As many of you know, taking the fiberglass top
off is
what makes owning a Bronco so much fun. The downside is that these tops
weigh
over 100 lb., so it is not easy for one person to do (it can be done,
but
it is ugly). I wanted some form of a soft top for my '85 Bronco, but I
didn't
want to have any snaps drilled into the side of my truck. I thought
about
a "full" soft top, but I don't like the looks of the side windows, as
they
don't follow the contour of the Bronco.
I ended up with an extra top when I rebuilt the
Bronco, so I set my mind to work. After a lot of thinking, I came up
with this idea. I removed the windows from the top, and cleaned the
edges nice and smooth. Then I cut about a 4' by 4' hole in the roof,
following the factory seams that were there. Then I cleaned up all the
edges and corners making sure
that they were all smooth.
I then went to a local
truck accessory store and special ordered some tonneau cover supports
(bows).
I cut these down to size to fit in the 4' by 4' hole I cut in the roof.
These supports have a slight bow in them, and keep the "soft" roof from
filling up with water when it rains (these bows are fully removable).
I then took the top to a local upholstery shop and
they made up the top and side panels, and attached them to the top with
snaps. The material they used on my Bronco is regularly used for boat
tops, and
is waterproof. The windows are a "smoked" color, and are very durable.
When I got the top back from the upholsterer, I
un-snapped the panels and used 3M weather strip adhesive and attached
some 1/2" half moon shaped weather stripping. I cut a small notch in
the weather stripping where each snap was, to try and get the most
water tight seal. So far this set up has held up pretty well. The rainy
season is now starting, and I
have noticed a few minor leaking point. These can be easily fixed with
some
thicker weather stripping.
So that is it. I have been using this top now for
about 3-4 months, and I must say it is so nice to be able to un-snap
the side
panels and or the roof panel whenever I want. No more having to get
somebody
to help me remove the whole top. The whole thing cost be about $450
(not
including my own labour, as usual).
Top made, but no side panels.
Top made, but no side panels.
Top made, but no side panels.
Side view, with roof panel but no side
panels.
Looking out the left window, with no soft panel on.
Looking out the right window, with no soft panel
on.
Side view, with roof panel and side panels on.
Rear view, with top and side panels
on.
Front view, with top and side panels on.
Looking at the roof panel and the bows.
Looking out the left window, with the soft panel
on.
Looking out the right window, with the soft panel on.
The only bad part of this, is having to store a second
top, which I call "the winter top".
Close up shot of
the brackets
that the bows attach to.
Close up shot of
the brackets
that the bows attach to.
Close up shot of
the brackets
that the bows attach to.
Close up shot of
the brackets
that the bows attach to.
Close up of soft panel.
Close up of soft panel.
Close up of soft panel.
Close up of soft panel.
Close up of soft panel.
Close up of bows.
Close up of bows.
The "winter" top that I got when I painted the truck has finally
broken, so
while I was cutting
it up, I took some pictures of the lips that I had to remove to make my
soft top.
The lip goes all the way around the window.
Here are the windows removed from the top.
The lip goes in the noted channel.
The paint I put on the top has lasted for 8 years.
Well, 6 years. Year 6 brought big area's of white where the paint was
worn off,
the last year I did a quick paint job before I put it on the truck, but
I didn't prep it very well and most of that paint peeled right off.
This year (May 2008), I gave it a thorough sanding, masked off
the seals and gaskets, and gave her 2 coats of primer and pretty
blue paint. Now it is the shiniest part of the truck.
Taped off the snaps and gaskets.
Dirty old panels back in place.
If you have any comments, suggestions, or see any errors, please let
me know.....cbradley@telus.net
This site was last updated in some way on May 4/2008.
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