Another Hard Top Question

Somewhat local guy(he is a member here) 40 min drive that has a decent metal hard top he says came off an 83. It looks like an early CJ5 top to me but I don't want to make the drive if it isn't. The overall width at the windshield attachment point is 61" but he measured between the bottom of the curve for the windshield and that shows about 51"( it appears to be a slight arch on a piece of sheetmetal that must fit flush on the face of the windshield frame). Here is the lishttps://www.facebook.com/groups/244976016034925/permalink/1271278156738034/?sale_post_id=1271278156738034&referralSurface=messenger_lightspeed_banner&referralCode=messenger_bannerting

Thanks Todd

 

'83 top won't fit a '68 CJ-5. Windshields are different.

 

Like no work without logging in and joining group, could you post the pictures themselves?

 

You need hardtop that is similar to this pic.....I can send you dimensions if needed.

 

well I can't see picture of top
did go out and measure width of front of top
got 59 1/4 . from outside edge of filler strips
as tim said 83 windshield is narrower and leans farther back

 

https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...6djA-eZHPyA03kH4gvMBf3QfTaPfiNoTQ&oe=627BB3CF
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...5-fJ7P7a-QZa1sJ89kgnIkdxJKn913Xfg&oe=627B9134
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...NFpzW11dOf6UHtEeSoY4NsPNrQrAVn7vQ&oe=627C6076
These are the doors.

 

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1....7LNc70C2RqR2agty-hGwloFY8qRf8nzYg&oe=629B049F
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.ne..._R8WUmOQnuCtbQBC4B4G4AUtx6H4pMSfg&oe=629D2206

 

I can't tell what years it's for from those pictures.

I expect the difference in the later ones is in the length of the lid (front to back), since the later windshield tilts back further. The later windshield is also trapezoid shaped, so that the uprights tilt in toward the center of the Jeep. Suspect the width doesn't help, since the filler strips will make up for the windshield that's narrower across the top.

If you had a known top to compare to, you could measure the length of the lid. I'd guess this is maybe 3-4 inches different? You could use a protractor on the doors and measure the angle where the front edge meets the top bar. This will be more on the later top, since the windshield tilts back more than the earlier one.

Can you get pictures of the Jeep it was on? That will tell you more than looking at the top in isolation. I repeat - a top for an '83 will not fit a '68. You need to assume that it does not fit, until it's proven otherwise.

Realize many times these tops are missing smaller pieces, like the door hinges and the windshield filler strips. These parts are mostly unobtainable. I'd want to see the top on the Jeep and personally gather all the top pieces. Anything missing you will have to fabricate.

 

This part



looks suspiciously like a filler strip for an '83 top, as I imagine it.

 

Yeah I think you are right Tim. I'm going to pass on this.

Thanks again for all the wisdom on this site

 

tim I get 63 for the so called lid
from top of windshield to rear where it has a taper up top
so it would be interesting to see what this top was

 

Well, ..... I was going to post up a pic of the hard top I have. but Beamingpix is having issues.
But I have this type of hard top off of a 65 CJ5. It's rusty and the door windows won't roll. So they would need to be dis assembled and freed up. I am south of you . If interested let me know.