installing soft top on fiberglass tub

Got a question for you guys running fiberglass tubs. Wimpy has the original metal tub, and I know it has the little tube in the door opening for the lower door pivot. On the fiberglass tubs, do you just drill a hole in the tub? or do I need to rig up something to hold the pivot pin at a certain level? Hope I'm making sence there.

Also, what have you used to attach the snaps to the body?? 4-40 bolts, or something like a sheetmetal screw? Anyone remember how long the bolts/screws where?

--Guess I should add that I got the top from speedbuggy and the hardware I've scavenged off parts jeeps. I have snaps I'm taking off a body if they are good, so I need to replace the bolts/screws holding them on. I think they were held on by small bolts-metal body.

 

I used the screws for the snaps that came with the top... I guess they are small sheet metal screws. I just drilled small pilot holes, then screwed them in.

As far as the lower door pivot...
I have an old glass tub. I assume new ones have some provision, but mine didn't. My glass is only one thin layer thick where the lower door pivot needs to go, and the PO had hogged it out

I happened to have some thin sheet brass laying around. (Flashing would have worked just as well) I fashioned a piece as wide as the lip of the step, depressed it in the middle to act as a pocket and to give me correct door height, then screwed (or riveted) it to the tub lip. So now the bottom door pivot is held in place and at the correct height for proper door closing. It's been like this for about 8 years now, it works OK.
Another way to do this would be to use a piece of copper tubing sized to slip over the door pivot, and give the door the correct height. Solder a cap in one end, and a flange of some type to the other that could be riveted/screwed to the underside of the tub lip... it would make a cleaner looking job than what I have.

EDIT: Here's the best pic I have of the area, sorry it's not clearer.

HTH

 

Seems like one of the other boards had an extensive article on installing a softop on a glass body.

Lynn - wasn't it your snowplowing electrical genius buddy?

 

Hmmm.... snowplowing electrical genius... could only be John Strenk from Ohio...
I don't recall the post Mike, but if it is by John then a search on his name on the CJ board at JU or CJOffroad.com or Jeepforum.com should find the article.

 

I don't think Brian got a Supertop.

Isn't he asking about the more "Standard" top where the main door rod pokes through the body in the forward portion of the doorway?

 

That be the one Alan.
Sorry I didn't check back sooner, Yea, I have the tigertop I belive. No hinge for the door, just the pin that sits in a hole in the door opening. And the one that slips into the channel on the windshield.
I think Lynn pretty much gave me a good idea of what needs to be done for the pin hole. I've been busy the last week and really haven't had a chance to do anything with it, but I want to get the top on soon since its cooling off around here.

Soo, sheet metal screws seem to work good enough in fiberglass, and I need to form a pocket that the pin will rest in at a specific hight.

I'll post some pics soon, now that I have batteries agian for the digi cam.