Best Top Super Top Installation Question

I'm trying to install a Best Top Super Top on my 1970 CJ-5, and the doors dont' fit. The instructions said that the windshield may need to be tilted forward slightly for them to fit, and they suggest that I put a shim under the windshield latch on the dashboard.Thing is, the windshield latch doesn't really latch very well now (just as most of them don't), and I'm not sure putting a shim under it will help at all. Has anyone else run into this problem, or does anyone have any ideas for the best way to permanantly tilt the windshield frame forward?
Thanks.

Jeff Jones
Hendersonville, NC

 

On my 75 the clamp is adjustable. The part of the clamp on the dash has a slot on the dash and if you loosen the hex head screws you can adjust the clamp either looser or tighter. I don't know if this helps but they are adjustable this would allow you at add a shim.

 

The Bestop instructions include a windshield frame to body tub measurement that is important in two aspects.

The top will never be tight enough and the door fit (as you found out) will be poor if the distance is less than the spec.

The windshield cowl gasket is likely squahed from age and could make 1/2-1" worth of difference out at the end of the door.

I'd shim up or replace the gasket before I bent the new door much. Your latches will work again as a side benefit.

 

I had to bend my doors inward to get a better seal against the top's vertical door plate (behind seats). Mostly had to bend the top half of the door. I had replaced the cowl seal so the doors fit nicely at the windshield.

 

Thanks for all the input. The windshield frame and cowl gasket are both brand new, so I think I'll try a shim under the new gasket.
Thanks again everybody. This forum is great!

Jeff Jones

 

I used the rubber bungy cords for shims. Cut the thick ends off and they're perfect. I also had a new w/s gasket. Good luck!

 

I had the same issue on my 69 cj5.... What happened on mine is that the cowl seal is just old... so until that is replaced I used wooden yard stick. primed and painted it so it made an 1/8th inch shim until I can get a new seal.

 

You know....it kinda bugs me that Supertop hasn't fixed that problem yet. I mean they've been selling the same top for years and you know they've received thousands of complaints about it. You'd think someone would actually recognize the problem as a real problem, and just fix it.