mounting bikini top to rollcage

i have a brand new bestop bikini top and the part that slids into the windsheild channel is too wide to fit my windsheild. i figure that i might as well mount it to the front hoop on the rollcage so i can still have shade with the windsheild down. has anyone done this before and how should i attach the front of the top? i was thinking of just using a sheetmetal screw every 6" or so.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by the that top is too wide to fit the windshield. Do you mean that the slot is too narrow to slide the material into, or that the whole width of the top is wider than the width of the jeep?

I have a 68 jeep with a Besttop bikini top. The material is too wide to fit in the slot, but I consider this a good thing, as the material has to slide into the end of the slot. The windshield was aftermarket, and the slot was somewhat too narrow, so I had to spread the end slightly to allow the material to go into the slot. It is much easier to install on a warm sunny day, when the vinyl is flexible.

The soft top I have, which I have never fully installed has the front material somewhat thinner, and can easily fall out of the slot, which makes it more problematic for install.

The bikini top also has two snaps, one at each end to secure the front ends of the top to the windshield.

When the jeep sets in the sun, the top has a lot of flex and movement until the air cools it down some.

As far as attaching it directly to the roll bar, I would suggest that you use aluminum carpet edging, or laminated floor edging rather than just screwing the vinyl to the roll bar. I installed a Pergo floor in my kitchen and at the doorway entrance, I used an aluminum J-channel which may be just the ticket for this application.

 

You must have the later (76+) windshield because the original 69 had the widest one in the early models.

 

yes I run mine off the roll bar ,but it does leave a 1 inch gap for pouring rain and the windshield is looser in the bindings .I bought a attachment kit from ORW in Tem.pics later got to go

 

I used the windshield channel when it was up. The guy who built my cage had an extra aftermarket channel lying around and he mounted that to the front hoop so I could use the bikini when I did not have the windshield up.

 

" the part that slids into the windsheild channel is too wide to fit my windsheild."

Not quite clear what you mean. However... some tops have a flat bar sewn in to engage the channel, but will not fit totally "inside" the channel. It slots in vertically from below, and tensioning the top applies torque which holds it there.

 

i mean the channel is narrower than the flat bar sewn into the top. i think the stock channel is designed for tops with a small round welting sewn in not the larger flat material in the newer tops. btw the top i ordered was listed as fitting '75 and older.

 

Indeed the original welts were round. In my own case ('56 CJ5) I found that the flat bar could be locked in to the channel by inserting it partially, from the underside.

 

great description. X2 on post #8. not that easy to do by yourself but it can be done with patience.