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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:21 pm
by cjdeane10
Making your own is an idea that is growing on me.
You could probably make a roll cage box frame, and use this as a basis for a metal/fibreglass shell. Then you could remove/leave in the roll cage after the shell has been made.
My brother is a pattern maker and is pretty handy with fibreglass/plastic moulding (his company actually makes alot of canopies and snorkels for TJM, etc).
Not sure about cost, but will check with him.
Hmmm interesting... the cogs are turning...
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:57 pm
by Gwagensteve
Highway star -
That confirms it then - the overhang avoids any possible fit issues with the coiler roof being different.
Still reckon you would struggle with a factory one, but I could be wrong.
Steve
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:15 pm
by Pinball
Highway-Star wrote:
Yep Suzuki don't want to know about Sierra bits usually, and they keep squat in stock at dealerships. It took them 2 weeks to get the stupid rubber grommit for the timing hole on the bellhousing!
Saw your unit at UQ last friday, it had to be yours with the writing on the drivers door. Noticed your f'glass roof is a bit more flush than allot of the aftermarket ones, what make is it?, it didn't have any windows in the back, or were they the hinged pop-out type?
That'd be mine... it's a flexiglass, probly 5 year old now, side windows fixed, less space for water/dust to enter... and it does leak water in the rain still.
Spock
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:48 am
by Highway-Star
Pinball wrote:
That'd be mine... it's a flexiglass, probly 5 year old now, side windows fixed, less space for water/dust to enter... and it does leak water in the rain still.
Spock
They must have changed patterns over time then (or maybe a different one for the coily? As I said the coily one I saw had massive overhang; oh and it has sliding windows, both glass, security mesh, and flyscreen (damn it was a mess).
Leak Water in, Its a softop Suzuki I thought that was on the standard equipment list
. Anyway it never rains arount here, not really a problem.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:25 pm
by Highway-Star
Gwagensteve wrote:IMHO there is only one hardtop to get for a sierra, and that's the factory optional one.
Once you have seen one, you would never put any of the floppy leaky creaky garbage that was sold here by the canopy manufacturers on your car.
The factory optional top is plastic not glass, fits very neatly (it is snug around the windscreen - doesn't overlap) has gutters on the targa section, clips in cleanly and without rattling etc and just looks sooo much better.
Takes 30 seconds to remove the targa section. It is on overcentre latches
the rear hatch doesn't have its own lock, it has a lip that sits behind the tailgate so only the stock tailgate lock is required to lock the car.
We had one car in the club with one of these years ago. They must have only been sold with the NT's because I have never seen one on a WT, but they would fit fine.
Problem is, you might have to buy a whole NT to get one (then swap the soft top over and resell the car) but mate, they are gold.
Steve.
Digging up my own old post.
No I still don't have one (It's only been 4 months), but I've seen some 'intersting' stuff around, and if someone could elaborate on a few bits about the factory roof that Steve mentioned, that would be great!
Thorough searching has found me that there are two Suzuki options that sound right, a 'Resin Top', and a 'Thermoplastic top'. Is the thermoplastic top just a plasticy softop, or the proper hardtop job? The resin top seems to be the ones in the old brochures, but I can't find a piccy for one.
Also I remember seeing some that are like 4 piece (5 if you include the tailgate). They have the front, the rear roof, and both side panels. Dad reckons these are the Genuine unit, but isn't sure. Can anyone confirm this?
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:03 am
by Pinball
Don't know the units directly,
but resin would be fibreglass and thermoplastic is likely the one GW refers to.
Spock
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:09 pm
by Big D
This might help ya. Awsome hardotp which is flush with the body (from wati can c). Only prob is its in america or something
http://www.rallytops.com/suzuki/samurai.html
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:43 pm
by Highway-Star
Yes I found a couple of manufacturers in the US with well priced brand newies, but importing it would be a killer!!!
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:03 pm
by super zook
That price is insane, im a sheet metal worker amoung other things and i know I could make a better looking canopy than that for mayby half the price. I have been thinking of doing this to mine, i was just going to make a RHS frame to hold the rear door. Attach this to a second roll hoop at the back pop rivit a single piece of aluminium 1.6/2mm that flows from one side of the body to the other (with a bit of support in the middle), to both hoops and paint, would look as good as any other body manufacturer be super cheap but not remevovable. You could make it removable with a bit more creative sheet work and pinch weld (rubber strip) go talk to a engineering shop its a hell easy job you would probably be suprised how good it would look for little money