Please Help a Newb

[gunner138]

Well, I am taking the plunge on a '72, but the top is in shoddy condition.

Where is a good source for replacements. Also, how difficult would it be to make a mold of one of these? I feel that with some alternate materials, you could make a much lighter version of this top.

Thanks.

[cdowns]

welcome from daytona beach// a good place to look would be the parts board always alot of good stuff there

[LUV2XCLR8]

2 The Blazer World from West TN

You can usually find a used one here in our parts section,
or buy a complete soft top, or have a bikini built, or have
it topless, or just about any or all of the above can work.

[Tynee]

Originally Posted by gunner138

...how difficult would it be to make a mold of one of these? I feel that with some alternate materials, you could make a much lighter version of this top.

I don't have any answers, but I like where your head's at. What kind of alternate materials do you have in mind?

Oh, and to the board!!!

[bouncytruck]

Welcome to the board. Where in LA are you? I was born in Inglewood & lived in Torrence and Rolling Hills Estates. My brother is living in Cheviot Hills and my cousin lives in Cota De Casa (or something like that).

Soft tops are available. They are much lighter and easy to put down. You will forego what little security the hard top offers.

http://www.specialtytopco.com/ (I run their fasttrac during the summers)

http://bestop.com/

[gunner138]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I am in Winnetka, CA for the poster who inquired.

As for the alternate materials, I was thinking of carbon kevlar. If i can make a mold, the rest is easy. Just not sure how complex it would be, as mine has no top right now, so I can't look at it.

Noone makes NOS tops?

[hotrodhomi]

welcome
FYI - NOS= new old stock
As far as I know no one make hard tops for these. you might be able to find a used one on craigslist. I would go without if I could.

[makovai]

Originally Posted by gunner138

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I am in Winnetka, CA for the poster who inquired.

As for the alternate materials, I was thinking of carbon kevlar. If i can make a mold, the rest is easy. Just not sure how complex it would be, as mine has no top right now, so I can't look at it.

Noone makes NOS tops?

if you can pull it off I'd love to get one. Assuming it does cost me a forth mortgage on the house

[blaserman]

from Maryland.

[krue]

Welcome to the board from South Mississippi! Not much more I can add to what's already been said.

[Chevyman63]

Welcome from Michigan!!

This board is a gold mine of information and great people.

[Huck]

Original tops are fairly common but as you know, very heavy. Making a mold from an original would probably not be too difficult if you know how but actually constructing one with carbon - kevlar would be "interesting". If you have contacts in the fiberglass boat molding business---that would be a big plus. The blazer bodies flex quite a bit thus the heavy reinforced factory top. Watch e-bay, Craig's list etc for a junker with a good top or just post a Top Wanted on here --and if using it as a mold form, it's detail condition would probably not be all that critical. Just watch for concave roofs as that is a common issue. Good luck--

[bouncytruck]

http://www.myrodshop.com/blazer.html

This guy makes repop half-tops.

[gunner138]

Well, once the mold is made the rest is actually not too hard... just very time consuming and messy.

I suppose the easiest method would be to make a fiberglass mold on both the outside and inside (two female molds). Then lay out the carbon fiber material for each one, let cure, and apoxy back together as one piece, with some sort of filler in the middle (honeycomb maybe???).

It is all the little nooks and crannies that i can't really visualize right now.

The good news is that for around 1000.00 in materials, and a whole s*** load of time and effort, you could have a roof that weighs about 50 pounds or so.

And structural bracing will be done with a role cage, so the flex in this guy will be minimal.

Thanks again.

[hotrodhomi]

Originally Posted by gunner138

Well, once the mold is made the rest is actually not too hard... just very time consuming and messy.

I suppose the easiest method would be to make a fiberglass mold on both the outside and inside (two female molds). Then lay out the carbon fiber material for each one, let cure, and apoxy back together as one piece, with some sort of filler in the middle (honeycomb maybe???).

It is all the little nooks and crannies that i can't really visualize right now.

The good news is that for around 1000.00 in materials, and a whole s*** load of time and effort, you could have a roof that weighs about 50 pounds or so.

And structural bracing will be done with a role cage, so the flex in this guy will be minimal.

Thanks again.

I would love to see this. QUICK, GET THIS GUY A TOP.

[krue]

[mister.freeze]

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[krue]

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[FRENCHBLUE72]

I have an extra top in oregon ......double wall