Greyhorn

Traded my FJ60 for '87 turbo runner a few months ago and I've been mostley lurking here. Thought I would post a few pics of the bikini I installed.

Items needed:

FJ40 Bikini from Bestop
Jeep YJ bikini window channel
4 homemade L brackets
Mending plate to join the 2 piece YJ channel together
10'x 1/2" conduit from Home Depot
6' pipe insulation
Misc nuts & bolts.

Steps:

Bend the 1/2" conduit for the tensioner bar. I would do around 18" sides and about 46" across. I did about 53" and it's a little wide.

Flatten and drill the ends for bolting to the existing rollbar holes, paint, install pipe insulation.

Next I fabbed 4 L brackets for mounting the channel to the cab using the 4 existing top bolt holes. I bet you could find something off the shelf that would work. I made mine so that the tallest part of the bracket was at the middle of the cab weather stripping.

Join the 2 piece YJ channel with a mending plate, install the top into the channel. Position the YJ channel on the 4 L brackets with the top flopped over the cab and hood.

I snugged the channel forward until it made a tight fit with the cab and then drilled the holes through the channel and brackets at the same time.

Bolt the channel to the brackets, flip the top into position and snug it down. I used the D rings in the cargo area, but the top comes with footman loops you could mount. The straps are a few inches too long so they need to be modified so the sewn-in buckle is a few inches closer to the top. You can also just tie a couple knots in the webbing to shorten it.

Bend the ends of the channel to conform to the cab.

Put the tensioner bar in place and strap or bungee it to the roll bar and your done.

Tested it down the interstate today and it's solid with no noise or flopping.

Pretty easy, but I would probably buy the WABFAB kit next time. Looks like a nice set-up and the price isn't much more than buying all the the stuff to do it yourself.

just a 22re

wow!!!!!!!!!!!! that right there just kicked my home made touno covers a$$ nice job buddy way to go and yes im copying and saving this one good job on the wright up!

just a 22re

just a quick one hows the kid with the top off i have a 2 year old and the wife wont let her ride when the tops off

Greyhorn

My 2yo was getting a little too much sun, which is why I did the bikini. He loves it but the wind and noise from other vehicles took him by surprise the first couple of trips after I pulled the hard top.

The bikini seems to have cut down on the wind a bit and he is happy as can be. Tends to fall asleep after a couple miles.

just a 22re

ok i was just asking im goin gto have her read this one and let her know when i tak ehte top off and do this sweet mod litttle phoebe can ride in my truck cause she loves it in there!!

DanStew

Got anymore pics of the Channel portion that attaches the top to the cab? I just bought material last weekend so i am close to to making my own.

4runnerx3

All you need is a piece of aluminum flat bar to pinch the top to the rubber seal. The fj40 top has a flexible wand sewn in the edge which you can put under the the edge of the flat bar. Here's the one I made.


Here's my directions https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f88/...ni-top-119857/

DanStew

DING DING DING!!!! The light finally turned on for me. Now i see how you have done it. For some odd reason i just couldnt picture how it worked. Now I get it. Boy it isnt that hard is it hehehe. Cool , now i can get this done, if i can get the neighbor help me remove the old top. I am gonig to make a bow seup like a full top and have the top am maknig cover the entire rear, and hopefully in the future i can get some more material and make side panels for it. Now to find time to do this

Asha'man

Nice writeup. Always good to have another one.

Just a tip, though - it'll look way more streamlined if you do the footman loops and shorten the strap.

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

I got my kit from WabFab

thook

'Coug....there right there would make a helluva avatar.

Schweet!!!