Picture Request - Land Rovers Only

01001010 · 07-05-2006, 06:11 PM

As some of you may already know, I'm doin some research on Soft Tops being htat im interested in chopping the roof off of my D1. I've lost sleep trying to engineer certain parts of this project on my own, in my head. I'd like to see how the Soft Tops on Defenders are held down on the side rails and what sort of joints or cuts are made where there are doors. Any pictures of these area would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Guys!

01001010 · 07-07-2006, 02:27 PM

Anyone?

Muddy Oval · 07-07-2006, 02:54 PM

I'm not sure what all you're lookin for- All convertible tops are pretty much the same. The early Defenders and Jeeps used snaps and the later ones used a rail. They usually have a stiffener inside them where they contact glass or a door frame.

01001010 · 07-08-2006, 07:43 AM

I was able to find some pictures on eBay. I wanted images to examine to see what can be done on mine. I'm really picky and when I'm going to do something that has no written instructions ( a custom job ) I like to do tons of research so the job can be well done. Now that I found these, I can see that I can't do something EXACTLY like what's on a Defender because the rails are recessed from the rest of the body panel...

Ths would be ideal to have because when the top goes on, It will sit flush with the rest of the body panel...

Back to the drawing board.

Muddy Oval · 07-08-2006, 06:46 PM

That's a typical rail setup- Jeep has the same thing. The snaps are much cheaper and easier, but that's up to you. The rails OR snaps work well even without a recessed area on the body. It's been done before, check out SCSL's chopped Disco- it has a sweeet custom top on it, but I bet it was $3K or more.

01001010 · 07-08-2006, 09:07 PM

Price-wise, I'm having one of the shops I do business with do the cutting and cage...so I'm not worried there. What I am worried about though is the top itself. I searched all of the accounts on my system and not ONEEE shop deals with Sunroofs, Convertibles, or Soft Top Making..lol...so I'm out of gas there and might be the most expensive part of the project. I've been in contact with Steven and he mentioned that selling the parts and glass should help fund the project as well.

I really like the rail system. I had a buddy I would go camping with that had a vinyl tonneau cover with snaps on his truck and MAN was that thing a pain in the thumb to put on! And with the heat down here, I'm going to be taking this thing off quite a bit!

Searcaigh · 07-09-2006, 10:04 AM

I'll take some pics of mine at the end of the week, kinda busy at the moment with a major meeting and presentations cr@p

01001010 · 07-09-2006, 10:12 AM

Thank you very much Mr. Smith!...this will prove to be the most challenging project yet so any help is GREATLY appreciated!

Searcaigh · 07-09-2006, 11:38 AM

BTW JC not sure if I posted this before but I have some pics of a soft top Disco

http://www.angelfire.com/trek/discovery_2/soft.html

07-05-2006, 06:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
01001010 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 4,509 Gallery: 15	Picture Request As some of you may already know, I'm doin some research on Soft Tops being htat im interested in chopping the roof off of my D1. I've lost sleep trying to engineer certain parts of this project on my own, in my head. I'd like to see how the Soft Tops on Defenders are held down on the side rails and what sort of joints or cuts are made where there are doors. Any pictures of these area would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Guys! __________________ JC... 1996 Discovery SE - The Blue Marlin - gone =( 1965 Series IIa 109 RHD Dsl - Wilks www.TerraTrekker.com

07-07-2006, 02:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
01001010 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 4,509 Gallery: 15	Anyone? __________________ JC... 1996 Discovery SE - The Blue Marlin - gone =( 1965 Series IIa 109 RHD Dsl - Wilks www.TerraTrekker.com

07-07-2006, 02:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Muddy Oval Otherwise known as STEVE Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,968 Gallery: 0	I'm not sure what all you're lookin for- All convertible tops are pretty much the same. The early Defenders and Jeeps used snaps and the later ones used a rail. They usually have a stiffener inside them where they contact glass or a door frame. __________________ 2002 Freelander 2000 DII w/CDL 1967 SIIA 109SW Former Rovers 2004 Modded "S" Disco, R.I.P. 2004 G4 Disco 2002 Modded Freelander 1995 Modded Disco 1994 D-90 #8 1993 NAS D110 1990 Range Rover County 1973 SIII 88 1972 Range Rover 2 door

07-08-2006, 07:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
01001010 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 4,509 Gallery: 15	I was able to find some pictures on eBay. I wanted images to examine to see what can be done on mine. I'm really picky and when I'm going to do something that has no written instructions ( a custom job ) I like to do tons of research so the job can be well done. Now that I found these, I can see that I can't do something EXACTLY like what's on a Defender because the rails are recessed from the rest of the body panel... Ths would be ideal to have because when the top goes on, It will sit flush with the rest of the body panel... Back to the drawing board. __________________ JC... 1996 Discovery SE - The Blue Marlin - gone =( 1965 Series IIa 109 RHD Dsl - Wilks www.TerraTrekker.com

07-08-2006, 06:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Muddy Oval Otherwise known as STEVE Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,968 Gallery: 0	That's a typical rail setup- Jeep has the same thing. The snaps are much cheaper and easier, but that's up to you. The rails OR snaps work well even without a recessed area on the body. It's been done before, check out SCSL's chopped Disco- it has a sweeet custom top on it, but I bet it was $3K or more. __________________ 2002 Freelander 2000 DII w/CDL 1967 SIIA 109SW Former Rovers 2004 Modded "S" Disco, R.I.P. 2004 G4 Disco 2002 Modded Freelander 1995 Modded Disco 1994 D-90 #8 1993 NAS D110 1990 Range Rover County 1973 SIII 88 1972 Range Rover 2 door

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07-08-2006, 09:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
01001010 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 4,509 Gallery: 15	Price-wise, I'm having one of the shops I do business with do the cutting and cage...so I'm not worried there. What I am worried about though is the top itself. I searched all of the accounts on my system and not ONEEE shop deals with Sunroofs, Convertibles, or Soft Top Making..lol...so I'm out of gas there and might be the most expensive part of the project. I've been in contact with Steven and he mentioned that selling the parts and glass should help fund the project as well. I really like the rail system. I had a buddy I would go camping with that had a vinyl tonneau cover with snaps on his truck and MAN was that thing a pain in the thumb to put on! And with the heat down here, I'm going to be taking this thing off quite a bit! __________________ JC... 1996 Discovery SE - The Blue Marlin - gone =( 1965 Series IIa 109 RHD Dsl - Wilks www.TerraTrekker.com

07-09-2006, 10:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
Searcaigh Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dubai Posts: 438 Gallery: 31	I'll take some pics of mine at the end of the week, kinda busy at the moment with a major meeting and presentations cr@p __________________ Gordon T. Smith Middle East Land Rover Nutter

07-09-2006, 10:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
01001010 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 4,509 Gallery: 15	Thank you very much Mr. Smith!...this will prove to be the most challenging project yet so any help is GREATLY appreciated! __________________ JC... 1996 Discovery SE - The Blue Marlin - gone =( 1965 Series IIa 109 RHD Dsl - Wilks www.TerraTrekker.com

07-09-2006, 11:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
Searcaigh Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dubai Posts: 438 Gallery: 31	BTW JC not sure if I posted this before but I have some pics of a soft top Disco http://www.angelfire.com/trek/discovery_2/soft.html __________________ Gordon T. Smith Middle East Land Rover Nutter

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