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Door options with 1/2 hard top?

kohldad

kohldad

SOA Member
City
Goose Creek
State
SC
Besides the full steel doors, what other doors will fit with the 1/2 hard top?

I have a set of YJ 1/2 hard doors and would like to put a soft upper 1/2 door that will work with the hard top.

Reason is, I have a plan on making the 1/2 hard top quickly removable (four latches) and be able to move it back about 30" giving an open air feel. The 1/2 soft uppers would provide the right amount of side open yet be easy to store.
 
Eric,

Stock YJ uppers are square corner. I've found that upper that fit a Bestop Supertop have round corners and work well.

Truck
 
We looked at a Scrambler at the PA Jeep show that had half hard top, YJ 1/2 doors and TJ soft uppers.

7-23-07transfer057.jpg


You have to raise the half top about 5/8" (he used some kind of spacer and foam insulation from Home Depot) and one pin that goes down into the door will need to be re-welded to line up with the YJ door/upper holes (it was the one closest to the door latch).

7-23-07transfer058.jpg


7-23-07transfer059.jpg


Looked nice and is on my "To Do" list.
 
Grantshire, do you happen to have a full pic of that scrambler? I've been looking into doing a cargo top like on that scrambler, and would love to see how it was done... thanks!
 
I don't know for sure if this will work, but Bestop's supertop for the CJ8 accepts full hard doors. They also make YJ upper doors to fit the supertop which also accept full hard doors. Maybe those uppers will also fit a halftop as it also accepts full hard doors. I will call Bestop tommorrow and ask. I am looking for an uppers solution for my halftop also. I'll let you know if they say it's a go.
 
ben8jamin said:
Grantshire, do you happen to have a full pic of that scrambler? I've been looking into doing a cargo top like on that scrambler, and would love to see how it was done... thanks!
Click to expand...

This is the best I can do...

7-23-07transfer055a.jpg


Hope it helps.
 
I use Bestop TJ 2-piece soft doors on my Scrambler with halftop. They fit well, but the weatherstripping is too thick, and you have to change the handles out for CJ/YJ ones.

Later-
 
I would love to add full soft doors to my 1/2 top and ditch the full steel doors. I like to take the doors off most of the time and the steel doors are heavy, awkward to manage. Anyone ever use a full soft door and what mods were made to it? I know the 2pc Bestop doors will NOT fit but what about the original whitco doors with plastic latch? I had a set of yj 1/2 hard/soft doors and did not think they would fit and sold them. :( I carry clothes with me all the time as I like to feel the open air but not rain.

thanks,
Bill
 
I have YJ half doors and have purchased Bestop Supertop uppers. They will not work with the 1/2 hardtop in stock location, as the rear upper frame is too far back. I plan to remove stitching, adjust the frame and re-sew. From where I stand now (and have not yet dived in), the task appears straight forward, but will be time consuming.
 
ineedajeep said:
I will call Bestop tommorrow and ask. I'll let you know if they say it's a go.
Click to expand...

Bestop says that none of their uppers will work.
 
i dont know if ROCKGEAR, Inc. is still in business but they had soft uppers that work with a hardtop. they are the same shape as the full doos. i run them on my YJ with a cj hardtop.
 
ineedajeep said:
Bestop says that none of their uppers will work.
Click to expand...

Bestop said the same to me before I bought my TJ doors. They are correct that they do not sell anything for the Jeep Scrambler Hardtop. However, the TJ doors work pretty well, if you can get a set of YJ handles for them.

Later-
 
Clarification Please

scott anderson said:
i checked their site and they have them for $239 a pair...
Click to expand...
Scott,
Who's site? What is the part number that is for $239/pr.?
Thanks,
Jim
 
Upper half door frame

I was looking online at JC Whitney and found TJ upper half door frames for $120 shipped for the pair. Must use the code "SAVENOW" to get free shipping but they still charge $10 for "heavy item surcharge". :rolleyes: Must be because it is a big flat box. Here is a diagram of the difference between the model years on the TJ window frame. Looks like the later model years is what will fit the hard half cab door opening due to the rounded corners. What ya think?

In the picture of the Jeep from PA, why was the frame's lower supports not inserted into the holes of the door but left hanging on the inside of the door?
 
TJ door uppers have the third mounting pin offset further inward to give more stability to the upper. You can cut and reweld that pin so it fits in the YJ lower. From all my measurements, TJ uppers will fit the hard top when mounted on YJ lowers- I'm mounting TJ upper and lower doors on mine, and changing the strike plates for the TJ hoop style. Maybe I'll stop tearing belt loops!

JP magazine did an article a few months ago on putting a TJ soft top on a CJ/YJ tub- the door angles all lined up fine. As mentioned by Tom, the TJ weatherstrip is too thick, though.
 
Scramblin_Jim said:
IIn the picture of the Jeep from PA, why was the frame's lower supports not inserted into the holes of the door but left hanging on the inside of the door?
Click to expand...

That is the way the TJuppers are made but that is a YJ door. To use a TJ upper on a YJ half door you need to address the TJ upper's one offset post (or let it hang out like in the picture).
 
I'm game

Well I think I will give it a try. If I'm going to have leaks from the door I might as well have portibiity to go with it.

I am sick 'n tired of my junky hard full doors and really want to have something for the upper part of my YJ hard half doors. I like to be able to take the uppers off when out on the trail but still have them available for "bad" weather to quickly put them on when needed. The stupid full hard doors don't seal well at the top leading edge and whistle with the windows up at any speed above 35 mph :mad: . The rubber around the windows is hard and brittle, the windows rub as you crank them up and down. I'd tried to adjust the hinges to align the doors better and after 45 minutes last time I gave up. The door locks don't work by key or pushing the lever inside. There is just a ton of work needed on them that I don't want to put the effort or money into at this time. Besides, if you ship them somewhere to be "fixed" it will cost a ton in shipping charges because of their weight!

Is there another solution?
 
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