Make Your Own Soft Top (12/2021) Ref Md Juan Tub Build

That’s awesome!!

I’d be content with just the top, without side doors/rear flap for the summer time.

excellent work!!

 

The Rear Side Curtains are finished, sans windows and tie down straps with buckles.

The rework on the corners took a few hours, but I'm happy with the result.





There are locations where the twist fastiners must penetrate through two separate double layers of fabric. And each of those double layers has two additional layers of metal reinforcement (thin washers) which help keep the fastiners from pulling out of their "button hole". These locations require extra high posts (with twist latch on top) so they can penetrate far enough through the fabric layers for the twist lock to engage.

The twist locks available from Scovil/Dot Fasteners use either integral spikes which penetrate the fabric then bend over a metal backing plate, or they use a two holed flange (actually made to be screwed on) which is attached by two rivets which need to be set with a punch and die plate.

So far, I've installed all the spike type (short for one double layer) but none of the flange type (extra high posts for two double fabric layers). I'll need to use the flange type where the Front Side Curtains meet the Rear Side Curtains, and where the Front Top meets the Rear Top.

I'm also going to re-do the rear window, and try a new technique for the side windows. I cut the center material out and added binding before sewing on the clear vinyl window (also surrounded with binding). It is really tough to get the window aligned without the center material. This time I'll either leave the center material in the curtain, or tape it back in before sewing on the window.

After all that is done I think I'll do the doors. I have material to do the rear of a half cab, but personally I can't get very excited about the look of a half cab.

I thought to also make canvas seat covers, but may not have quite enough material... we'll see.

 

Fantastic Craftsmanship!

 

I just noticed I forgot to clean up the binding at the two rear upper corners. I'll remove the Rear Top/Rear Curtain assembly and clean that up next. Oops.

I had to take out an inch of that binding seam to more smoothly blend the three pieces there. It needs a bit of skill to make it neat... Oh, boy...

 

I have been riding around just like that for a few weeks. You're right, it's comfortable and functional!!

 

The binding hides a lot of sins.


But, for a first effort on a project this size, I think it actually is better than I expected.

The credit really has to go to JPET over on "TheCJ2aPage" "Make Your Own Canvas Top". I really just followed his instructions.

And being retired gave me time to rip out my mistakes as often as necessary to get it at least acceptable.

 

I've reattached the Rear Curtain window and sewn in the two Rear Side Curtain windows.





Next I'll add the tie down straps and footman loops which should finish the canvas top!

Then on to the doors!

 

That looks incredible.

 

Jw60 beat me to it, incredible job! I'd love a canvas top, there's something about the smell that is so nostalgic

 

From what I read in theCJ2aPage.com, that favorite smell is the waterproofing material. Fortunately it is still available; you can buy it in a can and paint it on with a brush. A can doesn't go very far; It may take 3-4 cans to coat all these pieces!

I should have mentioned my intention to waterproof my camvas. Mine doesn't have that smell

 

Thanks all for the compliments, but I think anyone can do this. And if you use the thinner canvas, you don't need an industrial sewing machine. And a regular sewing machine has MUCH more control, so you'll likely get a better sewing job

 

I thought to mention I tried two methods of adding the vinyl windows. I didn't like my first attempt on the Rear Curtain so I completely disassembled it. I still had the canvas I had cut out to make the window hole, so I taped it back in with painters tape Then I sewed binding all around the vinyl window perimeter. Then I taped the vinyl window with binding into position with painters tape. And I sewed it in place. Big mistake using blue painters tape. When I tried to rip off the tape, the sewing stitch pinched a very tiny... and VERY blue... bit of tape firmly under each stitch. I spent an hour trying to dig out the bits of blue tape. Ughhhhh :/

For the Rear Side Curtain windows, I marked where the hole cutouts would be, then sewed two stitches at 1,/8" and 3/16" offset from my cut out mark. Then I used a razor to make a dashed cut along the cut out mark. Then I sewed on the vinyl window with it's binding attached. Then I cut out the canvas. I don't love it... The canvas edge (inside the vinyl window looks rough and unfinished. But I'll live with it for a while.

 

X2! Amazing.

 

Yes, but it would be great if you did it -- for a fee, of course.

 

The guy named JPET (TheCJ2aPage.com) seems to have opened a new business making canvas tops. (I think his employer was sold.)

Me? I'm retired, and enjoying it too much to be doing things for $$
I made my top myself just to prove to myself I could. I do have additional pieces I intend to try. At the rate I'm going, I'll die at my sewing machine just doing my stuff

But thanks for the compliment.

 

When I was with Jeff last September the owner had passed the operation to next of kin unexpectedly leaving Jeff as first mate to a greenhorn. That put the side business making tops on hold, but the gears were being made basically buying the machine time from his work.

 

I've spent maybe 12-15 hours on line looking for the "right" webbing strap but no joy. There's lots of thin stuff but...

The company Trivantage(?) JPET recommended seems to have it but only sells to businesses. So I bought some thin stuff and will try to sew it into a 2x thick layer. We'll see.

 

If you flip back through just a few photos, you'll notice that the skirt length of the front side curtain and rear side curtain are different; the front is too long.

That didn't happen earlier with the Harbor Freight tarp prototype so not sure how it happened. Will take it apart and shorten it to match the rear side curtain.

 

Hi, all.

My F134 Hurricane engine started making an awful scraping noise. Just looking at its front pulley wobblle, I suspected it had too much crankshaft endplay. Today measured 0.045 in. I think the endplay tolerance is about 0.008" max. So...

Rebuild my own, or buy a rebuilt engine?

My current engine always ran very well ...until this noise began.

But it has a (braze repaired) crack at a head bolt (down in the air/fuel inlet well) and still leaks a bit of coolant to the outside surface of the block.

And it's already been rebuilt once by the previous owner; the block's s/n was machined off when the head was shaved.

And now i've got 5x the allowable play on my crankshaft. Some internal surface is going to need some resurfacing and machining.

This block sounds too far gone to be invested in...

How do I tell the ECJ5 world I'm looking for a rebuilt F134 engine? How do I find a reliable source? How do I identify a fair price for quality work?

Any comments would be welcome. Or, please just nudge me to the correct part of this forum to dig for my answers.

Thanks.