Making custom top

[Krooozn]

good evening all.....I am knew to this forum and am in hopes that someone here can help/guide me in making a custom top for my '23 Bucket. I have priced the kits and they are ridiculously high I think, so thought it might be fun to try to make my own.....I don't want the Carson top as I will need head clearance....can anyone hook me up or maybe even have an old top that you might like to part with....thanx in advance for any and all help.....

 

[Spanky]

Hey, Kroozn! Welcome from St Louis. Glad to have you here, and I know some of these folks can help. Me, I'm topless, and prefer it that way. Are you talking a removeable hard top vs a canvas soft top with bows?

 

[old round fart]

It can be done with a base of plywood or foam to hold ‘glass til it sets and bodywork. Spirit has good videos on it. Best way is find a
top and modify it to fit.

 

[Island Girl]

It can be done with a base of plywood or foam to hold ‘glass til it sets and bodywork. Spirit has good videos on it. Best way is find a
top and modify it to fit.

+1

And welcome from the sunny Caribbean

 

[T-Test]

Go to CCR's web site and look at the California style tops and make your own with conduit /wood header/ and cloth or fiberglass. It has been done many times. Look on this Forum for top builds.

 

[Indycars]

This looks like a good how-to, it's complete with lots of pics.

National T-Bucket Alliance - Login

 

[rbsWELDER]

So what do you do if your windshield has no top frame?

 

[T-Test]

So what do you do if your windshield has no top frame?

Leave a gap between and have side brackets to hold top on/down. Make it longer so it will have a sun visor of sorts effect.

 

[rbsWELDER]

So the top frame does not actually sit on the windshield? Longer for a sun visor was my intent!

Thanks,

 

[2old2fast]

There's all sorts of weatherstripping available so the frame would not have to contact the glass , just rubber....

 

[Neshkoro]

I'm in the process of making a soft top for my bucket. When I get some time, I'll take some photos. Mine will attach to the top of the windshield frame and attach to snap buttons along the back of the body just above the pickup bed cover.

 

[RESINATOR]

Here's how CCR does it, the support brackets come from the side of the windshield frame.
The main problem with no top bar across the windshield is the lack of strength for the mount brackets. The windshield frame sometimes spreads apart or breaks the glass.

 

[T-Test]

Here's how CCR does it, the support brackets come from the side of the windshield frame.
The main problem with no top bar across the windshield is the lack of strength for the mount brackets. The windshield frame sometimes spreads apart or breaks the glass.

View attachment 15348

I see no wooden header and it looks as if the cross piece of tubing is in front of the windshield. Couldn't you incorporate a wooden header even if there's no top windshield frame and use rubber gasket/tubing for the header to rest on?

Looks as though a lot of flex with the windshield and body would cause the windshield to break/crack with the support rods where they are.

Just asking as I'm not an engineer.