cutting the top off a 1st gen 4Runner : )
#1
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cutting the top off a 1st gen 4Runner : )
So I decided I was jealous of the sun the rear passengers were getting. I have done a couple convertible toyota trucks in the past so i decided how hard could it be on a 4runner. Well..... it's a bit harder. i ordered a kit from airbagit and measured it and it would kind of work. so i made my cut line and cut it off. The cuts are the same on a truck as the 4runner. i was able to use the front bow pieces with a small modification. the rear cab corners had to be capped and welded up. i used a bolt for the locating pin and it worked well. Here are the pics enjoy! Lots of sun now and i can put my top back on anytime I want. Oh by the way I got sick of the green paint and now its a Eddie Van Halen guitar type of scheme now.
top on.
top off.
removable top back on.
top capped with bolt as locating pin
top of cab capped with hole for locating pin
top on.
top off.
removable top back on.
top capped with bolt as locating pin
top of cab capped with hole for locating pin
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RASALIBRE (12-29-2019)
#3
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I am using “l” brackets welded to the top and body. Then a bolt goes through both brackets. This works better than latches since I do wheel this pretty hard. I won’t put the top on very much. I have a hardtop for the rear that I bobbed to fit also. I never use it either. But if I want they can be installed in minutes.
#4
pretty frigging cool.
pics of the seal only the top of the windshield?
pics of the 'I' bracket system?
this intrigues me because i have an idea to chop the rear of my 4Runner for the 2nd gen 'avalanche' conversion but would like to have the option for the full top
pics of the seal only the top of the windshield?
pics of the 'I' bracket system?
this intrigues me because i have an idea to chop the rear of my 4Runner for the 2nd gen 'avalanche' conversion but would like to have the option for the full top
Last edited by dropzone; 12-29-2019 at 05:33 PM.
#5
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Awesome! You rig looks like it should say “NASA” on it somewhere, kind of “moon rover-esque”.
i too would like to see more photos of how the front edge meets the windshield area.
i too would like to see more photos of how the front edge meets the windshield area.
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#8
It looks cool! Post more pics, please.
#10
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neat! super innovative. we had an old Plymouth trailduster and the convertible top also removed the portion over the cab, was great. does this hurt the structure of the rest of the cab at all?
#11
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I think it does weaken the cab a bit. Not as much on a truck because of the back wall gets a support bolted in. I noticed that after I cut the top the back sides had a bit of side to side deflection. I ended up welding the sheet metal from the truck to my cage down tube i a couple spots. I wouldnt do this mod to a truck or a 4runner without a cage because of rollover risk.
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keycw (01-05-2020)
#12
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Here is how I bolted the top down. just some L brackets welded in and a bolt to tighten and keep the top on.
the L brackets an the bolt system
The front rib. it has a male groove to lock front into place.
The removable top rib with the female rib and weatherstripping.
These are the toggles that they supplied me for the top. I couldnt use them because of the cage in the front so i came up with the L brackets idea.
the L brackets an the bolt system
The front rib. it has a male groove to lock front into place.
The removable top rib with the female rib and weatherstripping.
These are the toggles that they supplied me for the top. I couldnt use them because of the cage in the front so i came up with the L brackets idea.
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SomedayJ (01-05-2020)
#13
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Here is a picture of some of the other trucks I have done a convertible kit on.
My 86 truck with the top on.
The 86 truck with top off.
My 90 truck with the top on
The 90 truck with the top off! This was a fun truck!
My 86 truck with the top on.
The 86 truck with top off.
My 90 truck with the top on
The 90 truck with the top off! This was a fun truck!
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