I am installing my (a) hard top on my 40 for the first time. I've never had a top before. I have the hard top in 4 pieces. I have the hardware, 2 tubes of silicon (I'm Cheap) no gaskets or the like. Any helpful ideas to minimize water and more importantly snow invasion? What are the trouble areas? Since I've never had a top, I just want to keep the majority of snow out. Please flood me with helpful ideas!! I have to have it on this weekend. Start commuting in the crusah wednesday!!! Thanks!!:D

okay, you need a full roof
full gutter
2 rear doors, fullsize
fullsize front doors
2 cab sides
the parts that bolt between the windscreen and the cab sides, above the front doors, these are 2 piece, and clip together and then bolt together and bolt to each piece
there is also a part above the rear doors, that bolt the 2 cab side together at the rear!

there is a rubber seal, between the cab side and the tub, that would be too difficult to use silicone on (probably, and will vibrate and rattle, but probly wont leak, apart from the , get the gutter and roof attached and make sure this doesnt leak, get the cab sides attached, make sure these dont leak, especiall at the rear

another major leak spot is where the windscreen, front of door, and roof, all meet! leaks bad, fill it with solastioc/molastic

silicone, works ok, but molastic, and solastic remain "undry" and as a result, make the seal a lot better!!

any specifics you need to know?

I found that snowfree interiors are attainable with good fasteners and stout angle brackets holding the windshield to the tops. Tight doors are easy if the catches are tweaked to hold the doors tightly against the sills.

Quality foam is helpful along the doors mating surfaces: the hardtop sills and the lower half.

A decent seal along the windshield and tub keeps out drafts too!

Good Luck!

One thing I have learned about hardtops---If you take it off, it will NEVER go back on like it was factory fresh!
They are heavy and never seal right, almost like a soft top. I always look forward to summer, so I can take it off, and hope for a long dry season!:D :skull:

I say get a warmer jacket and leave it off.:flipoff2:

I have had friends with luck using pickup truck top weather stripping ( for putting shells on trucks) comes in a big roll, and you can get it with or without adhesive. Use this stuff where the top meets the sides, and lay your silicone from the inside at the top of your windshield frame. That is where it will get in. Be pretty liberal with the silicone ( or the above mentioned stuff- might be better) when putting the top and the sides together, once those are taken apart they are NEVER the same.

The doors are adjusted at the strickers and at the hinges on the inside of the firewall. Make sure the bolt on the inside top of your door pillar is out, or the top post will not go in.

Make sure the bolt on the inside top of your door pillar is out, or the top post will not go in. LOL!!!! Thats the truth!!

Jeff

I thought I had heard about the windshield area being a problem, but didn't know where- I think I do now. I have all the above mentioned parts, but some are already installed on the roof, and didn't mention them. I ran two beads of silicon along the entire perimeter, both sides of the bolt holes,of the side pieces, on the tub mating surface and let it dry. I think this will act like a gasket, and minimize rattles. When I install the top to the sides I am going to silicon the hell out of it and never take those pieces apart again.
As far as getting a bigger jacket... I already have a down parka. I am going to drive the crusah for a while to and from work, just while our trucks are in the shop. I also go snow camping alot and digging your gear out of 3 feet of snow in the vehicle sucks. No, tarps do not hold that much snow- they rip and dump the snow all at once! Just looking for a little comfort. I have wheeled a 43 gpw for the last 9 years and it never had windshield wipers a heater or defrosters. It was a pain. Now, that the options are open to me, I will exercise them!
Now I just have to go get out ALL the bolts that hold the top to the sides- the PO broke them all off. Once I do that I'll be driving in style!! And as far as waiting for spring and a long dry season...I felt that way when all I had was a bikini top!! So the top is just for winter, NO longer!! Thanks!:eek:

if your corners leak and you have the factory w/s between the sides and the raingutter, try cleaning the w/s with westley's bleach-white and reassembling...i've had this problem on two cruisers so far and that's made all the difference.
w/s between the tub and sides is of no concern outside of saving your paint a little bit.
there are two little pieces that go where the pole slides in, these can be easily siliconed.
only two problem areas are the w/s frame and the doors. early style doors rarely seal nicely, but the problem is mainly in the back (more of a cold concern than snow), w/s frame however is one spot i splurge and buy the oem w/s...can't find anything that seals as well as the original.

I have to loosen the two screws that hold the door latch on or my top wont go on.