Vbb199
B-rate Hillbilly Customs
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Gettin pretty nasty are ya? Lol
K5 Removable Top
- Thread starter Old60Driver
- Start date
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The88
Mhmm
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Easy breezy with one guy. Why all the crying? Lol
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Goldie Driver
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I have taken the roof ( metal ) off Ramchargers with 2 people in the past, and swore I'd never do it again.
3 people = perfect, and like was mentioned previously - one guy bent forward inside the truck, roof on his back walking it back while one holds each back corner.
Get to the tailgate, roof guy spins around, grabs edge, lowers it down.
That lifting rig was something I dreamed of doing in the garage , but never did.
Now I have moonroofs, sunroofs, T-Tops, and solid roofs so not anything I have to work on .
Not sure that fiberglass is any lighter than double wall metal - no idea how you did that Snoots, and I honestly never would have tried.
I can roll the windows down all by myself - good enuff.
Vbb199
B-rate Hillbilly Customs
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I'm glad someone posted this. I was going to say too, I know a guy he parks his under one of those portable car ports on the side of his house. When he wants to take the top off, he backs under the carport and does similar to this, and then just backs under it to park until he puts the top back on days or weeks later and being under the car port, doesn't worry about rain other than doesn't drive it when rain is in the forecast if the top is off.
Rhett Croley
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I used to walk mine on and off from inside/underneath. They're not heavy if you get inside and squat down like someone else described. I'd put the tailgate down and back up to a hill at the house. Now I have grown sons so no more of that nonsense. But beware, if the top and rubber is original then be ready to replace the bedrail and cab seals when you put it back on or it may leak. I also coat mine with silicone when I reinstall so it won't stick and tear the next time.
In regards to full tops: they look cool but I'll never do it after dealing with a 69 and a 72 K5 lately. It's easy to see that they went to steel on the cab roof for rigidity. Lots of twist in a K5 with no roof. The 72 I worked on had no top on it when we got it and when I did find and install a replacement top it took a lot of pushing on the back of it to get it lined up w the factory holes, like the body was not OEM square. Afterwards the doors closed much better though, go figure....
In regards to full tops: they look cool but I'll never do it after dealing with a 69 and a 72 K5 lately. It's easy to see that they went to steel on the cab roof for rigidity. Lots of twist in a K5 with no roof. The 72 I worked on had no top on it when we got it and when I did find and install a replacement top it took a lot of pushing on the back of it to get it lined up w the factory holes, like the body was not OEM square. Afterwards the doors closed much better though, go figure....
tobiahr
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Just to make sure everyone is aware. The top is steel reinforced and has a 'halo' around the top edge. Someone had to demo a top and was kind enough to take pics.
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CrapJunknStuff
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I've had (2) GEN1s, a 1970 and 1972, and (7) GEN2s (1973-1975) - both are full fiberglass convertibles up to the windshield. I have a love affair with them. I also had a (2) GEN3s (1976 - 1991). Those were the steel half cabs with fiberglass rear tops.
The GEN1s are out of most everyone's price range now including mine but the GEN2s can still be found on occasion for a good price. For me, I'll never own another GEN3 as it left from the factory because you might was well get a 1/2 short bed unless you want a real convertible.
My current K5 is a 1991 GEN3 with the steel half cab cut off, a GEN2 Windshield frame grafted in, GEN 3 doors cut down, and a GEN 3 5.7 TBI Drivetrain. Its a sure way to get a rust free GEN2 convertible - and its an easy mod - but its a bit of work.
Like others in the forum, 30 - 40 years ago, I could get under my top, balance it on my back and walk it off. That was with 38" mudders and a 6" lift. Would I do it now? Maybe once, then I'd die.
I truly love the GEN1 and GEN2s, bikini tops, fiberglass half cabs and soft tops are almost impossible to get anymore which is a shame but in a full size SUV, to get a true convertible, you only have Chevy/GMC GEN1/2s and the Plymouth/Dodge Ramcharger, one year only - 1974. All the others like the GEN2/GEN3 Broncos, GEN2/3 Dodge - all used steel half cabs and are not true convertibles. It was a liability thing
The GEN1s are out of most everyone's price range now including mine but the GEN2s can still be found on occasion for a good price. For me, I'll never own another GEN3 as it left from the factory because you might was well get a 1/2 short bed unless you want a real convertible.
My current K5 is a 1991 GEN3 with the steel half cab cut off, a GEN2 Windshield frame grafted in, GEN 3 doors cut down, and a GEN 3 5.7 TBI Drivetrain. Its a sure way to get a rust free GEN2 convertible - and its an easy mod - but its a bit of work.
Like others in the forum, 30 - 40 years ago, I could get under my top, balance it on my back and walk it off. That was with 38" mudders and a 6" lift. Would I do it now? Maybe once, then I'd die.
I truly love the GEN1 and GEN2s, bikini tops, fiberglass half cabs and soft tops are almost impossible to get anymore which is a shame but in a full size SUV, to get a true convertible, you only have Chevy/GMC GEN1/2s and the Plymouth/Dodge Ramcharger, one year only - 1974. All the others like the GEN2/GEN3 Broncos, GEN2/3 Dodge - all used steel half cabs and are not true convertibles. It was a liability thing
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Goldie Driver
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I've had (2) GEN1s, a 1970 and 1972, and (7) GEN2s (1973-1975) - both are full fiberglass convertibles up to the windshield. I have a love affair with them. I also had a (2) GEN3s (1976 - 1991). Those were the steel half cabs with fiberglass rear tops.
The GEN1s are out of most everyone's price range now including mine but the GEN2s can still be found on occasion for a good price. For me, I'll never own another GEN3 as it left from the factory because you might was well get a 1/2 short bed unless you want a real convertible.
My current K5 is a 1991 GEN3 with the steel half cab cut off, a GEN2 Windshield frame grafted in, GEN 3 doors cut down, and a GEN 3 5.7 TBI Drivetrain. Its a sure way to get a rust free GEN2 convertible - and its an easy mod - but its a bit of work.
Like others in the forum, 30 - 40 years ago, I could get under my top, balance it on my back and walk it off. That was with 38" mudders and a 6" lift. Would I do it now? Maybe once, then I'd die.
I truly love the GEN1 and GEN2s, bikini tops, fiberglass half cabs and soft tops are almost impossible to get anymore which is a shame but in a full size SUV, to get a true convertible, you only have Chevy/GMC GEN1/2s and the Plymouth/Dodge Ramcharger, one year only - 1974. All the others like the GEN2/GEN3 Broncos, GEN2/3 Dodge - all used steel half cabs and are not true convertibles. It was a liability thing
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FYI, the Dodge full top ran the full gamut of years of that body style, so 74 - ' 80.
Try finding one of those now - when they pop up and look halfway decent, they are EXPENSIVE.
The Gen 1 GMs you mentioned apparently hit "classic" status in the early 80's as by '84 or ' 85 when I decided they were cool looking they were priced higher than a similar 70's model Chevy or Dodge.
So, never had one ...
peats
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i've had 3 72 k5 blazers and here's what i know, if you have ****** paint and body you only need 2 guys. if you have a nice restored blazer you will need 4 guys. 1 man can take a top off by himself with little effort by using an engine crane and slings. i have done it several times by myself this way
Tonyg123
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I have had the top of my 72 off a couple of times. I made a simple pulley system in my garage ($ 50.00) material and its very simply to remove by yourself.
The only problem i had was with the realignment of the area around the windshield when putting it back on.
Making sure you have solid rocker boxes under the doors or you may have twisting problems at the door frame area.
Good luck and enjoy
The only problem i had was with the realignment of the area around the windshield when putting it back on.
Making sure you have solid rocker boxes under the doors or you may have twisting problems at the door frame area.
Good luck and enjoy
CrapJunknStuff
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Sorry, what I should have said was that the 1974 GEN1 Dodge/Plymouth Ram Charger was the only year to have a full removable top AND no door window frame. The window frame was part of the top like the GEN1/2 Blazers. The '75 Dodges would technically be a GEN2 for them.
When I think of a true convertible, I think of nothing but the windshield between me and the bugs and rain!
When I think of a true convertible, I think of nothing but the windshield between me and the bugs and rain!
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Goldie Driver
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Sorry, what I should have said was that the 1974 GEN1 Dodge/Plymouth Ram Charger was the only year to have a full removable top AND no door window frame. The window frame was part of the top like the GEN1/2 Blazers. The '75 Dodges would technically be a GEN2 for them.
When I think of a true convertible, I think of nothing but the windshield between me and the bugs and rain!
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Oh, yeah - forgot about that ! I had a '77 & 2 '79's - the '79s were Pumkin Orange ( Dodge called it Sunburst Orange ) and both had the quad headlight setup. One had a white top. Those old Dodges were simple and sturdy - EXCEPT the electrical which sucks donkey ballz.
Of course, simple also meant no delay wiper option … Oh, LOL, and those damn plastic wiper arm connectors that loved to break.
Don't understand that cause the same year vans - with the same in dash fusebox - had none of the same issues.
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