, DD, 3 car seats 04 wj (w/3 car seats too) DD duty for the lady

aci4369

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Date: Aug 5, 2008

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Looks good. So are you going to put the rubber liner on the edges and then spraying it with bedliner? That sounds like a good idea to keep the linner edging on, never thought of it before. __________________ '99 XJ, 5.5" lift, 33" MT's '11 Dodge Charger I miss the days that they made toys that could kill a kid. Support our Troops My Pics and Specs My Build Thread

92XJT

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Date: Aug 5, 2008

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Yeah that what I was thinking...

here's a better pic of the soft top fitment for now - going back on rotation at work for a week, then out of town on vacation the next. So this is about as far as it will get for a few weeks.

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07 Powerwagon, pretty much stock besides Line X bedliner and dual exhaust. Quad cab, fully loaded (minus nav), etc

92 XJ sport, 33" boggers, 4.56 gears, rear locker, more to add

07 Arctic Cat 400 4x4, lockers front and rear, 2500lb MM winch

ChevelleSSLS6

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Date: Aug 11, 2008

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A few months ago, I saw a xj in jp magazine with a tonneau type cover over the roof. I really like the idea. __________________ My Fleet 1996 XJ "Snowball"- 3.5" lift, bunch of little mods. I hate pegleg rear axles! 1974 AMC Javelin "Jade Grenade"- 360v8, 4sp, green inside and out. Underfunded Project. 2009 Kawsaki Vulan 900 "Rocket III"- Summer DD

Motion Offroad

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Date: Aug 13, 2008

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92XJT

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Date: Sep 3, 2008

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Sent the tonneau out last week to get the width cut down - course just my luck he was going on vacation the next day, so it should be done end of this week. Still haven't cut the rear section yet, want to make sure I have enough length for the entire area (99% sure, but still want to see again once cover is trimmed to fit). The one lateral support did get some minor integrity back after folding the lips around it - still movable though. The center section is definetly weaker then before, but that was expected with the reduction of material. Again making the lips and wrapping around did add some stiffness. Going back to the front lateral support - I may put some rivots and or panel glue between that and the remaining roof to eliminate the flopping it could do.

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07 Powerwagon, pretty much stock besides Line X bedliner and dual exhaust. Quad cab, fully loaded (minus nav), etc

92 XJ sport, 33" boggers, 4.56 gears, rear locker, more to add

07 Arctic Cat 400 4x4, lockers front and rear, 2500lb MM winch

aci4369

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Date: Sep 3, 2008

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If this turns out good..... I know where I can get one of those tops for free, will need to be altered like yours but still free. __________________ '99 XJ, 5.5" lift, 33" MT's '11 Dodge Charger I miss the days that they made toys that could kill a kid. Support our Troops My Pics and Specs My Build Thread

Topic: Starting my soft top