You can make the cuts with whatever tool you like from sawzall to die grinder and pneumatic air shears. I did all cuts with a cutting wheel, and a metal file set.   Because my truck had allready been rolled the cab decided to twist when the top was cut completely through, because of this I will needed to reinforce the cab. I don't believe all trucks need this, but mine is all single wall and simply sliding a pice of steel between the cab pillars and screwing it from the backside will really keep it from tweaking it. Because the top is now cut off I drilled through the cage to mount the seat belts and it seems to be working fine.  For support I bought a couple u-bolts from the local Home Depot and drilled throught the back of the cab placing the u-bolts around the cage and to the back of the cab.

In fear of stinky carpet I removed all the carpet interior and rolled on some Herculiner purchased from Kmart for a whoppin 100 bones. I still have a bit left and I did my doors, cab, and speaker box (not to mention the BED).  My custom upholstry was removed to make way for waterproof seat covers and a custom center console was made, fully water proofed with a drain so that it can be used as an ice cooler for icy beverages on the trail. Below are some pictures with descriptions.

Please email if you would like me to add to this tech article with any further information. I will continue to update with any problems that I run into. Updates will be posted by date at the bottom of the page. I will say that the top has survived sevaral rain storms and is sealed quite well. I have see what happens if you cut your doors as per instructions and I am glad I cut the kit instead of the doors! For summertime I run my half doors that I also made myself. Feel free to email me at webmaster@RiverCityRockCrawlers.com if you have any questions or comments. Please let me know what you think of this format (pictures with text) and let me know how I can write better articles in the future, see ya on the trail!

Here is the first cut being made, no going back now!	Here Joe is cutting the back section of the top.	Another shot as the top is getting cut off
The inside cut follows the countour of the window	The top is free!	What the back cut section looked like before being capped
A strip of metal was removed to make room for the plastic pieces	I learned not to let the strip get too long! Almost lost a finger here!	A close look will reveal the blood from my finger, ouch!
I used tie downs to hold the top tight before riveting the plastic pieces in place	Here is the windshield connections, the pieces were cut for the roll cage and to allow for the door to close.	Here the hinges are being cut to work with the roll cage.
A picture of the rear hinges closed	A picture of the rear hinges open	The roof line cut after sealed with silicone and the rubber seal

A big thanks goes to my little helper who slept on my seat while I did all the finish work! In this picture you can see the custom center console that I made and covered with the same bedliner material that I used all throughout the cab. Please email me at brandon@pirate4x4.com if you have any questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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