Found a top - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TonyJohnson · 07-26-2006, 09:24 AM

I just found a singlewall top that I'm picking up for my '71. Looks to be in great shape with just a few barely visible stress cracks. Glass is great, but the lock mech on the rear hatch doesn't work. I'm going to yank the weird split top off mine and put the new one on. Some of you guys asked for pics of the top as it comes off, so I'll grab pics of the truck with just the front section on.

I know you can get the lock/handle mech from Home Depot, but haven't seen where you can pick up any of the end pieces of the lock mech (the parts at the edges of the hatch that turn to engage the hold down pins...)

I'm assuming the mount holes for the single top will be missing from my side rails, so I'll have to drill some new ones. Hopefully it's easy, because I'm going to try to do it onsite when I pick up the top. Drive up topless and leave with the top. If everything goes wrong, I'll have to go back with a trailer.

pumpkin · 07-26-2006, 09:41 AM

You can bolt it front and rear and use canopy hold downs or C clamps to hold it down, to get it home.

TonyJohnson · 07-26-2006, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin

You can bolt it front and rear and use canopy hold downs or C clamps to hold it down, to get it home.

The c-clamps are a great idea. Thanks!

krue · 07-26-2006, 10:15 AM

Worked for me.

k-nuts · 07-26-2006, 10:30 PM

Mine had a single wall on it when I bought it. I believe mine came originally with a double due to the bolt pattern and lack of nuts. It was bolted at the windshield and the very back brackets only when I trailered it home. Then I drove it about an hour the rest of the way home and it just rattled a lot but seemed to be OK temporarily. The side rails holes did not line up.

Maybe better to drill new holes in the top rather than the bedrails? Do they have a chrome piece that goes on the sides like the newer K5's? THen the old hole would be covered and your bedrails wouldn't be swiss cheesed.

TonyJohnson · 07-27-2006, 01:05 AM

It's not here to look at, I haven't picked it up yet. It does have a chrome piece on top of the fiberglass channel. The bolts went straight down through the chrome piece, through the top and into the side rails. I couldn't see under the rails because the donor truck had the decorative side panels in place. I'll make the decision where to drill based on what will do the least damage. I'll probably just use the front/rear bolts and c-clamps until I can get a good plan. My truck doesn't have the decorative side panels, so I probably won't weld the rail nut in place. I'll probably just use a flat washer, lock washer and nut under the rail. If I decide to add the side panels, I can always tack the washer in place and then tack the nut to the washer. It shouldn't be too bad, regardless.

My biggest issue going to be getting the lock mechanism working...

vtblazer · 07-27-2006, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin

You can bolt it front and rear and use canopy hold downs or C clamps to hold it down, to get it home.

just posted the same suggestion over on his CK5 thread before I saw it here...

Load it, clamp it and do the drilling at home without the need to hurry.

TonyJohnson · 07-27-2006, 03:52 PM

Pulled off the back half of my old top. Wow... now I like it. Dooh...

There are more updated pics with details on my website below. Be sure to click on "pics" beside the description of the top...

LUV2XCLR8 · 07-27-2006, 05:32 PM

I get can you measurements for the single top if needed,
"GQ" is set-up originally from the factory for both tops

TonyJohnson · 07-27-2006, 05:37 PM

Thanks. I'll try to use the new top as a template, that way if anything stretched/shifted, the holes I drill should work. If I run into trouble, the measurements might come in handy. I'll let you know if I need them.

TJ

IGOR · 07-27-2006, 07:08 PM

That is really cool! - what a great idea - is the back half really flimsy now - or okay?

TonyJohnson · 07-27-2006, 07:26 PM

Surprisingly, it isn't flimsy at all. And still pretty darn heavy! If you think about it, the back section is probably better without the weight of the front piece hanging out there like a lever. The rear hatch (if latched...) provides most of the lateral bracing.

coyote72 · 08-01-2006, 01:29 AM

Something was mentioned about the rear hatch handle and lock being available at home depot? My handle works great, but there was no key when I bought the truck.

TonyJohnson · 08-01-2006, 09:28 AM

Look here at the middle of the post for a pic of one. It's in Nathan 454's reply:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=single+wall

You have to cut off the end of the bar, but it's a 10 minute install and under $10...

bouncytruck · 08-01-2006, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coyote72

Something was mentioned about the rear hatch handle and lock being available at home depot? My handle works great, but there was no key when I bought the truck.

Got to a locksmith and have it rekeyed to your door/ignition key. (have you tried that key yet?)

coyote72 · 08-04-2006, 11:09 PM

I have not tried that yet thanks for the good idea!

07-26-2006, 09:24 AM	#1
TonyJohnson Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheboygan, MI Posts: 998	Found a top I just found a singlewall top that I'm picking up for my '71. Looks to be in great shape with just a few barely visible stress cracks. Glass is great, but the lock mech on the rear hatch doesn't work. I'm going to yank the weird split top off mine and put the new one on. Some of you guys asked for pics of the top as it comes off, so I'll grab pics of the truck with just the front section on. I know you can get the lock/handle mech from Home Depot, but haven't seen where you can pick up any of the end pieces of the lock mech (the parts at the edges of the hatch that turn to engage the hold down pins...) I'm assuming the mount holes for the single top will be missing from my side rails, so I'll have to drill some new ones. Hopefully it's easy, because I'm going to try to do it onsite when I pick up the top. Drive up topless and leave with the top. If everything goes wrong, I'll have to go back with a trailer. __________________ Tony Johnson -- '71 Blazer w/L-31 Vortec 350, SM465, NP205, performer intake, edelbrock 1406, HEI, 4" lift, Boyd EFI tank, Vintage A/C My Blazer --

07-26-2006, 09:41 AM	#2
pumpkin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: East Sooke B.C. Canada Posts: 543	Re: Found a top You can bolt it front and rear and use canopy hold downs or C clamps to hold it down, to get it home.

07-26-2006, 10:15 AM	#4
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,448	Re: Found a top Worked for me. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

07-26-2006, 10:30 PM	#5
k-nuts Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: TX Posts: 252	Re: Found a top Mine had a single wall on it when I bought it. I believe mine came originally with a double due to the bolt pattern and lack of nuts. It was bolted at the windshield and the very back brackets only when I trailered it home. Then I drove it about an hour the rest of the way home and it just rattled a lot but seemed to be OK temporarily. The side rails holes did not line up. Maybe better to drill new holes in the top rather than the bedrails? Do they have a chrome piece that goes on the sides like the newer K5's? THen the old hole would be covered and your bedrails wouldn't be swiss cheesed.

07-27-2006, 01:05 AM	#6
TonyJohnson Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheboygan, MI Posts: 998	Re: Found a top It's not here to look at, I haven't picked it up yet. It does have a chrome piece on top of the fiberglass channel. The bolts went straight down through the chrome piece, through the top and into the side rails. I couldn't see under the rails because the donor truck had the decorative side panels in place. I'll make the decision where to drill based on what will do the least damage. I'll probably just use the front/rear bolts and c-clamps until I can get a good plan. My truck doesn't have the decorative side panels, so I probably won't weld the rail nut in place. I'll probably just use a flat washer, lock washer and nut under the rail. If I decide to add the side panels, I can always tack the washer in place and then tack the nut to the washer. It shouldn't be too bad, regardless. My biggest issue going to be getting the lock mechanism working... __________________ Tony Johnson -- '71 Blazer w/L-31 Vortec 350, SM465, NP205, performer intake, edelbrock 1406, HEI, 4" lift, Boyd EFI tank, Vintage A/C My Blazer --

07-27-2006, 03:52 PM	#8
TonyJohnson Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheboygan, MI Posts: 998	Re: Found a top Pulled off the back half of my old top. Wow... now I like it. Dooh... There are more updated pics with details on my website below. Be sure to click on "pics" beside the description of the top... __________________ Tony Johnson -- '71 Blazer w/L-31 Vortec 350, SM465, NP205, performer intake, edelbrock 1406, HEI, 4" lift, Boyd EFI tank, Vintage A/C My Blazer -- Last edited by TonyJohnson; 07-27-2006 at 03:54 PM.

07-27-2006, 05:32 PM	#9
LUV2XCLR8 The LuvShack Garage Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side) Posts: 30,468	Re: Found a top I get can you measurements for the single top if needed, "GQ" is set-up originally from the factory for both tops __________________ Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T

07-27-2006, 05:37 PM	#10
TonyJohnson Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheboygan, MI Posts: 998	Re: Found a top Thanks. I'll try to use the new top as a template, that way if anything stretched/shifted, the holes I drill should work. If I run into trouble, the measurements might come in handy. I'll let you know if I need them. TJ __________________ Tony Johnson -- '71 Blazer w/L-31 Vortec 350, SM465, NP205, performer intake, edelbrock 1406, HEI, 4" lift, Boyd EFI tank, Vintage A/C My Blazer --

07-27-2006, 07:08 PM	#11
IGOR Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Damascus, OR Posts: 260	Re: Found a top That is really cool! - what a great idea - is the back half really flimsy now - or okay? __________________ -Ben 1972 CST K5 - Undergoing frame off, 8.1/4L80E/NP205, 3/4 ton, 8" lift, currently a pile of parts that when assembled resemble a Blazer 1972 K10 - Rust Bucket, TBD 1976 C10 SWB, 350 / T350 My blazer build thread: https://ck5.com/forums/builds/72-k5-...17-update.410/

07-27-2006, 07:26 PM	#12
TonyJohnson Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheboygan, MI Posts: 998	Re: Found a top Surprisingly, it isn't flimsy at all. And still pretty darn heavy! If you think about it, the back section is probably better without the weight of the front piece hanging out there like a lever. The rear hatch (if latched...) provides most of the lateral bracing. __________________ Tony Johnson -- '71 Blazer w/L-31 Vortec 350, SM465, NP205, performer intake, edelbrock 1406, HEI, 4" lift, Boyd EFI tank, Vintage A/C My Blazer --

08-01-2006, 01:29 AM	#13
coyote72 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 191	Re: Found a top Something was mentioned about the rear hatch handle and lock being available at home depot? My handle works great, but there was no key when I bought the truck. __________________ 72 K5 4x4 350 70 Nova 454 5spd 4-link

08-01-2006, 09:28 AM	#14
TonyJohnson Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cheboygan, MI Posts: 998	Re: Found a top Look here at the middle of the post for a pic of one. It's in Nathan 454's reply: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=single+wall You have to cut off the end of the bar, but it's a 10 minute install and under $10... __________________ Tony Johnson -- '71 Blazer w/L-31 Vortec 350, SM465, NP205, performer intake, edelbrock 1406, HEI, 4" lift, Boyd EFI tank, Vintage A/C My Blazer -- Last edited by TonyJohnson; 08-01-2006 at 09:31 AM.

08-04-2006, 11:09 PM	#16
coyote72 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 191	Re: Found a top I have not tried that yet thanks for the good idea! __________________ 72 K5 4x4 350 70 Nova 454 5spd 4-link

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