Hard top repair?

[ravengp]

I picked up a TJ hardtop today. It's a little beat up but more or less intact. It looks like the previous owner may have laid his jeep over with it on as there are a couple cracks in the rear p/s corner that go all the way through and it's missing the rear window. My question is this: can this be repaired? If so, how and how much will it cost? Also, how much of a PITA will it be?

All I'm really wanting it for is a winter cover to keep the cold out. It'll come off in the spring.

[tickwomp]

was it free? If not I would say try to sell it and get a bestop soft top. It keeps out cold like a champ. Reason behind it is, although the window should be an easy fix (maybe 300 bucks or so) the cracks all the way through may be a PITA. If you really want a hard top instead of a soft top, then I would think fixing it would still be cheaper than getting one new.

[TheRo0sTer]

ST is fine no matter where you live. I have one and driving in the winter isn't so bad. Yes it's cold, but nothing a jacket and the heater won't cure.

[ravengp]

The hardtop was free and I can't afford a new soft top right now. I was actually thinking about fixing it and selling it.

[tickwomp]

IMO the cost won't be much of a profit when someone can buy one brand new for near the price. I say just fix it up and run it then.

[Cole]

I would think that there are a variety of bonding agents that would work on the fiberglass. all it is is fiber embedded in some sort of resin, so it should be fairly easy to find whatever sort of epoxy or mastic you need to smooth it back together, at least temporarily. I've heard of rodders making their own body panels, so the stuff has to be out there somewhere.

[Cole]

or you could just rino line the bastard. that shit is tough.

[jeepdreamer]

Try going over to either the Scrambler forum (CJ-8.com) or the Expedition Poratal and ask for a guy named JScherb...he has built his OWN hard tops and is a great guy with boo-coupe knowledge on fibeglass basics...he just learned to do it himself anc has a good, simple way of explaining things so maybe he could offer you some good advice!

[Cole]

Apparently there are several ways to do it, with the most prevalent involving a glass matt and surface application of the resin mixed with fiber that you sand down. This thread seems informative, though I can't get the pictures to work on my NIPR box over here. There are also several interesting comments toward the bottom of the thread regarding fiberglass repairs. One thing not mentioned here that I see in several other threads (and it makes sense to me) is to drill out the tip of the crack like you would on a windshield the relieve the pressure there, ensuring that the fiberglass under the repair doesn't continue to crack beyond the areas you fix.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/re...a-pics-108516/

Can you tell I sit waiting for something to happen for 12 hours a day? *sigh* Boredom interspersed with more boredom.