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Couple a questions 'bout some things...

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Dondo, Dec 2, 2004.

  1. Dec 2, 2004
    Dondo

    Dondo These are my good pants..

    Hutchinson, Kansas
    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2004
    Messages:
    314
    1: Just got my new Besttop Soft Top for my '53 M38a1. Looks like it is going to fit pretty good even though the company blurb only indicates that it will fit a '55 CJ5. I haven't been able to see a major difference between an M38a1 and an early CJ, so I think I'm okay there. That being said however, I am going to have to shim my windshield just a tickle. I need 69.5 inches from the inside of the windshield to the inside of the rail of the tailgate area. I have about 68 inches, so I need to tip my windshield "up" just a little. What should I use as a shim? I was thinking of using just a piece of rubber.

    2: I'm really confused on what type of side view mirror is supposed to fit on my Jeep. I bought one of those little round mirror's on a stick type of thing that you see on the old CJ's but once I got it and looked at some more pictures of it, it looks like it attaches to the windshield hinge. Mine has a little bracket thing on the cowling directly in front of the windshield. What year of Jeep should I look to get a mirror off of?

    Thanks for any help or guidence.

    Dondo
     
    Dondo, Dec 2, 2004
    #1
  2. Dec 3, 2004
    TigerShark

    TigerShark Sponsor

    St. Louis, MO
    Joined:
    May 27, 2004
    Messages:
    333
    Is your mirror like this one?

    [​IMG]

    If so, I believe NorthstarWillys carries them.

    Jim
     
    TigerShark, Dec 3, 2004
    #2
  3. Dec 3, 2004
    Hippo393

    Hippo393 Jeepless

    Charlotte, NC
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    1,130
    I use a couple wooden paint stirrers. :beer:
     
    Hippo393, Dec 3, 2004
    #3
  4. Dec 3, 2004
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
    Messages:
    8,124

    Can't help with the mirror but for the windshield in what kind of shape is the rubber gasket between the body & the frame? A new one might just get your frame back at the right angle.

    Howard.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Dec 3, 2004
    #4
  5. Dec 3, 2004
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
    Messages:
    6,197
    FWIW...that w/s angle thing was my biggest complaint with the Supertop. By the time I shimmed up the w/s enough to meet their measurements and match the angle of the doors, I had a gap under the w/s frame that leaked.

    Their "Jeep ID guide" says the ECJ's have a w/s that's vertical / flat / no angle (can't recall the exact words), and this is the spot on the Jeep where that mistake bites you in the butt.

    IIRC for shims I had pieces of flat stock.
     
    Boyink, Dec 3, 2004
    #5
  6. Dec 3, 2004
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,362
    The CJ top will fit the M38a1. I have found that you don't need to shim the window. The problem is with the old suit case style window clamps. They pull the window back and after time the window clamps come loose and the window plops around. The first thing people do is readjust the clamps. It's not the rubber it's the window hing bending. I fixed mine by removing the hinge from the window and straitening the hinge. The only thing you have to watch out for is not to colaps the hing pivit point. I put a round punch in there to stop this from happening. Once the hinges are staight. (just flaten out the bend on the base plate.) You will now be able to get the 69 and what ever measurement you need and you won't have a gap under the window.
    To keep the hinges from bending again there is a plate and a knob that replaces the window clamp. I think some one makes it. I made my own.
     
    scott milliner, Dec 3, 2004
    #6
  7. Dec 3, 2004
    Dondo

    Dondo These are my good pants..

    Hutchinson, Kansas
    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2004
    Messages:
    314
    Thanks for all the help guys!

    Going to look into that hinge thing.

    Dondo
     
    Dondo, Dec 3, 2004
    #7
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