Slim357

Was on the way home today when I passed a TJ with the top off and thought it would be awesome to make the whole top of the XJ removable when the weather is nice. Any thoughts on how this could be done safely? Im not talking about just chopping it off for good just making it like the TJ where it can be taken on and off.

BKohs

the only way i could see doing it with out costing way too much would be to chop of the top, do a roll bar set up and make a soft top for it. making a removable hard top would require either making one out of fiberglass or having a company make one out of a composit material and you would most likely still need to do a roll bar setup to support the body. plus it would would be really heavy.

a soft top on an xj would look sick though especially with a slant back style.

wiggles

Guy on pirate made a removable hard top and a guy on here has a removable soft top.

no rdplz

I've done quite a bit of research on this topic and here's what I've found:
1. You NEED an interior cage. Taking the top off mandates it.
2. One option is a slider canvas. Check out http://www.slidingragtops.com/17.html to see what I'm talking about.
3. A fully removable soft top is possible, but you'll need bows across the expanses (even with a cage) to keep water from pooling. The other aspect to consider is doors. You'll need to modify them to have a better seal against the cage or frame for the soft top.
4. Bikini top with water proof seats. Cheapest option there is.
5. Fully removable hard top. Possible? Yes. Tons of fab and it's heavy. Worth it? IMO, no.

Basically, if you want a removable top, I'd look into either the sliding canvas or the bikini options. Either way you're gonna be throwing down some cash on a cage and either the slider set up (http://www.slidingragtops.com/17.html) or marine grade materials for the top (fully removable).

Bustedback

You can remove the top and reinstall it, but the water leak will always be there, top or no top. Don't do it.

Slim357

You dont happen to have a link to it do you?

wiggles

To what? Full hard top? Let me find it

wiggles

Found it but all the pics are dead

Slim357

All very good points roll cage is a must unless you just want to fold the uni- body in half. Not to overly worried about water leakage since I would rino line the floors and do plan on going doorless. Heres a thought tho what it I cut the sheet metal below the back windows and right above the windshield leaving just enough metal to hold the windshield in and re-enforcing as needed removing the lift gate and using a zipper style cover like the TJ uses putting rubber weather seal along every spot that was cut and using some sort of clamping mechanism like what a convertible uses and making quick discos for all the wiring going to the roof. Heavy yes two person job to take it off/on possibly but would it be sealed enough to drive in the rain with out pouring water in? If done "right" maybe. What do you think. Just brain storming a lil bit cuz Im thinking of doing this to my next XJ that will mostly be a trail rig but will be driven on the road from time to time.

Wetod1

im interested,i will follow this,hoping to see you make it work!

Michael952

A soft top couldn't be that hard.
Just chop it and cage it then buy or have a special top made and figure out a good way to put it back without leaking

Slim357

Kool be warned this will be a long project at least until i start putting a top back on lol. I am a college student so funds are limited at the moment

Slim357

Tru I just think itd be cool to have both options

98_XJ Sport

Something like a SkySlider would be awesome. I would do something like this if I had the cash.

Slim357

Theres ppl who have done it Id rather be able to just take the hole top off