Top to windshield side pillar mount.

[robert_ellison]

On my BJ7 the convertible top mount hook, connected to the side pillars, is attached by 2 rivets. As mine were rusted I thought it a simple matter of drilling out the rivets. re-chroming the parts and reinstalling. However, after drilling out the old rivets I took the side pillar apart, only to find that there is no interior open space to run a new rivet. The space directly behind the place where the back of the rivet would be is filled by an interior stiffener bar which leaves no room for a rivet, unless one would drill down into the stiffener bar on it's edge and somehow thread it to accept a screw.

I am bewildered as to how to re-mount the hooks.

Suggestions greatly appreciated.

Robert

 

[John Loftus]

Robert,

I think (but might be wrong) that you can unscrew the screws that are tapped into the stiffening bar (i.e. it's only screws holding it in .. no rivets). Once you remove the stiffening bar you can get to the inside to set the hook rivets. Let me know what you find.

edit: actually now that I think about it more, I do think the lower part of the stiffener has rivets. You still may be able to loosen the screws and pry the stiffener up far enough to set the hook rivets but it will probably be a pain.

Cheers,
John