RPR
05-30-2007, 09:48 AM
The title is not a self assessed opinion of the quality of the post :lol
This is info on adapting a Best Top Bikini top for a '76 - '83 Jeep CJ5 to a Series Land Rover.
Firstly, credit to Jeff Berg, of coorganizer of Winter Romp fame. He did this originally mating the canvas to a Series front window channel by putting some brass grommets in the bikini top. I chose to use the CJ5 windscreen channel instead and it seems a better fit.
Basically it requires two parts: Bestop #52507 (available in black or tan)
and part # 51209-01 (not sure whether this is a Bestop or Jeep # - suspect the latter) which is the windscreen channel.
It took about 35 minutes - with plenty of fuffing about - and requires six holes to be drilled (size depends on the bolts you are using) in the ally windscreen channel. I fixed it in place with some clamps and drilled up through the locating holes in the Series windscreen top. I used the same bolts and nuts used to fix the station wagon top.
The bikini top is about 1 3/4" - 2" too narrow for the Series Windscreen so the snaps that would fit on the side of the CJ5 windscreen will not do so. I would suggest using the more inboard of the two outermost locating holes in the Series screen to mount the first bolt. Doing so should allow you to put the snap in the channel which would be more perfect if not particularly more effective.
The rear straps do not reach the fixing points on the back of an 88". I have used far too butch cam straps as extensions. Be careful not to overtighten the straps.
I got the bikini top for $42.99 and windscreen channel for $19.20 delivered free by 4WD Hardware. One of the leading UK soft top purveyors wanted 72 quid just for the canvas (before shipping). God only knows what it would cost from Badger. Of course, you get what you pay for. This is a sun shade. When it rains, you will get wet (rather like with my station wagon hard top :lol)
I does not fit as well as a custom made jobbie. It does go on and off remarkblly easily (slides in and out of the channel) and fits just fine. It may billow a bit more than optimal at highway speeds.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/LRDG/Tech%20photos/IMG_0797.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/LRDG/Tech%20photos/IMG_0796.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/LRDG/Tech%20photos/IMG_0800.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/LRDG/Tech%20photos/IMG_0795.jpg
This is info on adapting a Best Top Bikini top for a '76 - '83 Jeep CJ5 to a Series Land Rover.
Firstly, credit to Jeff Berg, of coorganizer of Winter Romp fame. He did this originally mating the canvas to a Series front window channel by putting some brass grommets in the bikini top. I chose to use the CJ5 windscreen channel instead and it seems a better fit.
Basically it requires two parts: Bestop #52507 (available in black or tan)
and part # 51209-01 (not sure whether this is a Bestop or Jeep # - suspect the latter) which is the windscreen channel.
It took about 35 minutes - with plenty of fuffing about - and requires six holes to be drilled (size depends on the bolts you are using) in the ally windscreen channel. I fixed it in place with some clamps and drilled up through the locating holes in the Series windscreen top. I used the same bolts and nuts used to fix the station wagon top.
The bikini top is about 1 3/4" - 2" too narrow for the Series Windscreen so the snaps that would fit on the side of the CJ5 windscreen will not do so. I would suggest using the more inboard of the two outermost locating holes in the Series screen to mount the first bolt. Doing so should allow you to put the snap in the channel which would be more perfect if not particularly more effective.
The rear straps do not reach the fixing points on the back of an 88". I have used far too butch cam straps as extensions. Be careful not to overtighten the straps.
I got the bikini top for $42.99 and windscreen channel for $19.20 delivered free by 4WD Hardware. One of the leading UK soft top purveyors wanted 72 quid just for the canvas (before shipping). God only knows what it would cost from Badger. Of course, you get what you pay for. This is a sun shade. When it rains, you will get wet (rather like with my station wagon hard top :lol)
I does not fit as well as a custom made jobbie. It does go on and off remarkblly easily (slides in and out of the channel) and fits just fine. It may billow a bit more than optimal at highway speeds.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/LRDG/Tech%20photos/IMG_0797.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/LRDG/Tech%20photos/IMG_0796.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/LRDG/Tech%20photos/IMG_0800.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/LRDG/Tech%20photos/IMG_0795.jpg