Building custom soft top for the LJ

[jeepdreamer]

Hey Squint!
Quick question about the TJ/LJ top channels. Do the channels bolt onto the tub or are they molded in at the factory and not removable? I found an LJ top here (used) locally and thought maybe it could be modified/molested to work on my CJ8. The seller seems to think the channels are fixed to the tub. Thoughts??

 

[jscusmcvet]

Hey Squint!
Quick question about the TJ/LJ top channels. Do the channels bolt onto the tub or are they molded in at the factory and not removable? I found an LJ top here (used) locally and thought maybe it could be modified/molested to work on my CJ8. The seller seems to think the channels are fixed to the tub. Thoughts??

They are fixed. I would think however, that you could bend some flat aluminum (?) strips at an appropriate angle and blot them in place on the sides of your scrambler.

John

 

[jeepdreamer]

Thanks John. I was stating at Squint's pictures trying to verify it but you nailed it. I did find that Best top will sell the rails etc so I may look into that. Unless I can come across a used YJ set cheap...

 

[jscherb]

Thanks John. I was stating at Squint's pictures trying to verify it but you nailed it. I did find that Best top will sell the rails etc so I may look into that. Unless I can come across a used YJ set cheap...

You can buy the LJ rails at the dealer as replacement parts, I think they were about $30 each side when I bought some to do the top rail of my trailer.

Don't forget that the LJ is 9" shorter than the CJ-8, which will provide a challenge for fitting an LJ soft top to a CJ-8.

The rails sitting on top of the tub before I welded them on:

 

[squint]

They are fixed. I would think however, that you could bend some flat aluminum (?) strips at an appropriate angle and blot them in place on the sides of your scrambler.

John

Absolutely- It was necessary to do something similar on this build and quite frankly, it was easy. I would be more worried about the length and width of the top itself... Obviously the length of the top is short, but what about the width? If the width works, then it may be possible.