Newbie removing Hard Top. Help me do it for $, beer?

[PasadenaBronco]

Hey all -- I know there are some other posts on this:

Bought my '75 Ranger from Rob1962 and want to make sure i don't mess it up!

Want to see if anyone has more of a "step-by-step" guide for someone who is not handy with a wrench (me).

Also willing to pay small fee, trade for beer -- someone who want to help me do it who is local to Pas/Burbank/Glendale area. I want to learn but happy to enlist a guide to help me through it.

Thanks!

 

[SteveL]

The unbolting part is easy. Bolts along windshield and bedrail. Also there is a support post in each rear corner . U dolt that from the body but leave it bolted to the top. If I remember it go's down like 6" into the body. Watch those don't scratch the bed if it's clean. You're gonna need help. The more the better. .The top is heavy.

 

[panteramatt]

I never understood what good those back brackets r for. They make installing the top so much worse. If u can cut them off then do it. Then i would weld the nuts under the bed rails. Then it would be simple to install.

 

[PasadenaBronco]

Thanks for the comments guys. Will take both of those into consideration.

Hopefully don't have to cut any bolts but guess i need to see what i'm dealing with here...

 

[cs_88]

Don't forget to make a cut in the door weather stripping where the top meets the windshield frame.

 

[SteveL]

Might wanna order a bikini top for it. You're probably busting 100 out there in pasadena.

 

[tvall]

While I haven't removed my top yet, I read in another post before that some people unbolt the rear posts and let them drop behind the brake lights. They can then remove the top without scratching the paint. They pull the brake light buckets out then pull the posts out through the holes.

I've also read that people had set up winches in their garages. They lift the top enough to get 2 2x4's underneath the roof. They can use eyelet bolts to lift the top off.

Here's a thread from a while ago:

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=211981

 

[tvall]

Here's another thread:

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=181310&highlight=hard+top+hoist

 

[sprdv1]

Thanks for the comments guys. Will take both of those into consideration.

Hopefully don't have to cut any bolts but guess i need to see what i'm dealing with here...

Good luck to you and Congrats!!!

 

[thegreatjustino]

I never understood what good those back brackets r for. They make installing the top so much worse. If u can cut them off then do it. Then i would weld the nuts under the bed rails. Then it would be simple to install.

My understanding is that they add additional support for the quarter panels to not spread away from the tailgate.

The easy way to deal with them without scratching the paint is to unbolt them from both the body and top before taking the top off. Then you can remove the tail lights and take the stakes out from the tail light holes. Remove them before you take the top off and don't worry about them scratching the paint.

 

[PasadenaBronco]

Love all the "crowdsourced" help here ALL --- really appreciate the feedback

 

[Action]

Lol

My understanding is that they add additional support for the quarter panels to not spread away from the tailgate.

The easy way to deal with them without scratching the paint is to unbolt them from both the body and top before taking the top off. Then you can remove the tail lights and take the stakes out from the tail light holes. Remove them before you take the top off and don't worry about them scratching the paint.

Good luck with that....LOL...
Jack

 

[thegreatjustino]

Good luck with that....LOL...
Jack

I don't understand? I've done it this way numerous times as have others here on the board.

 

[panteramatt]

I totally rednecked mine to get it off. Drove the bronco under a thick branch in my yard. Strapped a pulley on the limb and used my rzr and the winch on it and winched it right off. Then just drove away.

 

[blamejane]

I removed the bolts myself every spring in Dallas, then just had a helper (or two) to lift and remove it. No big deal. The rear posts were a pain, but I didn't have to worry about fresh paint. You're gonna love the top off!!

 

[67RT]

Dont end up with stitches in your head like me! Mine is NEVER going back on. Hopefully it doesnt fall down as it is strapped to my garage roof above my beloved Coronet RT ragtop! That would be ugly..

 

[Lunar-tic]

I bought this from Lowes.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_432583-2191-PHL-1R___?productId=4324011&pl=1&Ntt=garage+lift

It works great. Only PITA was the angle of the "jack" handle because I got it too close to my garage door opener. You can also connect a drill to it.

 

[Action]

Good job

I don't understand? I've done it this way numerous times as have others here on the board.

I just meant if they come out that way...Great...I couldn't get mine out with the top on the ground.
Jack

 

[thegreatjustino]

Thr smaller posts on the earlier tops don't come out as far as I know, but the longer ones that extend six or eight inches down into the quarter panels attach to the top with a couple of bolts. I'm sure like lots of.bolt on parts, some have become seized over the decades.