Most Jeeps come from the factory with a soft top, a feature that many people feel gives the vehicle much of its distinctive look and character. You may, however, want to install a variation on the soft top that offers you more flexibility than the standard one. Some after-market models come with such features as a half-folding top that provides the Jeep counterpart to a sunroof. You can also purchase hard top or a "strapless bikini" model that encloses only the front seat, leaving the rear open. For this demonstration, we chose to install a full-coverage soft top that can fold back either partially -- exposing only the front seat -- or completely. The replacement top comes as a kit with the necessary hardware and with very detailed instructions and diagrams. This is a fairly complex installation with quite a few steps. Read and follow the instructions and diagrams carefully to ensure proper installation. Following is a summary of the basic steps for installation as performed in our demonstration. - You'll need to remove some of the factory hardware to begin the installation. Begin by lifting out and removing the original half-doors (figure A).
- Remove the side curtains and quarter-windows. First loosen the VelcroB. strips that hold the side curtains to the top fabric (figure B), then carefully unzip the windows and remove them. Older zippers may be more difficult to unzip, so use some care and take your time.
- Release the interior header latches (figure C) that fasten the top down to the windshield frame. Once both are unlatched, fold the top back and out of the way. You may find it easier to pull back standing inside the vehicle (figure D ) rather than on the outside.
- Unscrew the knobs that hold the door surrounds in place and remove the door surrounds (figure E).
- Remove the factory pivot-bracket from the support bar (figure F). Be careful not to damage any of the parts in the removal, as you may want to keep the original top and hardware or sell them.
- After the top has been released from the support bar, carefully lift off and remove the top (figure G).
- With the factory top and hardware removed, install the new pivot brackets (left and right) onto the center sport-bar. The new pivot brackets install in the same spot, and use the same holes, as the factory brackets. Install the new brackets using the bolts provided and a socket wrench (figure H).
- Install the rear bow brackets (left and right) on the rear sport-bar. The rear bow, which will supports the canvas top, clamps into the rear brackets (figure I).
- Install the new door surrounds and side-bows following all of the steps in the manufacturer's instructions (figure J). The side bows (left and right) install over tabs in the main pivot bracket. Orient the side bows with the longer leg toward the outside of the vehicle.
- The windshield header attaches at the front ends of the side bow using shouldered bolts that come with the kit. This forms another pivot-point: the sunroof pivot ( figure K) that allows the front section of the roof to be folded back (figure L), leaving the rear portion of the vehicle covered. Once the installation is complete, the rear section roof may be folded back as well.
- Once the windshield header is in place, install the center bow according to the manufacturer's instructions. The center bow connects to the side bow and serves to hold the forward section of the roof up so it doesn't sag over the front seat.
- With all the hardware installed, follow the diagrams and instructions to install the new canvas cover and side curtains (figure M).
RESOURCES :
Vehicles provided by McNelly-Whaley Ford Lincoln Mercury
750 Dolly Parton Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
Phone: 865-453-2833
Web site: www.ford4u.com
Custom soft-top for Jeep Wrangler
Custom soft-top (Supertop Sunrider) for Jeep Wrangler
from
Bestop, Inc.
Toll-free: 800-845-3567
Web site: www.bestop.com
Jeep Owner's Bible: A Hands-On Guide to Getting the Most from Your Jeep
Model: 0837601541
Author: Moses Ludel
(1992)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Bentley Publishers
The Jeep Bible: Written Personally for the Jeep Cult!
Model: 0961847344
Author: Granville King and Willie Worthy
(1997)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
Quellen Company
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WINDOWS MEDIA VIDEO
