Single vs. Double wall top -- what's better

[RED69K5]

I have a '69 blazer with a good double wall top that needs a little work, and I have another '69 top in bad shape to use for patches.

I am buying another '72 blazer with good single wall top that needs less work. I am only keeping one hard top, and will eventually sell the other.

Which top is the better top to keep? What would you do, and why?

 

[bp71k5]

That single wall is junk! Sell it to me and keep the nice double wall.

 

[Greg72]

Keep the single wall......ditch the double wall. This is not even a debatable point.

You get easier accessible bolts, and cool dome lights that the double-wall never had.

The defense rests...

 

[vtblazer]

I have a '69 blazer with a good double wall top that needs a little work, and I have another '69 top in bad shape to use for patches.

I am buying another '72 blazer with good single wall top that needs less work. I am only keeping one hard top, and will eventually sell the other.

Which top is the better top to keep? What would you do, and why?

The single walled top is gonna win the debate, which is good and all but know that's it's not just a 'simple' swap and bolt down affair.

Yes you get the cool dome lights but now go out and try to find the cool wiring harness that goes with it.

Bolt access is from the top down vs. the bottom up of the double walled top, if you run side panels or ever plan too, the single walled top will be hands down easier to remove/re-install but without side panels...either is pretty easy.

 

[Jimmy4matt]

The double-wall is quieter and doesn't sweat, thus a little more civilized. It's also 3-4 guys heavy to remove. I wouldn't go through the hassle of changing the style of hard top unless mine was crap.

 

[RED69K5]

Thanks for the input everyone. It looks like the single-wall is the winner.

I will be using the '72 tub (which is the one that came with the single-wall top), so I won't have to make any changes to the bolt holes for installation.

This is good, because the single-wall is in better shape than the double-wall.

 

[Big Blzn]

Small Hijack fellas, but this thread has been dead for more than several days.

Question:

Has anyone ever, or have you seen anyone, take a single wall top for a first gen blazer and cut out the windows with some type of saw and really enlarge them (front and back of existing side windows) and then leave the rear hatch off so the top would essentially look like a fast-track soft top but being made of a fiberglass hard top. I know I could get a fabric bikini top and have about the same thing but I have had this thought for awhile now. Or am I just
Hoby

 

[Greg72]

I'd be concerned about the remaining strength of that fiberglass top.

Laterally, with a lot less window area and no hatch.....what's to stop the top from shifting side-to-side while turning? Best case, you'd be hearing the cracking sounds of fiberglass being fractured....worst case, the remaining supports would break and that heavy top area would shift (falling on the rear seat passengers, tearing and tweaking the windshield frame and possibly shattering the windshield).

I suppose if you had a tight-fitting 6-point cage underneath it to control the lateral shifting it might be worth the risk. Then again, if you had a cage like that it would be awfully easy to make a top to stretch over the existing shape too...

 

[ChefBear]

ouch

I'm with Greg. I remember getting a fiberglass splinter about an inch long through my thumb once when taking a top off. Imagine the broken edge of the top coming at you...

 

[gaspass]

top mods

Hey Big Blzn,
I remember seeing a 1st gen blazer from New Jersey (I think) that had almost the whole top fiberglass and side window areas cut out and was replaced with a custom vinyl snap on top and side windows that was easily removed for "sun runnin". I'll see if I can find the picks. It may have belonged to a member of the now defunct National Chevy/GMC truck association and was in one of thier Pickups and Panels in Print magazine.