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M38A1 top on CJ5

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by mdmeltdown, Jun 18, 2015.

  1. Jun 18, 2015
    mdmeltdown

    mdmeltdown Member

    Bossier City,...
    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2006
    Messages:
    792
    My Bestop is super huge pain to put up and down in the summer and I need to find a way to keep my kids out of the sun. Between that plastic channel that takes forever to get all the way in on the windshield and the worn out velcro above the front doors from flapping in the wind, I avoid putting that bestop on. A bikini top is pretty fast to put up, but that doesnt do anything for the back seat riders.

    I have seen the older posts on using an M38A1 top. but I have a couple questions. I called Beachwood today and they said the rear strap footman loop locations are different on the A1 and CJ5. They also said the windshield channel is lower on an A1 than a CJ5 which causes sagging if you use a straight A1 top.

    For those who have done this, are these really issues worth worrying about? It seems to me the slack can be taken out by the straps in the back. What do you think? Anyone have pics?
     
  2. Jun 23, 2015
    Unkel Dale

    Unkel Dale delivery on my Jeep from Ft. Campbell, Ky.

    Pittsburgh, Pa.
    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2013
    Messages:
    692
    Straps are not enough to pull it tight. yea you have to move the tie down loops lower and consider adding a width wise loop at the middle bow area IF YOU HAVE TO to take up the length that you need to loose THE FLAP from the wind and have the possibility of a half roof too
    Leave the kids at home....?lol
    sorry no pics
     
  3. Jun 24, 2015
    millennium falcon

    millennium falcon Member

    Central PA
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2014
    Messages:
    549
    I have had the same problem....I love the bikini top but want my back seat covered....so I run my super top without the doors and all the windows out. It makes it into sort of a safari top.... I also have the problem of the flap above the doors going nuts at speed due to worn out Velcro. I am thinking about adding a snap to prevent this. I also thought about using a bikini top from a YJ since they cover the "family rollbar" It may need some mods to make it fit but they are pretty cheap on ebay so it may be worth a try
     
  4. Jun 24, 2015
    mdmeltdown

    mdmeltdown Member

    Bossier City,...
    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2006
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    792
    Dale, so the roof section has enough slack to sew in a loop for the forward bow? Is this slack coming from the windshield channel position?
     
  5. Jun 25, 2015
    1957Willys

    1957Willys Member

    Birmingham, Alabama
    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2012
    Messages:
    698
    It will work I'm am using a M38A1 top from WeeBee webbing.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

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    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Hellion likes this.
  6. Jun 25, 2015
    mdmeltdown

    mdmeltdown Member

    Bossier City,...
    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2006
    Messages:
    792
    Is that a standard m38a1 top? I have the later windshield which I think raises the header channel higher. Do you think that movement slack can be taken out at the rear straps?
     
  7. Jun 26, 2015
    1957Willys

    1957Willys Member

    Birmingham, Alabama
    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2012
    Messages:
    698
    The top is going to shrink some so it might take the slack out.
     
  8. Jun 26, 2015
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2003
    Messages:
    8,102
    There's two types of M38A1 tops- those that flap all the time & those that only flap when you're moving.

    H.
     
    jeepstar likes this.
  9. Jul 1, 2015
    Unkel Dale

    Unkel Dale delivery on my Jeep from Ft. Campbell, Ky.

    Pittsburgh, Pa.
    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2013
    Messages:
    692
    MD MELT DOWN
    yes the middle or front bow, using the nice guy with the photos, gets the loop
    before you "just sew it in" loosen the rear straps to see if you can do that with your version
    the flap must cover the rear end, you don't want those fumes on the kids

    57 WILLYS
    good for you thanks for the photos

    second idea is to raise the middle bow up to pull the slack tight with out the sewn loop
     
  10. Jul 2, 2015
    uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    Greeley CO
    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2009
    Messages:
    2,104
    Thanks Howard, I wasn't going to say it. I've never been in a CJ that had no things to annoy me, hard top or soft top. It could have been that person next to me, what ever her name was.
     
  11. Sep 24, 2020
    mdmeltdown

    mdmeltdown Member

    Bossier City,...
    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2006
    Messages:
    792
    I'm circling back to this. I know, it's been a few days...

    Can anyone confirm there is a pocket/sleeve sewn into the M38-A1 top for the forward top bow?

    Also, since there aren't any holes drilled yet for the top bow pivot brackets, can't I just lean them back slightly for their mounting position while test fitting the top and that would take out any slack?

    Here's a link to a pic of some MB top. You can see the front bow sleeves on it
    ORIGINAL WINTER CANVAS TOP FORD GPW WILLYS MB MILITARY WW2 JEEP | #506718072
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
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