4Runner Chop top

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
Well, after the targa top I built this summer, another member here asked me about doing something similar for him.

Since I hadn't enhaled QUITE enough fiberglass dust yet.... I thought, sure. There was another approach I wanted to try - making a 4Runner top so that it came apart in panels that would be easily removable, but also weather-tight replacable. The idea being that it could be used like a soft-top w/o having to screw with, well, fabric.

I'm feeling lazy and don't want to resize the photos, so ya get links instead.
here's a mock-up of where it will be cut....

http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/targa_top/Chop_top_thoughts.jpg

Cut lines in yellow.
Sliding windows will come out, be replaced with clear acrylic, mounted in teh frame via velcro - so they can be popped out easily.

This time I tried doing teh cutting w/ a 4" cutting wheel on a grinder.
For teh record - yes, that cuts it like butter, *very* easy. However, it's hard to get a really straight line, and it eat it so fast that any wiggling or backing up gouges it out.
I've had the best luck w/ a good ol' jigsaw.

Here it is, cut in half and hole cut in the roof of teh front part:
http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/targa_top/Reds_top/cutting/Cut_halves.jpg

I wa careful to save the panel, and the headliner attached - ideally the headliner will slip back in making a nice visual seal on the inside
http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/targa_top/Reds_top/cutting/top_panel_cut_top.jpg

On issue is that the upper corners are hollow - have to be plugged/filled w/ fiberglass....
http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/targa_top/Reds_top/cutting/Corner_hole_filled.jpg

Here you can see the inner window frame
http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/targa_top/Reds_top/cutting/window_frame.jpg

The seams will be covered with aluminum flat stock, bolted on one side to the fiberglass, w foam weatherstripping on the other.
 
I'm looking for ideas on something to use as a gasket around the edges (one in particular, the long one wheret he halves meet).
Ideas?
I'm thinking something shaped wit ha profile like a "U", with the inner part right at about 1/4".
It will be covered with channel and weatherseal foam when put together... it's really more for visual appeal than anything (hide the sawcut edge and tuck the roof fabric into)
 
RatLabGuy said:
I'm looking for ideas on something to use as a gasket around the edges (one in particular, the long one wheret he halves meet).
Ideas?
I'm thinking something shaped wit ha profile like a "U", with the inner part right at about 1/4".
It will be covered with channel and weatherseal foam when put together... it's really more for visual appeal than anything (hide the sawcut edge and tuck the roof fabric into)
Click to expand...
There's a place off of Westgate rd. called Raleigh-Durham rubber & gasket company. They might be able to help you out with that.
The address is 5836 lease lane, Raleigh.
 
CoonDogger said:
Awesome idea. Hope it works out. Is this for thebigsib20?
Click to expand...

Yes it is.
And the longer I think about it, and work on it... the more I love it, and the harder it's going to be for him to take it form me :beer:
 
Ergh, something funny is going on w/ this thread and it flakes when I try to edit the above post?

Anyhow, we decided to go ahead and cut the rear section into seperate panels, makes storage alot easier (Jeff lives on base).

Cutting it up:
http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/targa_top/Reds_top/Panels/IMG_4659.jpg
(bot that's messy business)

The peices:
http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/targa_top/Reds_top/Panels/IMG_4661.jpg
(sorry for the fuzz)

I put aluminum strips around each peice, along w/ caulk, to cover the seams. fits together like so:
http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/targa_top/Reds_top/Panels/IMG_4712.jpg
http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/targa_top/Reds_top/Panels/IMG_4713.jpg

And, all together:
http://www.4rtoy.rewazule.com/Pics/targa_top/Reds_top/Panels/IMG_4716.jpg
 
CB antenna mounted inside rig? Will it work?

<<<Edited out my mistake post.>>>
 
RatLabGuy said:
Huh? Did you intend for thsi to end up in this thread?
Click to expand...

No! Sorry! :confused: Guess I hit reply after reading your thread rather than starting a new post as I intended. I'll edit it out the CB question now. :rolleyes:
 
Ok, so here it is test-fit all together on my truck...
(decided to break down and resize it/post just for you guys)
Just the mid section

awww.4rtoy.rewazule.com_Pics_targa_top_Reds_top_Fitting_Fitting_front_only.jpg


Then put on the rear frame

awww.4rtoy.rewazule.com_Pics_targa_top_Reds_top_Fitting_Fitting_front_and_back.jpg


Side panels and roof in place

awww.4rtoy.rewazule.com_Pics_targa_top_Reds_top_Fitting_Fitting_all_parts.jpg

awww.4rtoy.rewazule.com_Pics_targa_top_Reds_top_Fitting_Fitting_all_parts_zoom.jpg
 
Now i've run into a curious problem, looking for soem suggestions.
The panels are held in place (not shown yet in above pics) w/ bolts from the outside, nut on the inside. Drilled through teh channel corners, pinching it down.
In the rear roof, the fiberglass directly below teh channel is thick and not flat underneath, no compatible w/ bolt/nut method (can't get a nut on the back side). so i'm not sure how thiese fill be fastened.
Mark (Catfishbues) had a greay idea, "swell" type connectors. however, I haven't been able to find one that's the right size, and dos not require complete penetration or a flush surface on the backside.
Open to any similar ideas on quick connectors though.

One thought i had was to trhead a stud into it, so it sticks out of the fiberglass, w/ the nut on the outside... but the fiberglass isn't very thick on that layer that teh stud would be sitting in, maybe 1/4". Would that be enough? How could you keep a stud sticking into (and out of) fiberglass? Epoxy?
 
I'm curious to see how well it holds up to heavy rain, even heavy rain at highway speeds. I'm thinking water would work its way under the aluminum strips on the roof at highway speeds

It looks real good though
 
rockcity said:
I'm curious to see how well it holds up to heavy rain, even heavy rain at highway speeds. I'm thinking water would work its way under the aluminum strips on the roof at highway speeds
It looks real good though
Click to expand...

Yes, me too :eek: This is probably my biggest concern.
To combat that, there is a strip of foam weatherstripping sealed to the underside of the aluminum. These pics were taken before I put it on.
When the bolts in the corners are tightened down, it compresses the weatherstripping, *hopefully* making a good seal. Wil lfind out this weekend I will get a hose on it. The acid test will be a drive-through car wash ...!
 
Update

Came up w/ a solution to the "angled underside" problem.
I cut/fabbed up a peice of PVC block into a triangular shap, and epoxied it to the underside... providing a nice flat bottom for a wingut to rest on.
See here:
awww.4rtoy.rewazule.com_Pics_targa_top_Reds_top_Fitting_angled_mount.jpg
 
All painted a perdy'd up....
A few shots...

awww.4rtoy.rewazule.com_Pics_targa_top_Reds_top_Final_resized_IMG_4803.jpg


Window in place (still has film on it, hence fuzz)

awww.4rtoy.rewazule.com_Pics_targa_top_Reds_top_Final_resized_IMG_4795.jpg


rear window panels on...

awww.4rtoy.rewazule.com_Pics_targa_top_Reds_top_Final_resized_IMG_4810.jpg



I have a tone of pics, will probably start a thread in the Photo section
 
Hey I was just thinking about this top - has anybody seen it or know where it ended up?
just curious. Last I heard the guy I made it for sold it w/ his truck to anotehr guy in the fayetville area.
I did hear that it leaked a ittle in heavy rain, at the middle junction area. oops.
 
I literally tripped over my old top on the back porch this weekend, it me thinking about this again.
did this thing ever pop up again anywhere?

I'm really curious if it held up over time.
I'm toying w/ the idea of doing it again... just like I've been telling myself for 4 years...
 
Beats me. I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've seen this thread. I would have remembered somebody adding T-tops to their Toyota...
 
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