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soft topper info 1975

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lkieviet36

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hi i'm looking into buying a 1975 k5 full convertible to restore but the fiber glass top is really bad, and i was curious if any body had problems with the soft topper brand top leaking,or any top with snaps (specifically wind driven rain on the windshield snaps) it just seems like that front rail of snaps could leak really bad, and STC isn't making them anymore(fast trac system looks alot better for preventing leaks).would be planing on repairing hard top as well but why have a convertible when you have to run home when it starts to rain.

i would post a link to the softtopper site but haven't made enough posts yet
 
Jessie James said:
If you have a 1975 Blazer, then this should be the right link:

still can't post the link so had to edit quote

Just an FYI, you can usually pick up another top off craigslist for $50 or so, and new rubber seals are available as well.

Otherwise, I don't know about leaking, etc. :)
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thanks for posting the link, yeah i was going to re-coat/fix the fiberglass if i get it but i'm curious about the soft tops(the weather changes pretty quick here in the summer and when it rains it pours) just to see if any water works thru the snaps on the front when driving
 
I put one on my 74 last year (sold it). Only drove it in the rain twice, around town and once on the freeway. I didn't get any water in, you could feel some air blowing through by the visors, not too bad though. I loved the top. Drove to the beach with it down, when I was ready to come home it was dark and cold, 10 minutes later top was on and we were cruising :D

After closing the door (when you got out) I had to pull the flap over the top of the side windows or it would get stuck behing the glass and drip in. For me it was a small price to pay for having the flexability of the soft top.

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hvy chevy said:
I put one on my 74 last year (sold it). Only drove it in the rain twice, around town and once on the freeway. I didn't get any water in, you could feel some air blowing through by the visors, not too bad though. I loved the top. Drove to the beach with it down, when I was ready to come home it was dark and cold, 10 minutes later top was on and we were cruising :D

After closing the door (when you got out) I had to pull the flap over the top of the side windows or it would get stuck behing the glass and drip in. For me it was a small price to pay for having the flexability of the soft top.
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its amazing how many people love or have these tops and how little information there is on leakage issues when traveling, can always use a tarp when parked but i don't want to wait 3 days till it stops raining to go home. i'm just really concerned about the snaps and how they seal (is there rubber in the top?) the fast trac has that little Chanel that would prevent driven rain but dunno about the snaps
(can't see the pics haven't made enough posts yet)
 
If you follow that link I posted there is a pic of the front edge that clearly shows a rubber seal. So, to answer your question, I think it would not leak much unless the seal is shot, and that's easy to fix.
 
Unfortunately, I didn't own it long enough to get a lot of use with it up.

The header bar with the snaps on it, had a thin piece of rubber under it.

The top also came with an adhesive backed piece of weatherstripping to add behind the header bar (under the top). The top itself had no rubber on it.

The one time I drove it on the freeway in the rain, it didn't leak. Sorry I couldn't help more
 
hvy chevy said:
Unfortunately, I didn't own it long enough to get a lot of use with it up.

The header bar with the snaps on it, had a thin piece of rubber under it.

The top also came with an adhesive backed piece of weatherstripping to add behind the header bar (under the top). The top itself had no rubber on it.

The one time I drove it on the freeway in the rain, it didn't leak. Sorry I couldn't help more
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I think you guys just answered all the questions i had about the seals (hopefully i can get enough posts soon to see the pics, without the random posting)
hopefully i can get this truck and then i'll do a write up of the top install and everything. I've dreamed of having one of these with the full top for as long as i can remember
 
lkieviet36 said:
I think you guys just answered all the questions i had about the seals (hopefully i can get enough posts soon to see the pics, without the random posting)
hopefully i can get this truck and then i'll do a write up of the top install and everything. I've dreamed of having one of these with the full top for as long as i can remember
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Good luck, I hope it works out for you. I loved my 74, just had to sell it so I can finish my 70.
Welcome to the fun :woot:
 
If they would make a solid foldover font with a rail instead of the snaps, it would be better. I believe my kayline on my 73 was that way.
 
oldtoyboyd said:
If they would make a solid foldover font with a rail instead of the snaps, it would be better. I believe my kayline on my 73 was that way.
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with research i found kayline had the fast trac(fold over design) then got bought by STC and now there out of business, and soft topper won't make a top with that type of rail (already asked they told me they don't do custom work)
 
That sucks. I loved my Kayline. It leaked a little in heavy rain and would run water right on the seat when you opened the door. It had a small flap over the door window, but it didn't work very well.
 
oldtoyboyd said:
That sucks. I loved my Kayline. It leaked a little in heavy rain and would run water right on the seat when you opened the door. It had a small flap over the door window, but it didn't work very well.
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the benefits of having a fast trac would be awesome no buttons means faster up so less water right there and no chance of ripping a button through the top and with the fold over channel it would be another layer of protection to stop water, i was hoping by emailing they might consider starting to make them with fast trac systems but you never know if theres demand they might think about it
 
I bet most upholstery shops could do that work for you, if it's what I am thinking it is. Just give them the pieces and let them do it for you. Or ask Softtopper folks to give you one with the front edge incomplete? I dunno...
 
I Just ordered one and will have it tomorrow. Will get it installed with some pics and let you know how it goes. I did ask them about how watertight it was and they said there are no issues with leakage. We will see, for $800 I hope not.
 
jeremywrags said:
I Just ordered one and will have it tomorrow. Will get it installed with some pics and let you know how it goes. I did ask them about how watertight it was and they said there are no issues with leakage. We will see, for $800 I hope not.
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Well?? any updates, is it on?
 
Non stop rain has delayed me. I have the frame installed but no top yet. So far the installation went pretty well. Lesson learned, obey the instructions and do not use a drill on the screws, they will break, guaranteed... Besides that the instructions are pretty good and the frame only takes about 20 minutes to install, and that was by myself.

chevysmithz71 said:
Well?? any updates, is it on?
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sounds like a couple of people are interested in this topic,and thanks for keeping us posted in the top install.
 
jeremywrags said:
Non stop rain has delayed me. I have the frame installed but no top yet. So far the installation went pretty well. Lesson learned, obey the instructions and do not use a drill on the screws, they will break, guaranteed... Besides that the instructions are pretty good and the frame only takes about 20 minutes to install, and that was by myself.
Click to expand...
Any new updates ? pictures?
 
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