Original Hardtop bolts vs. Jeep Easy Fasteners

[c.ing]

Has anyone tried using Jeep's Easy On Off Hard Top Fasteners Nuts Bolts KIT?
I have a '77 and was thinking that even if they only fit around the holes above the back wheel well, they would make it lot easier to install.

Has anyone tried this?

 

[73azbronco]

I suppose you could JB weld the nutplate under the lip.

 

[BoltTurner]

I welded the nuts to large washers and jb welded that to the bed rail. Works pretty well. A couple fell off that I'll have to redo. Would like to spot weld them to the underside of the bed rail but I think that will ruin the paint.

 

[JSBX]

I have a half cab and use nut zerts along the back and u clip nuts where the top bolts to the windshield. Makes taking the top off and on a little quicker.

 

[Rustytruck]

I use a 1-1/2" strap with tapped holes in it cut in a couple of pieces to work around the roll cage. Used hot roll steel. It has rooled edges so no marring the bed top. The strap works well so no tools used under the bed rail and makes that damn bolt behind the door opening a breeze.

 

[Summersea]

These are similar to what I built.
https://northeastclassicfordparts.c...73-1974-1975-1976-1977-early-ford-bronco.html
Easy enough to duplicate.
Flat bar, nuts tacked to the underside, pop riveted or tacked to the underside of the rails.

 

[duffymahoney]

I screwed up and put 3/8 nutserts in! Then linexed over it. So I am kind of stuck with the 3/8 fasteners.

 

[c.ing]

Thank you, this is very helpful

 

[pbwcr]

Nuts welded to big washers or plate is a good plan because the sheet metal is so thin it distorts when tightening against the rubber seal. Copy the Ford oem method for the front two bolts. They use 2 weld nuts on a plate about 1.5" wide. Mine has a turn down at the aft end to use as a handle.
For frequent removal Summersea has the best plan. Especially with them fixed in place.

 

[Apogee]

Seems like you could use the flat bar idea (either tapped or with nuts tacked to it) with panel bond adhesive and not have to weld or pop holes in anything.