I keep damaging my top taking it on and off, so I think I need to build a hoist for the hard top, while I patiently await being able to afford a soft top. I'm going to try this: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f128...t-40-a-215498/

 

I have googled and plotted endlessly about how to make a lift for my top. There are lots of set ups on the various Jeep forums. My garage ceiling is 13'7" so I'm going to try out the Harbor Freight electric hoist. I'm also going to install 2x4's held by chains as "keepers" for long term support. I'm waiting for a coupon deal to buy the hoist cheap. I have to be able to lift the top close to the ceiling to get the garage door open to get the topless 4Runner out!

 

I'll have to go check out big lots, we just got one here. I've got a pretty short ceiling, but my garage door is a slider, and it's big enough I can wedge 3 cars in with room to work, so I'll just pick it up off with the hoist, set it down, and tip it up against the wall to preserve space. I've been driving in questionable weather, and just putting it in the garage and carrying a tarp with me. It's way too much fun to drive around topless to let a few sprinkles of rain, and 50-60 degree weather stop me!

 

Well, I think I might sell this 4Runner, and buy another 1st gen with a 5spd in it, Auto is a bit rough on me....

 

how r u damaging the top?

 

When I take it off by myself, it has a tendency to slide off to the side, breaking the area where it bolts. Not at any actual bolt holes, just the area that sticks out past them. Dented the back of the runner a bit too...

 

ouch. do you still have the alignment dowels in it?

i removed those and and un bolt it. then go from the back and slide it off the back enough till it starts to pivit then i set the back half on the ground and grab the top and flip it up side down

 

Yeah, the pins are still in it. I'll pull them out before I put the top back on... That will help, it's trying not to let those break anything that caused me to let it fall this time.

 

yea the first time i took the top of i left those their and droped the top on then and it punctured part top where the bolts are. after tht i removed those and now i can slide the top on and off.

 

good lookin runner man good luck with your plans

 

Well, finally getting around to doing some more work, bought a bunch of front suspension components and installing them early next month up at the college. Bought brand new front axles, not remans, ball joints, idler arm, pitman arm, wheel bearings, and tie rod ends. Seems like I'm forgetting something.

 

Hey, I have a new problem, I put my top back on, and my back window wont roll up, I jumped +12v to the motor directly and it's good, I checked voltage to the relay in the panel on the left side of the truck, it's getting +12v at both wires it should. I don't have anyone here to push the window roll button while I test voltage, so I think I'll pull the switch and jump the wires there, see if it rolls up/down. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

did you put all the bolts in?

their is one switch tht a bolt hits letting it know the top is on.

 

Yeah put all the bolts in, I just got done fixing it actually, I jumped all the switches, and it turns out it was the one for the rear wiper being up that's causing the problem. I just jumped teh wires for that switch, and it works fine, since my rear wiper doesn't work anyways.

 

ah, yea tht would cause it

 

Well, been a bit since I posted, got some front suspension work done to the runner, I'll upload pics when I get a chance from that project. Now it's got new front axles, ball joints, tie rods and adjustment sleeves, idler, pitman, wheel bearings. Fixed the front hubs up nice too, right was starting to get a bit sticky, everything's packed with waterproof bearing grease, so it should hold up good

My wife got me some Hilux Surf badging for the tailgate for my birthday, so I'll post up some pics of that once I get it on as well.

If anyone knows where to get a set of the pillar badges for a Hilux Surf, I'd appreciate getting pointed in the right direction. Been searching around, but I haven't found any yet. Also looking for a factory dual battery wiring setup, and a factory Hilux Surf winch.

 

Looks like you are getting quite a bit done. I missed your rear window problem. Glad you got it. If you have problems with it again. I tried to put a good bit of info on my build section as I had quite a few problems with it.

It will be listed on my first post as to where to find it.

 

Alright, got some pics up on picassa, here's links to the albums. The car, if anyone is wondering, is my 73 Dart, just started doing body work, about done mechanically, can't wait to drive it.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1082085...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/1082085...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/1082085...eat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/1082085...ImjwIul4-vgsQE

Those headlights are really nice in the truck, good and bright. They were a bit of work, as I had to take my dremel and enlarge the radius on the corners of the chrome hold downs for the lights, since these were a few mm bigger. They were supposed to just bolt in.

Can anyone guess what the other car in front of my Dart is in the second to last album? I award bonus points for sharp eyed mopar fans.

 

Terrys87 getting a lot done, but not as fast as I want, I was really hoping to have a bikini or soft top by now. Looks like next time I get paid I'm gonna build a bikini top out of a wrangler top, a couple buddies have done so. I started a trend in buying my Runner, 2 other friends have bought them since, and one more is about to. We're gonna start doing some Runner trail runs soon.