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73, 74, 75 full hard tops - what are the differences?

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rufusbooth

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Hi All!
I am trying to find a new top for my 73 blazer and I was wondering if there are any differences between the 3 years of full convertible tops.

Are they all interchangeable?
all constructed the same? If not, what are the differences and is one considered by the community the "strongest" HaHa! Fiberglass strong. :D


Cheers,
Rufus

P.S. If there are differences, Pictures that anyone could provide would be helpful while parts hunting.
 
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4X4HIGH said:
73-75 tops are all the same.
Click to expand...


Actually, from what I have herd many years ago the 75' year was redesigned and is less prone to cracking at the rear corners like the 73'/74' year tops. I have been looking for a 75' top for ever.
 
I had heard rumors of the same thing myself. did you ever hear what the design changes were? were they visible? could you identify it by looking at the top alone?

Cheers,

Rufus
 
Ahhh....but I prefer light green apples in this case. even thought the top will last one trail longer I would like to find the better version if I am buying one.

and in this case, since I am not sure what the visual differences are...it is like I am color blind looking for the lighter green apple. LOL

Cheers,

Rufus
 
Well since I have the original one on my 73' K5 there is no point in looking for another 73' or 74'. I will just wait for a 75' to pop up someday. Mine is cracked on both corners. The cracks have been filled with silicone but not actually repaired. I might have to offer the guy down the alley who is the original owner of a beat up 75' more money then I want to pay to get the very clean top a pre smog Vin. He thinks its worth 4000, its worth maybe 600 to me. Nothing I want but the top, I could sell the pre smog Vin.
 
rdn2blazer, can you compare your top with the 75? what are the physical differences? I want to be able to identify a desirable top from the not so hot top without knowing the year truck it came off of.

Cheers,
Rufus
 
I heard in 74-75 they had something called over lapping joints. I belive they are the same in those two years. The 73 is a one year design. Could be BS but that is what I have gathered. And the guy wanting 4k for a beat truck is an idiot. I see beaters all the time for 1k.
 
icebone111, Thanks for the reply. if the 74-75 tops are stronger and the same then that makes things significantly easier. I am assuming "overlapping joints" that you are referring to are the splits on the upper portion of the top near the top edge of the side glass? is the difference between the two types of edges obvious to the eye or is it internal?

Cheers,

Art
 
I have no idea if you can tell. I thought it was the seems on the back about half way up. But I could be wrong. The reason I seen this, is a guy was selling a 74 top and said it was better than a 73 because of overlapping joints.
 
rufusbooth said:
rdn2blazer, can you compare your top with the 75? what are the physical differences? I want to be able to identify a desirable top from the not so hot top without knowing the year truck it came off of.

Cheers,
Rufus
Click to expand...




I will get a pic of his 75' and my 73' and an up close of the corners tomorrow (Saturday)
 
I don't think there are differences.
Looking in the old GM parts books I have, there is one listing and one part number for the removable top, 73-75

327827 73-75 TOP, ASM - Removable Top (white, Paint as req.)

Usally, if there are any differences, if they revise anything, the part number changes. I know this from my days working for GM in the body process area, if we made the slightest little change anytime after prototype build, enlarged a hole, moved a flange 1mm, used a thicker metal, it got a new number.

Now, that said, these are service parts books and service parts are treated a little differently than production parts, as you can see with the color, your couldn't order the black one, they only put the white one in for service parts. But usally the service parts follow along, especially in a case like this with a stronger different design, I would expect the service part to have followed.
But it doesn't hurt to compare, but the evidence thus far is stacked against.

I reinforced my stock 73 roof, I put it upright, roof top parallel & towards a wall, so those inside pillars were somewhat flat on the ground and lag bolted some metal down each pillar. Then I took fiberglass and coated over the whole thing so you can't see the bolt heads or metal and it looks fairly decent. THen years later during my frame off, I had the whole body line-x'd inside and out, including the roof, and you can't even tell now. Been solid and working for a long time.
 
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Well I have a 74 and it is pretty solid. I think no matter what year you have and even if there are possible differences, its still fiberglass. They eventually need repair from getting twisted on a 4x4. Atleast to repair it, all you need is just more fiberglass and a little skill.
 
DAMNIT!!! Sorry, I completely forgot, got busy working on my truck, sorry. :crazy: I have been doing that alot lately.
 
Yeah thats just what I heard about the overlapping joints. I went and checked out a 73 top to take a few parts off of, and it looked the same to me.
 
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