Plans for a 'removable' roof

thats a pretty damn cool idear.
 
Yup, it's getting warm again and I was also thinking more about it the other day. I believe you can add support structures to keep the top sturdy and replace the glass with plexi for some weight savings. Also, I was thinking of cutting the liftgate in half and leaving the bottom part on the truck and then the top part can help keep the sides of the top supported somehow.

:looney:
 
SeeJeepGo said:
Yup, it's getting warm again and I was also thinking more about it the other day. I believe you can add support structures to keep the top sturdy and replace the glass with plexi for some weight savings. Also, I was thinking of cutting the liftgate in half and leaving the bottom part on the truck and then the top part can help keep the sides of the top supported somehow.

:looney:
Click to expand...

Ditto. I also have a spare lift-gate hangin out just for that purpose. I'd also like to find some extra doors too. I'd like to see if there is enough support for the window without the backpart of the frame. Effectively creating frameless windows which IMO are better suited for a convertible :-) If it doesn't work out I'll just hack up some half-doors or maybe just step-through doors similar to the ones popular on scouts and EBs of yesteryear. just removing the door looks unclean to me, but sure beats having the door on. Of course, thats all cosmetics anyhow ;)

One thing I've noticed is that most people leave the B-pillar when they chop the top. I think by including the entire top, with B-pillar, and the entire window frame I think there is a chance that it might not be as flimsy as I would immediately expect. That and closing up the gap at the cutline and a support where the roofline meets the windsheild may be enough to keep it bending in half while off the vehicle.

Otherwise a framework of 3/4" tube would give it the last bit of support. Once its on the vehicle, bolted or clamped or whatever ends up in place I don't think the lack of structure is much of an issue at all. Besides, I could also incorporate a few tie-downs into the cage as well if it was that big of a deal.

Rev Den said:
The original factory roof when removed from the body is:

Heavier than you think
Click to expand...

Lets talk numbers? How heavy is heavier than I think? I woudln't put it past the top to be pushing 150-200lbs, which I can deal with. I'd like to add a handful of low-profile tie-downs that I could just strap to and hoist it off/on the jeep in the garage. Easy as pie... :roflmao:
 
Sorry Rev, no offense was taken. My sense of humor was just a little down that day.

(Last semester of college, but I found out I have to take 2 summer classes b/c they screwed me on credit transfers)

ChicksDig and SeeJeep-- keep us updated!
 
ChicksDigWagons said:
Lets talk numbers? How heavy is heavier than I think? I woudln't put it past the top to be pushing 150-200lbs, which I can deal with. I'd like to add a handful of low-profile tie-downs that I could just strap to and hoist it off/on the jeep in the garage. Easy as pie... :roflmao:
Click to expand...

Maybe 150 Lbs....but thats 150 Lbs if something with the structure of tin foil. The roof, when seperated from the body, has no strength to stay rigid.

Rev
 
Rev Den said:
Maybe 150 Lbs....but thats 150 Lbs if something with the structure of tin foil. The roof, when seperated from the body, has no strength to stay rigid.

Rev
Click to expand...


Okay, that weight is manageable. And the structure part can be handled. Adding support to sheet metal isn't rocket science. :) I may in fact weld some form into it before I cut it off. Should make it easier to maintain the curvature, particularly where it meets the windshield.
 
ive been thinking about this one too. stiffen up the roof with some lightweight reinforcement. cage it.
weld around the top of the door and the b pillar, then bring out the sawzall.
after the roof is off.
jeeproofcuts.jpg

weld flat pieces to where your mounting surfaces (where you had to cut) so you have some surfase area to put a rubber seal and some strength for attaching the hold down latches.
anybody have an old k5? or anything else with a removeable hardtop?
go to the junkyard and mimic a rig that came that way from the factory.
people have spent millions of dollars in engineering removeable tops, steal their ideas.
use all plex windows.
get a bed from a mj and give your xj a tailgate.

if only my xj didnt have to be my daily driver, ahh heck. maybe ill do it anyways
 
yup yup. sounds like what i was thinking. i'm working on compiling some parts and then its goin in the garage soon to start some cutting. ill keep ya informed.

And my friend wants to take the back section off his grand. should be an interesting fall season. :-)
 
HOLY CRAP FLEXY!

thats really nice.
 
SICK - exactly what im thinking. damn i hate when someone beats me to it :-) jk. looks realy awsome. i love the hide-a-way roof up into the celing! extra bonus points to you!
 
Thanks... glad I'm finally to the point where the top is off and I can begin the 'clean up'. WAAAY too much work to get to this point.

The work on the garage storage and hoist was well worth it when it came to lifting the top off... by myself. Not a whole lot of room to work in a single car garage so going up was the best solution.

Lots of chop top and half cab XJs out there but haven't seen one with the top able to go on and off.

I built a long arm setup for my rig way before they became all the rage... nothing stays unique in this sport very long. This mod probably won't be duplicated often due to the labor involved but its fun to push the envelope.
 
I saw a picture a while back of a yellow xj, where the guy used a tonneau cover for a "ragtop" type roof. Not a convertible, but more a giant sunroof. Anyone have pictures of that?
 
TheWarWagon said:
I saw a picture a while back of a yellow xj, where the guy used a tonneau cover for a "ragtop" type roof. Not a convertible, but more a giant sunroof. Anyone have pictures of that?
Click to expand...
You may be talking about the C-rok xj that was on the for sale boards and in modified tech not too long ago, sorry if my memory is failing if that is not the one. Nice job flexy, It looks like lots of fun.
 
nope, IIRC C-rok is red, i remember the picture. it was a pic of the top of a cherokee with the majority of the roof cut out, not off. the edges of the roof were left intact, and of course there was a cage. the person used a truck bed cover for a soft top, but when he rolled it back, it was a full sunroof.
 
rocklandxjer said:
nope, IIRC C-rok is red, i remember the picture. it was a pic of the top of a cherokee with the majority of the roof cut out, not off. the edges of the roof were left intact, and of course there was a cage. the person used a truck bed cover for a soft top, but when he rolled it back, it was a full sunroof.
Click to expand...

That exact one. I believe he used the bed cover off a Mazda....
 
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