I have seen a few pics of people who have shortened their hard top to make an extended cab type top. How are they doing this?? Custom making the whole top? just cutting it up and welding together? What about the fiberglass white part?:confused:

You pretty much answered your own question. Just cut your top down and weld. Re-glass the top at the seam. You will also need to trim off the bottom lip on the hard top corner as it will interfere with the lip on the top of the tub. I have an old bi-fold one im working on for my 45. I basically cut out the side window and tacked it together(6inches longer to match my tub). Take your time and cut very slowly and straight. Jig saw's are nice for this;)

here are some pics of my dad's half cab. cut down side panels from a 78.

one thing to keep in mind is where to cut the fiberglass...because of it's taper, you have to cut it at a specific area depending on the length of the top.

here's where he grafted the original post at the b pillar to the rear kick out window

instead of cutting the lip off, he notched the lip to fit around the tub lip. the lower corners are made from old tub lower corners, so the top fits their lip like stock.

Originally posted by toploader
You pretty much answered your own question. Just cut your top down and weld. Re-glass the top at the seam. You will also need to trim off the bottom lip on the hard top corner as it will interfere with the lip on the top of the tub. I have an old bi-fold one im working on for my 45. I basically cut out the side window and tacked it together(6inches longer to match my tub). Take your time and cut very slowly and straight. Jig saw's are nice for this;)

never done any fiberglass work...can I just pick up a can of fiberglass putty at the parts store or what?:confused:

I have thought about doing a similar thing but I was going to just fit a back and roof of a ute.

I do have a pic on my hard drive but got no idea how to post.....sorry

Cheers Dazz

Originally posted by fj40john
never done any fiberglass work...can I just pick up a can of fiberglass putty at the parts store or what?:confused:

I helped a guy do it a couple times several years ago. It's more like paper mache (sp) with resin and mesh glass strips instead of paste and paper.

Not a hijack but a related question.. Would you grind the rivets off and remove the fiberglass assembly first. Then shorten the metal rail assembly that bolts to the hard top. Then Re-rivet the "Shortened" cap to the metal rail assembly?
Anyone? Cause I'm about to tackle this project shortly for shorty..:p

i think you pretty much have to take the fiberglass part off the metal raingutter... otherwise it will be really hard to make the rain gutter look nice... and the fiberglass will melt/catch fire/really stink when you weld next to it.

all depends on how clean you want it to be.

I have a set of sides for a hard top FJ 40 they have some rust. IF you want them for practice you can have them. I'm in upstate NY I can even get a roof for you if you want.

Craig

Originally posted by fj40john


never done any fiberglass work...can I just pick up a can of fiberglass putty at the parts store or what?:confused:
I use this stuff called "kitty hair" it comes in a purple can. Once it dries its on there. It is full of hair like fibers in a resin ready to apply right from the can.

Ok, my lovely wife is standing over my shoulder and wants to know why get rid of all that interior space, and go through all of that work, I can't give her an answer so, why do it? What is the advantage?

Originally posted by kief
Ok, my lovely wife is standing over my shoulder and wants to know why get rid of all that interior space, and go through all of that work, I can't give her an answer so, why do it? What is the advantage?
It will keep you in the shop and out of the house;) (dont know if thats a good thing for you or not)

It looks good if done correctly.
Less weight than a full hard top.(for snow runs/ smaller cab=better heating)
If you can, get a top thats not in such great shape and chop it instead of your existing one. Only PIA is making the rear roll bar fit. Unless your up to hacking the back part off or making the cage go through it. Wish I had pics of my friends old one(now Gifu's) it was sweet with the rear cage spreaders going through the back part of the fiberglass cap.