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03-20-2011, 07:42 PM
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Grease Monkey
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Join Date: Jul 29, 2003
Location: Providence Village, TX
Posts: 353
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New sliding ragtop in the GW!
I took a trip down to Aaron Reeves' shop ( www.aaronreevesgarage.com) this weekend to work on a parallel but completely unrelated mod to my diesel swap (current build thread here: http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=134622), and put in a 40"x80" sliding ragtop. I have been so excited about this for a couple of months now but decided not to talk about it until I had pics!
Here was the top which had to be freight shipped down to Aaron's shop in Mabank.
First I had to remove the stock roof rack and slider rails that run lengthwise on the roof
After doing some disassembly to separate the frame, I lined it up on the roof to see exactly what I was looking at here:
Then, I set about the task of removing the headliner. I had to remove 4 arched supports that go across the roof, and chop and reroute wiring for the lights and switches on the ceiling.
So, I have to tell you, it took nerves of steel to chop into the top of a perfectly good Waggy. This is the type of job that there is no turning back on! So it began...
Next we had to bold in and seal up the frame for the new sliding ragtop.
With the frame bolted in, we then began to install the top:
Here is the top in place and closed:
And open:
Holy crap, I am going to like this!
And here is what it looks like inside closed.
The only thing I don't love is that it takes a little finesse to slide it open. I am hoping that after a little bit of use, and some graphite lubrication, it will ease up a bit. Overall though, I am thrilled with the result. 
Last edited by olllllo : 03-20-2011 at 08:41 PM.
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03-20-2011, 07:54 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 01, 2009
Location: Texarkana, Texas
Posts: 76
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That is way cool....
Will the inside get trimmed out as well?
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Suttonlive
'90 Grand Wagoneer - Nice DD
'78 Cherokee Chief - 35" 6" Lift 401, QT, T400 (Clean and Driving Weekly still in the improvement process)
'76 Wagoneer Stock 360, t400 (Motor pulled. Will rise again)
'68 Gladiator 327, 4-speed, survivor
'64 J-200 "FlatTop"Next project. Resto-Mod that me and my daughter work on.
'79 Cherokee - Donor
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03-20-2011, 07:56 PM
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FSJ Maniac
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Join Date: Jul 30, 2000
Location: N47° 51' W121° 56'. WA State
Posts: 2,634
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SWEET!! 
__________________
"You think you hate it now - Just wait till you drive it " ( family vacation - car salesman)
Tripwire. 86 Grand. Howell fuel Injected 360. MSD Ignition + Dizzy. 727/228 BJ's 2" Lift and 31's
88 Wrangler Howell TBI and MSD - Borla Headers w/ Cat-back + winch and 31's AND a M416 trailer (-: 
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03-20-2011, 08:19 PM
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Grease Monkey
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Join Date: Jun 24, 2008
Location: Lehigh Acres, FL, USA
Posts: 364
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You have nerves of steel my man!!
Looks nice - I noticed it's slightly bowed for runoff.
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1985 GW, 360, 727, NP229, D44, AMC20, HEI, SOA/shackle flip 7" lift, Quick Lok locker rear, Aussie Locker front, 4.10 gears, 37 X 13.5 Interco SS-M16's, Warn Premium hubs, Tuff Stuff 12,000 LB winch, rear disc brakes === stripped down street legal off road toy
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03-20-2011, 08:22 PM
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Gear Head
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Join Date: Aug 31, 2008
Location: casper, wyoming
Posts: 506
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saw one of those on a VW bus a couple of years ago... always wondered what it would look like on a wag... looks good... you should modify some of those arch supports to bolt into the ragtop frame and keep it all rigid so it doesn't sag in when it catches the rain...
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03-20-2011, 08:25 PM
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Grease Monkey
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Join Date: Jul 29, 2003
Location: Providence Village, TX
Posts: 353
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by suttonlive
Will the inside get trimmed out as well?
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I am not really sure what I am going to do with it yet. Inspired by Thinder's 4BT thread ( http://www.4btswaps.com/forum/showth...076#post127076 ), I thought about using beadboard long the edges, but I don't have that all figured out yet. |
03-20-2011, 08:31 PM
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FSJ Maniac
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Join Date: Jan 30, 2009
Location: Franklin, NC
Posts: 2,495
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Looks great! Glad you took the time and did it right.
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Justin
'72 J2000 360 4bbl T18 D20
'96 ZJ
"It's all about the fun-per-gallon vs the miles-per-gallon"-- Gamber68
Sponsored by Jake's Full-Size Jeep Junkyard
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03-20-2011, 08:35 PM
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FSJ Maniac
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Join Date: Jul 30, 2000
Location: N47° 51' W121° 56'. WA State
Posts: 2,634
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I wonder what the noise/buffeting will be inside when driving? if i open a rear window in my chrysler 300 the pressure waves/oscillations are almost painfull?
__________________
"You think you hate it now - Just wait till you drive it " ( family vacation - car salesman)
Tripwire. 86 Grand. Howell fuel Injected 360. MSD Ignition + Dizzy. 727/228 BJ's 2" Lift and 31's
88 Wrangler Howell TBI and MSD - Borla Headers w/ Cat-back + winch and 31's AND a M416 trailer (-:
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03-20-2011, 08:38 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Dec 12, 2010
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 60
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That is friggin' awesome!
Makes one think!
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1988 Grand Wagoneer -Stock-Dark Baltic Blue
1989 Grand Wagoneer -Stock-White-
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03-20-2011, 08:39 PM
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Grease Monkey
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Join Date: Dec 23, 2010
Location: Spokane, WA.
Posts: 388
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That looks pretty good... kinds like the option for the newer jeeps these day!
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03-20-2011, 08:40 PM
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Grease Monkey
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Join Date: Jul 29, 2003
Location: Providence Village, TX
Posts: 353
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Tripwire
I wonder what the noise/buffeting will be inside when driving? if i open a rear window in my chrysler 300 the pressure waves/oscillations are almost painfull?
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One of the things that sold me on the top was the writeup on jpmagazine where they did the 70" version on an XJ: http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticl...tml?new_sess=1
From that article: "Top closed or open, the wind noise wasn't bad at all, and Tony thinks it might be quieter with the ragtop than it was without."
We'll see. I heard the Cummins diesel run for the first time today, and it should be driving with the next couple of days so we can find out for sure! |
03-20-2011, 10:02 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Mar 20, 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 10,030
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I'd want some sort of rollcage, too. Granted, our roofs aren't particularly strong anyway, but it makes me nervous seeing it ALL gone!
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Ethan Brady
www.bigscaryjeep.com
Don't mess with me. I once killed a living hinge.
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03-20-2011, 10:23 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Mar 20, 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 10,030
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I checked out their website and actually, the "ragtop" roof looks pretty cool.
Too bad I have a roof rack that covers 3/4 of my roof. :-/
__________________
Ethan Brady
www.bigscaryjeep.com
Don't mess with me. I once killed a living hinge.
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03-20-2011, 10:26 PM
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Bleedin' Gasoline
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Join Date: Oct 12, 2008
Location: Lake Geneva Wisconsin
Posts: 1,782
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That looks really cool! Nice job!....
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1977 J-20, 4bbl 360/t-18, 33"s.
1976 CJ-5 mild 360/t-18, 6" lift, 35"s.
1972 Javelin SST, full roller Indy head AMC 360. Under cunstruction.
AMC ya!!
Alfano Performance
Kenosha, WI 53142
http://www.alfanoperformance.com
For your AMC performance parts.
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03-20-2011, 10:31 PM
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Master Mechanic
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Join Date: Oct 07, 2005
Location: Wichita Falls, Tx.
Posts: 995
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Congrats! Looks really good.
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88 Grand wagoneer, with a 85 AMC 360, no rust and a Razor Grill
02 TJ, 3.25 inch lift w/33's
78 CJ, 33's and a 304
68 Shasta 16' Travel Trailer (Restoring project)
"The way the rain comes down hard, that's the way I FEEL INSIDE!"
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03-20-2011, 10:38 PM
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Beach Bum - moderator
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Join Date: Jun 17, 2003
Posts: 3,234
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Got any close up pictures where the roof meets the sliding top frame, particularly where the indentations in the roof are?
It would seem near impossible to keep water out in those spots.
Im guessing there some form of sealant in use there?
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87 Grand Wagoneer - (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)- "TROLL SMASHER II "
88 Grand Wagoneer- GONE
"many miles away, there's a shadow on the door, of a cottage on the shore, of a dark Scottish lake......many miles away..."
________________________________________
*** Current Jeep Status ***
JEEP IS : . . .
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03-20-2011, 10:54 PM
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Join Date: Feb 10, 2003
Location: Back in Mountainair NM
Posts: 19,821
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Waiting to hear your first after rain report
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03-20-2011, 11:01 PM
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FSJ Maniac
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2001
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 3,504
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Hail
I like it - Looks good
__________________
1981 Jeep J10 Laredo, 401-V8, 625 Carter Comp Series, Lunati Cam 262/268, Edelbrock Performer, MSD Ignition, Flow Cooler, Be Cool Aluminum Radiator, Doug Thorley, NV4500 5-Spd, NP-231D, 3.73 F/R Trac-Locs, Rustys 4" Lift, Vintage Red Metallic, Black Interior and 33X10.50X15 BFG, EXTREME MAKEOVER - IN PROCESS  Bling Bling Cha-Ching
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03-21-2011, 01:03 AM
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FSJ Maniac
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Join Date: Jul 08, 2006
Location: Grand Blanc, Mi
Posts: 2,998
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Thats very kool
looks like the one in my avatar
__________________
1990 Grand Wagoneer.. black with sand interior.. 70,000 miles,
Razor grille, Hella H4 headlights, Piaa driving, LED taillights, tinted windows.
custom full length center console with cup holders.
On the road again
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03-21-2011, 01:43 AM
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FSJ Maniac
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Join Date: Aug 08, 2010
Location: Maryland/ Williamsport, PA
Posts: 2,931
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I read the write-up in JP as well! Im considering doing it in my XJ. Especially now that my AC is bye bye in favor of OBA.
How much did it cost when all was said and done?
__________________
Austin
1991 Hunter Green Grand Wagoneer
5.9 2bbl-727-NP229-TFI-30x9.5 Firestone M/T's-Brush Guard-tire mount
SOON: 4350 and cast iron intake
Others:
-1994 Baby Grand
-2000 XJ cherokee on Tons
-1953 REO M35A2 6x6
-1955 Willys Pickup
Quote:
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Originally Posted by rustywagoneers_com
i am not an addict, i can stop anytime.
i dont have a problem, you people have the problem.
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