Hard top removal?
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Independence, MO
Hard top removal?
i know a lot guys like to take there hard tops off and ride around, I've never givin it much thought but exactly whats involved in takeing it off and putting it back? is it a lot of trouble? Thnx guys! DW
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: huntington beach, ca
Hard top removal?
mine is off right now. the kids love it.....ok i love it..... you just have to take the interior trim off that surrounds the top. take the bolts out and take it off.
it is no trouble at all if you dont have those torx bolts.
it is no trouble at all if you dont have those torx bolts.
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From: Independence, MO
Hard top removal?
Its an 87" i dont know what kinda bolts they are, like i said, never gave it any thought till now. does it make it more subseptable to leaks once you remove it? Thnx! DW
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Lynnwood
Hard top removal?
On my 86 you have to remove a bunch of 8 mm bolts which isnt fun to do!( Im guessing around 13 bolts) Use WD40 on them. Does '87 have sholder seat belts in the rear? If it does than you need a torx bit to remove it.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 48
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From: huntington beach, ca
Hard top removal?
the first time i took it off, i put it back on with the torx bits. i couldn't get em tight enough and it leaked.
since i switched to standard bolts, it doesnt leak cause i can tighten it down better.
since i switched to standard bolts, it doesnt leak cause i can tighten it down better.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Independence, MO
Hard top removal?
Cool deal! i may to give this a try. MRT no the 87 dosent have shoulder belts, i wish it did for my kids sake, i gues i would have to change top for that.
Thnx guys for the replys! ha ha i made a rhym DW
Thnx guys for the replys! ha ha i made a rhym DW
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,404
Likes: 52
From: Wheatland, Mo
Hard top removal?
One thing I did was change the threading on the nuts in the body itself and replaced the bolts with a flip down one sided wing bolt. You only have to run it in about 2 turns then the upper end of the bolt folds over flat to keep it from backing out. When you fold it over, it applys pressure downward holding the top tight. Ill try to get some pics so you can see what I did. Easy conversion for about $40. And now it takes all of about 5 min to remove all the bolts. Pics will be posted when I figure out how to get pics from my phone to my PC
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
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From: Gateway to the West
Hard top removal?
Anything prior to 1992 should be the hex head bolts. In 1992 Ford added the high mount stop lamp in the top and tried to "discourage removal" of the top because its technically a federal crime to remove that stop lamp. So, anything 1992 and later will have T-40 tamper-proof Torx head bolts. In addition, in '92 Ford put shoulder harness seat belts for the rear seat passengers that bolted into the top so, removing the top in a '92-96 will render two of the three seat belts useless in the back. Or you could do what I have done to a top and still get the open road feel without actually having to completely remove the top. Will post more when I have pictures.
mrit,
If you wanted to find a top from a 92-96 and add the shoulder harness belts, let me know...since my little mishap the other day I find myself in posession of, count 'em, THREE tops from 92-96 vintage Broncos. I might be willing to part with one.
mrit,
If you wanted to find a top from a 92-96 and add the shoulder harness belts, let me know...since my little mishap the other day I find myself in posession of, count 'em, THREE tops from 92-96 vintage Broncos. I might be willing to part with one.
Last edited by greystreak92; Aug 13, 2003 at 08:17 PM.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 497
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From: Olympia USA
I've managed to destroy one top. I was running a pretty tight trail, and a tree limb creased the body and wedged just under the bolted down top, and cracked it in two just past the back of the side window. They are pretty durable. It's a lot of fiberglass, with a few metal supprts at the corners at the back. It's failry tough. I think I've dropped mine a few times . Nothing but a few scrapes. It wasn't far from the ground though.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Boise, Idaho
Tjfranko, you need to get a security Torx bit that fits the top. The size is, I believe, a #T40. You'll also need to remove the shoulder strap mounts from the inside, but I don't know the size on that one.
The top is pretty durable. They have a built in roll bar around the rear window, so they're not going to easily flex and break. However, if you mishandle them and twist them too much, the windows can crack. Unless you really just flop it off, don't worry too much about mishandling it.
Just remove all the bolts and then have a friend lift it off with you. It's about 120 lbs, so it's not super heavy, just AWKWARD. My wife and I manage it just fine.
When you store it, make sure it's flat. If it's out in the hot sun and is torqued while sitting, it can become permanent and won't seal when you put it back on. Not hard to store it right, just have to make sure you do it. Some build racks they can hang them from in their garage. These are great because they make it much easier to take on and off, and you can usually do it yourself.
The top is pretty durable. They have a built in roll bar around the rear window, so they're not going to easily flex and break. However, if you mishandle them and twist them too much, the windows can crack. Unless you really just flop it off, don't worry too much about mishandling it.
Just remove all the bolts and then have a friend lift it off with you. It's about 120 lbs, so it's not super heavy, just AWKWARD. My wife and I manage it just fine.
When you store it, make sure it's flat. If it's out in the hot sun and is torqued while sitting, it can become permanent and won't seal when you put it back on. Not hard to store it right, just have to make sure you do it. Some build racks they can hang them from in their garage. These are great because they make it much easier to take on and off, and you can usually do it yourself.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Gateway to the West
Check the Red Link in my signature. The top is pretty sturdy and those who would be alarmists about it being fragile or easily tweaked out of square or developing leaks have obviously never dealt with one off the truck. I've stored three (3) of them stood on the rear corners on top of a folded packing blanket for years and never had any issues with them fitting or leaking. The fibreglass is formed over a steel frame. and I regularly pick mine off the truck with a hand winch system I put in the garage. It gets picked at the rear lower corners and the front upper corners.