73 CJ5 HardTop

Hi, I'm new here. Im sure that there are several threads that concern this very topic, but I have a 1973 cj5 that needs a top. It has an old rag top on it that uses button/snaps but the top is in bad shape. Id like to get a new soft top and hardtop but if i had to choose one id prefer to get a hardtop. I know that Jeep changed cj5's in 1976 so that older hardtops wont fit the ones after 76. My problem is that it is about impossible to find a hardtop for these older jeeps, and when u do its either too expensive, or else they have to ship it thousands of miles, and that costs too much. I've heard that you can take the winshield frame off an older cj5 and replace it with a newer one and that a new cj5 top will work. But will the newer cj5 doors work also??? Can somebody give me some advice??? I live in North Carolina, and if anybody is near, Id appreciate you lettting me know. Oh and if i am to put a hardtop on it, do I need to remover the buttons that the soft top attatches to?

Thanks

 

Welcome to the board. What part a Cackalaki are you from?

 

Welcome from western Pennsylvania.

 

Hi, im not from North Cackalaki, im from North Carolina

 

jeepman_02, what these monkeys are saying is that what they refer to as North Cakalaki is the same thing as North Carolina. There are quite a few regulars around here from the Carolinas. H8PAVMNT is from Asheville, NC. There are many others as well.

 

Welcome from Boston! Regarding the later model hardtop, yeah, you probably can change the windsheild and it'll fit. Can't say for sure - there are other differences in the tubs, in particular the tailgate. The earlier tailgate is sort-of applied to the outer surface of the vehicle, while the later gate swings open sideways and fits flush with the back panel. You might find that the hatch won't close with the newer top. I wouldn't go ahead till I'd looked closely at a newer CJ5.

Personally I think you'll find your hardtop if you keep looking for a few months and do some networking. The top you want is steel and was made by Meyer - the factory supplier for those years.

Yeah, you'll almost certainly have to remove the snaps to install the Meyer top, since it fits over that ledge at the top of the body.

best wishes for the New Year 8) Tim

 

I have a hard top off a 1961 jeep CJ-5.

If interested it is in Northern New Hampshire.

Send me a PM and I will send you some pics

 

Sorry, I didn't know that you called north carolina, north Cakalaki. my bad. thanks for the responses.

Jason

 

Oh, Im near the Winston Salem area in North Carolina.

 

I have a 74 CJ5 that came with a spice colored soft top that's in real good shape (including soft doors). I'm doing a frame up rebuild and won't be using it anymore. Let me know if you're interested, I can give you a really deal on it.

 

Welcome to jrh0558 also. Where are you from?

 

Sorry, I need to update my profile.
I'm up in Portage Wisconsin.

 

I'm near the Winston Salem area in North Carolina

 

Any luck finding a top yet, Jason? 8)

 

Actually I think that I have found one here in NC. Im going to check on it Sunday to see if its in good shape or not. Are you still looking for one yourself?

Jason

 

Sure, I'd love to have one but I don't have the cash now by any means. Maybe later this year.

 

I have a hardtop made out of fiberglass that fits my 79 cj5 that I'm selling. Maybe it would work but not sure.

 

Welcome from Ohio