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soft top for a '63BJ7

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John Morralee

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I am about to install a new soft top to my recently restored BJ7 (a chipmunk was living in the old one when I found the car)I have all the hard ware,frame etc.but will,I am sure ,be short of a few seals.Any advice welcome.I understand that there is a video available but $144 seems too expencive (for me anyrate!).e.g. I have two large springs I can see the frame mount holes /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF but no floor mount for them,are they necessary?
 
Hi John, yes the top retract springs are necessary and they have covers that go over the springs.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/patriot.gif
 
Thank you for your reply re. springs, as mentioned I can see holes for them in the folding frame but not in the floor (or where ever). These may have been lost in the rebuild as the sills were certainly remade.Any help where to put thes lower spring mount holes welcome
 
Hi John,
Here's where the lower spring mount is on a BJ8. Don't know if it's the same for your model. Can anyone confirm?
attachment.php

Best Wishes,
Greg
 
Last edited:
HI Greg, yes they are the same. However, can you give an accurate description of them and their location in the Cills to help John locate his.---Keoke
 
Thank you both for replies -- silly question --are the spring used to hold the top in place when up or to assist in folding it away?
 
HI John, the springs are intended to assist folding the top away.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Hi John,
I was hoping someone would have measurements for you. I looked through my notes and couldn’t find anything pre teardown. What I have installed is attached. My hesitation stems from the crappy inner fender and wheel well I bought. There was a lot of variation in the pieces I looked at in the warehouse so it was a guessing game as to what was right. The distances are from the centerline of the bracket hole.

Hope this helps,
Greg

Sorry the picture is sooo bad. The 3 1/2" measurement is to the metal of the wheel well (no carpet). The 2" is to the rear most portion of the angled piece of metal coming off the door shut post.
 
Thank you GregW for the pics.and dimensions.I am expecting the top soon and then will have to muddle it through on installation.One problem is that I have just finished the upholstery ,not expecting to have to do a weld job down there.Looks like a 'new'design is necessary (some sort of bolted attachment).thank you again.John M.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The 3 1/2" measurement is to the metal of the wheel well (no carpet).

[/ QUOTE ]

Just checked my BJ7 and the bracket has the same 3 1/2" measurement to the wheel well.

Cheers,
John
 
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