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73'-75' soft top build UPDATED PICS 6/16/09 post 62

rdn2blazer

rdn2blazer

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I have been collecting hardware for a soft top build. I'm using boat Bimini 316 cast stainless steel hardware for my top. I'm using EMT tubing. The cleates in the pic are for mockup only. I have stainless steel cleats coming. The fittings on the end of the tube do not fit EMT tube. I had to bore them on a lathe. I have "T" fittings for the front to back stringers but I need to machine them still, thats why their not in the picture. I have an idea for how and what I want this to loook like when all is said and done. It's a work in progress thing and I'm totally winging it as far as building it.

The cleats are pointed crossways across the bed sides because of ease of installation for now. I might have them point front to back but I will have to put an aditional bend in the down leg of each bow per leg. More work then I wanted to do....for now. Since I have a cage and the bows can not fold back anyways I don't care if they are foldable or not. They will be quick pin anyways. Enough babbling for now, here are some pics.

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Going to have to build one myself so I will pay attention to this. Not too worried about the folding part also.
 
Looks great Rob. And don't photobucket them or I won't be able to see them due to my crap work PC firewall.
 
I will have the "T" fittings done this week and mounted. The door/window seal thingy is going to be a bit trickey but I will figure it out one way or another. The stainless steel cleats should be in next week I hope. I'm enjoying this project so far.
 
Rob. What's your idea to keep enough tension on the top to keep it from flapping in the wind at higher speeds? Gonna put any diagonal braces from the bottom of the 2nd hoop to the top of the 3rd hoop or any thing? This is going to be cool asy you always do quality fab.
 
Big Blzn said:
Rob. What's your idea to keep enough tension on the top to keep it from flapping in the wind at higher speeds? Gonna put any diagonal braces from the bottom of the 2nd hoop to the top of the 3rd hoop or any thing? This is going to be cool asy you always do quality fab.
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Thanks man, appreciate the props. Yeah I am going to have stringers tieing all the bows together. Thats what the "T" fittings will be for. I have to ream the "T" fittings out for the EMT tubing still. I have them most of the way modified but need to ream one more hole on the fittings. Also I don't have all the fittings I need.

I bought most of this stuff at a boat store going out of bussiness so I was short a few "T" fittings, they didn't have all I needed. I want to use the same brand so I will need to order them from somewhere, I got some of this stuff cheap in comparison. Stainless fittings are PRICY at boat stores. Online is the best way to go. I did order the new SS cleats from marinepartdepot.com

I wanted to make it so it's a rigid frame for the most, and you taught the top by pulling on straps that wrap around the frameing. Atleast thats the general idea. If I come up with a better way along the way I will change it. Just so everyone knows EMT tube is what STC and probably every other manufacturer used in their tops. It's cheap tube, even retail is cheap. I paid $3.59 per 10' foot piece at Home Depot. Thats why I just took a few measurements and started bending tube. I messed up a couple of pieces, no big deal, I will use the straight sections for the stringers.

It took bending 3 bows before I think I got it right. I'm using 3/4 EMT tube. You can even get colered tube for a really cool look too. I searched for EMT tube and all kinds of cool tube is available. I might even get some later just for the hell of it. This is just mockup for now. I just got the new SS cleats with quick release pins, will post them up in a few minutes.
 
The new SS cleats came on Saturday. You can see the difference in the size compared to the Nylon cleats, the SS cleats are a tad smaller as you can see, but ofcourse stronger. Just to mount the nylon ones yesterday I just drilled them out for a 5/16 bolt so I could use the hard top mounting holes. I had a few SS flat head fasteners so I used what I had and some regular hex head bolts, again just for mock up. The SS cleats are suposed to use a 10-32 fastener. I think I will be drilling & counter sinking them out for atleast a 1/4" SS flat head fastener for a clean look. As I said this is a total winging it build. Brain storming at it's finest :D.

Also, I'm going to have a down tube from the top of the rear most box to the corner of the bed side. This will give the top material something to wrap the corner from side window to rear window and support it.

I order the SS cleats with these quick realease pins but may or may not use them. I want to use Ball lock pins in some areas. And bolt & Nylock nuts in others, but these pins will greatly help mockup purposes.

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I posted this same thread on Pirate if you can't view pictures here.
 
God, I feel like I'm at work... I play with that kinda hardware daily...

can't wait to see it done.... are you gonna do isenglass for windows?
 
ryoken said:
God, I feel like I'm at work... I play with that kinda hardware daily...

can't wait to see it done.... are you gonna do isenglass for windows?
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yes I want side & rear windows. Is this> "isenglass" a brand? What kind of work do you do?
 
I'm a marine mechanic....

Isenglass is a product, not a brand... it is the flexable clear plastic you see boat enclosures made of... it's also what is in my softtop... You can get it thru a marine canvas shop....


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ryoken said:
I'm a marine mechanic....

Isenglass is a product, not a brand... it is the flexable clear plastic you see boat enclosures made of... it's also what is in my softtop... You can get it thru a marine canvas shop....


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Cool, thanks for the info, good to know. I'm actually going to go to a guy who owns and runs a custom interior shop to do the top. I'm just doing the framing portion of it. He has built tops for custom cars many times that have competed in high end car shows. He's a good bud of my good bud. He's seen my K5 in person and really dug my cage work and parts I have fabricated for my K5. I told him I would like him to do some interior & top work for me and he was more then willing to help out, so this is right up his alley.
 
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