I have the 1990 bronco that the kids shot out the side window of the shell.
Glass cost $155 and I bought another shell complete for $80.
I'm gonna use the window I need and save the other for a spare.
Should I sell the top or I was thinking of cutting a rectangle out of the top and doing a rag top but using steel mesh instead of a cloth and mesh on the holes where side windows would be for summer. So I would have the open air affect with security... good idea or dumb?
Will I have to reinforce the top since I'm cutting a hole?

 

I am looking at doing one with the hole in the top and the glass removed. Would use a Jeep type material to snap on. I think the mesh would make tons of noise.

Then again, I might resell it if I don't do something soon......

 

I modified a top with soft vinyl windows, a large soft top section across the ceiling. I used to have a full of photos but I took it down not too long ago for reasons I won't go into here.

However, I still have the photos and all the information for making another one.

The windows roll up and/or zip out. The top section snaps into place. The converted top weighs about 50-75 lbs. LESS than the OEM top. I'm going to try to put up the gallery again.

 

+1 on the rag top.

I cut the sides and top out and had a leather cover made that snaps on over the whole thing. I need to get some better pics, but here is mine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62639173@N03/5700965193/http://www.flickr.com/photos/62639173@N03/5700965193/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/62639173@N03/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62639173@N03/5701461712/http://www.flickr.com/photos/62639173@N03/5701461712/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/62639173@N03/, on Flickr

Here's one with the top on.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62639173@N03/6224707260/http://www.flickr.com/photos/62639173@N03/6224707260/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/62639173@N03/, on Flickr

 

Edgethis you also opened
The side up more than the original window size? How water tight is that in the event you were out and got caught doing 60+ in a storm we need a thread devoted to these top conversions i dont want to drill holed in my body

 

Its a stock top so its as water tight as a reguler top in that respect. I have had snow and heavy rain with no npticeable dripping. The only time I've ever had any leaking is when there is a build-up on top and sometimes when I first move and shift that puddle I've had a few drops come down. Nothing major tho. Obvisouly road noise is higher then a standard top with the cover on.

 

I know the top itself has a good seal i was more asking if the custom leather cover had a good seal how does water not seap in between the top and sides on the leading edge.....i cant wait for that build thread hope one day it is up here

 

I would think it would allow some leaking between the snaps on the top and sides of the leading edge.

I have been toying with this idea, I thought about using the newer type hold down instead of the snaps. I believe Best Tops use the steel lip to hook the top to. I just have to look into it a bit and see how I can go around the roll from the top to the sides. Something like this method....

 

Yeah thats just like the jeeps lip

 

I figure that would look neater than snaps plus it will seal good. Just need to work it to fit the curve. The ones I had on a '79 CJ5 were more of a "Z" shape when looked at the end. They bolted to a flat surface and the top slipped under like the pic. There were pull tabs in the right placed to pull them off with. The last section in was a stretch but they worked nice and I never had one go bad.

,,,,,,gotta do more lookin'.....

 

I haven't ever really had an issue with leaking. Even when I use a pressure hose to clean the truck occasionally. Tho I don't sit there and focus the water jet on the leading edge.