cutting "Sunroof" into hard top - Willys Wagon

Okay, so some of you may have been folowing my buildup in the introductions section, then again maybe not. Anyways, I am used to driving a TJ and have enjoyed the freedom of going topless. In fact I almost never had the top on even in winter.

I am seriously considering cutting out a section of the roof too open up the rig a tad more. I know that the kids would like the less confining environment, and my wife was speaking of missing the openess of the wrangler in comparison too what she envisions with the willys.

Has anyone done this? ( yeah I know, pretty much wrong crowd to ask about this type of bastardization ;-p )

Any ideas on how to go about this?

I am not worried about structural integrity of the body as the body will be tied securely into the frame via the internal cage and side armour.

I also plan on using a front channel to secure a canvas soft top with velcro down the sides and back.

thanks all!!!

 

When I was 17 I did something similar with a cold chisel and a hammer, but I'd recommend a jigsaw! Try to lay it out to avoid roof reinforcement ribs.

Maybe you are using a pre-fab unit? I installed plexiglas with generic rubber channel. Careful attention to pre-cutting the liner fabric allowed me to tuck it back into the rubber channel on the interior.

Sealing the plexiglas or whatever against water leaks is a major point to pay attention to on a home-built. Mine leaked a little when standing water sat on top of the glass.

It worked out well for me. It made the interior much more pleasant especially for back seat passengers. Probably a tad less safe though.

Good luck.

Pete