Cutting a hard top?

[Strahan]

I am sick of lugging the hard top on and off, so I was thinking of building a soft top. I was planning on building frame then attaching canvas, but I read a post somewhere talking about cutting up the hard top. Seemed like a good idea.. why reinvent the wheel plus I can use the seals then. Found a hard top on CL to buy to chop up, just wondering if a) it's a good idea to cut up fiberglass (structurally) and b) if so, what's the best way to cut it?

I originally thought of cutting it this way:

and screwing in rods at along the upper left/right corners for rigidity or cutting it this way:

Another cool perk would be that I could use the tailgate window, since the hard top part with the window track would still be retained. Any ideas, or is it a bad idea all around? I'm sort of afraid to chop it then find the fiberglass disintegrate.

 

[southernspeed]

having cut one into pieces to get rid of it, I'd say it's not going to last. You're going to lose a lot structural integrity. I think with all that meterial gone it'll flex and crack easy. A metal frame would look better, be lighter and last longer in my opinion. I hear what you're saying though.

 

[mxfireman]

I cut on mine. I enlarged the windows by cutting from the top of the window all the way towards the front, keeping it inline with the top of the window. I pretty much just got rid of the the lower part of the window. I did not cut the top of it like you are wanting to. Be very carefull about cutting the back there is a metal support inside the shell just behind the back of the side windows. This is put in there for structural support. I will try to post some pics in a day or two.

 

[Dafey]

# 2 would be best,just dont cut so close to the front on top.Hell, maybe not so close to the edges all the way around,to keep it stronger.And add some metal underneth to renforce the fiberglass.And watch out for the factory installed metal at the rear.

 

[Strahan]

Thanks for the comments. Wasn't aware of the metal. I guess it'd be wise to leave as much as possible around the edges, but then I'm worried that I'll defeat the purpose. I want to cut as much as possible to make removing/installing a one person job. I'm hoping the windows are a large amount of that bulk.

I was about to decide against it then I found a local yard with a hard top for $100. Can't really lose if I can get one that cheap, hehe.

I also noticed that that there is a light in the back of it and a hump leading from the front to the back where the light is. I'm assuming that's hollow and has the wiring. I'm going to try to cut just inside the hump so I can retain the light.

 

[Dafey]

Thanks for the comments. Wasn't aware of the metal. I guess it'd be wise to leave as much as possible around the edges, but then I'm worried that I'll defeat the purpose. I want to cut as much as possible to make removing/installing a one person job.
I was about to decide against it then I found a local yard with a hard top for $100. Can't really lose if I can get one that cheap, hehe.

I also noticed that that there is a light in the back of it and a hump leading from the front to the back where the light is. I'm assuming that's hollow and has the wiring. I'm going to try to cut just inside the hump so I can retain the light.

I meant to leave maybe 2 inches or so,not a lot more.
For $100 you cant go wrong.If it breaks so what...?
I like the idea to leave the light,you can never have enough light offroad at night!

 

[mxfireman]

Why worry about structural integrity? The fiberglass should never take place of your roll cage. I cut mine for a few reasons. Hunting easier access to the long arms through the windows, off roading with the kids so they could see better out the sides where the windows used to be, last but not least for the weight loss program that I have tried putting the K5 on. I chose not to cut out the top of the shell due to the Arizona sun beating down on the kids and baking them in the back seat. I say get rid of as much as you can and if you think there is structural integrity on a shell then you have been baffled with B.S. Now that I have cut mine I can actually lift it on and off by myself now too.

 

[colbystephens]

i cut mine up because i was going to do a similar thing. you should be able to find a hard top for MUCH less than $100 tho! here in oregon, in perfect shape, i see them on craigslist for less than $50 almost every time i use that website.

i used a circular saw, worked well. didn't know about the metal in the back, and i cut it like you show in your first pic. never ended up doing anything with it tho - i decided to go full convertable. i wanted to make the back part removable so it wouldn't look like i had some stupid huge wing on the back when the top was off.

 

[Craig Artzner]

you should be able to find a hard top for MUCH less than $100 tho! here in oregon, in perfect shape, i see them on craigslist for less than $50 almost every time i use that website.

Colby's right. Blazer fiberglass half-tops are a dime-a-dozen anywhere in the country, even here in the Northeast (the K5s just rust out from underneath them).

At one point I think Stoney126 was giving his away for free...

 

[Strahan]

I'll have to keep my eye out for deals. Looks like I'll have another two weeks to wait for a deal, heh. I was planning on doing it this week but I had a stomach ache and went to the doctor, turned out I needed surgery.. had to have my gallbladder taken out. So now I'm recovering and can't lift anything for a few weeks. Darnit, right when I wanted to get cracking on this hehe.

 

[Dafey]

I'll have to keep my eye out for deals. Looks like I'll have another two weeks to wait for a deal, heh. I was planning on doing it this week but I had a stomach ache and went to the doctor, turned out I needed surgery.. had to have my gallbladder taken out. So now I'm recovering and can't lift anything for a few weeks. Darnit, right when I wanted to get cracking on this hehe.

SORRY...I hate surgery.

Get better dude!!!

 

[mxfireman]

Sorry I didn't get a chance to post up a pic for you. I have been extremely busy with the honey do list and sick kid. I should be getting off shift on Wednesday the latest and get a couple for you.

 

[Gorillajeep]

I am courious to see how this works out. I am currently the owner of two said Hard tops. I was planning on just tossing one but you all have given me an idea. I will post up picks as I get it figured out. I am thinking of doing something with my olf Jeep top anyway. . .
James

 

[imiceman44]

Colby's right. Blazer fiberglass half-tops are a dime-a-dozen anywhere in the country, even here in the Northeast (the K5s just rust out from underneath them).

At one point I think Stoney126 was giving his away for free...

In Fact in the past year, 15 tops here in CA have been given away and mine I couldn't even give it away so i had to cut it up and dump it.

there is one now for free here in Napa CA.
even has the sliding windows.

 

[Strahan]

You guys are lucky then, heh, cuz I can't find any free ones. I wish I could. Cheapest I've found was $100. I checked craigslist, there's a guy in DC selling one for $450! Geesh. Finally starting to feel normal again from surgery, just my gut burns a little if I stretch. Not supposed to be lifting anything so I guess the top project is tabled till next month. Ah well. Gives me time to source some nice white canvas material I suppose, heh.

 

[mxfireman]

Here are the pictures of How I did mine. It made it extremely lighter so now the wife is able to help me take it on off depending on weather conditions.

Here is a picture of what I still need to finish cutting. I don't like how it shows, I plan on trimming it up to hide it.. There are still four of the six bolts left if you do it this way that will bolt to the cab.

I left about four inches or so for the C post to bolt to the bed of the Blazer. There is just enough room for one bolt when you do it this way.

Here are the end results. Sorry the pictures were taken at night. I can take some more in the daylight if you or anyone would like.

 

[Gorillajeep]

Looks Sweet! What did you cut it with?
James

 

[mxfireman]

Circular saw for the long cuts and sawzall for turns and small suts.