73CJ5 Soft top

I recently got my first jeep and it came with a soft top. Thought the soft top has not been on it in over ten years and in the meantime the thing was painted and all snaps removed.

The problem I'm having is exactly what support bars are there for the soft top. I have a large (approx 1" dia) hole either side of the jeep body just back from the doors (door latch does not go back this far). I have two folding support bars, which one I can tell and does snap into the top along the back. I have another support bar with bars which fold and also connect to shorter bars which have slight bends in them. They look as though they should fit and go into the support bar which snaps into the top.

Anyway, any one who has a 73 CJ5 who actually has the soft top mounted please let me know how it is attached and what the support system looks like.

thanks

 

thanks, I do remember reading some of that before. I was up in the middle of the night, couldn't sleep and started looking at it. Anyway, I find no markings as to who made the top, it must be factory. But these directions help and I see I may need to buy a few parts. Thanks, again

 

It sounds like you have the original Jeep top. The Best Top attaches differently. More than likely you have some rods? Like about 5/16 or so.. There are also some round tubes that frame and support the top. On the body should be the holes for the snaps. They may be painted over but they still should be there.. The tubes atach to a bracket that bolts on just behind the seats, two holes maybe 5/16 in diam. A while back I saw another thread here detailing this installation.. Try a search.

 

:iagree: I think (IIRC) there were pictures too. Well detailed thread for the original top.

 

thanks, I may just have to make up brackets myself.