Softop installation no Holes

[CTENTA1]

PM sent.

[niceguy678us]

PM Sent.

[robs71k5]

I was brought to my attention that there aren't any photos that demonstrate how they might look ,fit or function on your Blazers Thanks to the individules for pointing that out to me and hope it brings some clarity to you regards Rob

[robs71k5]

[robs71k5]

Header installation step one

1. Place header on top of windshield
2. Hold each side down snug untill the flat section where the bolt at the sunviser mount on each side has made contact with mating surface. Step three will provide info if not able to and another person to hold it down snug would help immensely
3 . In the event you cannot make the surface mate. You will notice that the clearance issue is at the rain gutter on the outside. You will need to provide clearance by sketching with a pencil while in place you can accurately give clearance by transcribing a new line that follows the rain gutter. (Refer to picture below "A"). This area was left a little long so you can get as closely trimmed as possible as it seems to be a water entry point on my Blazer. it just made sense trim it a closer while on the individual Blazers as close as possible . I would very much like feed back on how much was trimmed on yours if possible . It may serve as good info for the door windows weather proofing

[robs71k5]

Header installation step two

And then proceed to sand or trim the edge to mimic that line on the Header . Once you have provided clearance you should be able to bolt it down with out being hung up on the rain gutter and you will also not introduce cracking around the 5/16 bolt holes at the flat mounting surface in above picture "A" just above the "A" by torquing in down while it hangs up.
The bottom picture shows the hardware that was made for me (5/16 bolt 1 inch grip length and a taped piece of aluminum stock about 1 1/4 inch long with a groove turned into it so the visor will rotate around it .
The seal from your hard top is designed to fit into the upper bulged section of Header which might serve to seal out the elements . Be mindful of the hole sizes on each side of the header being different from the four centre holes

3A. Picture Below is to explain that you need to wait till the Header is seated on the mating surfaces before you trim the flange to the same foot print of the corresponding door seal . Be careful not to cut this off too much as it may reduce you eligibility to incorporate a pending door seal application planned but not yet developed due to Header development and distribution. But we love to hear your ideas and suggestions on this project l

[robs71k5]

Header installation Step three

4. After you have located the outer bolts and provided clearance for the outer surface and drilled the bolt holes. You can locate the two centre holes in pic "C". It's a bit of
a toss up weather you use two bolts on each bracket or just one which I find is plenty .

[robs71k5]

Header installation step four
5. Once you have located and drilled all the holes you require you can move to laying out the snaps for you softop.

6. Softopper provided me with a aluminum strip with snaps installed that gives one lots of info for the spacing . For my self I used another method . I got a piece of material and stapled a piece of 1"x 2"a couple ft forward so I could reach a pull from the front of the truck as it stretched across the width of the truck then scalloped the material to cut out every other snap and installed mating snap in the material at the centre and then did every other snap so I could get a good pull on the canvas while stretching it across evenly but I took a sharpy and put a dot at every snap location while the snaps on the softopper leading edge where right over the location (poor illustration below)

When you pick up your snaps . I try to find the ones that come as a stud with what looks like a flat washer (far left in lower pic )They work great for the thickness of the leading edge flange but I have a hard time finding these

[robs71k5]

Header installation step five
7. The rear bed rail (square tubing provided by softoppers) installations needs to be flush with the inside of the quarter panel. I drilled the holes myself but my understanding is they will send the rails pre drilled . I cannot provide details on the hole locations because I asked them to ship me u drilled holes. But with my conversations with Bob at Softopper . I would have no reason to suspect any miss alignment and you might save yourself a chunk of work by confirming with Softopper those whole locations based on the hard top your blazer came with .


I think the softopper is a great product and with the Header it really makes the up and down efforts simplified. I gave even run around as a "t" top configuration The part is easily removed with nuts or I had a friend turn down and tap out aluminum shaft and knurled the end and he made a clearance cut to provide clearance of the visor arm coming into contact.( Picture below)

[robs71k5]

The snap parts i used to install on Header leading edge

Hope this everyone's install came out as nice as mine or better

[CTENTA1]

Originally Posted by robs71k5

The snap parts i used to install on Header leading edge Attachment 1467967

Hope this everyone's install came out as nice as mine or better

Did you get my PM about buying one?

[colgad]

Originally Posted by robs71k5

The snap parts i used to install on Header leading edge Attachment 1467967

Hope this everyone's install came out as nice as mine or better

Not sure I understand what you are trying to explain here. Could you post a picture of where you are using it.
thanks
Dave

[timski69gmc]

Package received in good order. Thanks Rob.
Wish I wasn't waiting until spring to install it.

[smbrouss70]

I received mine today, the part looks very nice and had no damage, but one end of the shipping tube was completely open when it got delivered. I just wanted to let you know so that maybe the ends of the tube can be secured a little better so that nobody gets a broken or missing piece.

Thanks again for doing this for us Rob, I know it puts a huge burden on you, but I am so glad that I don't have to drill into my perfect original paint windshield frame!

[robs71k5]

Thanks for reporting that smbrouss70 and good luck with the install .

Take your time and it would be very Helpfull to have help during some phases of the install in order to optimize appearance and function .

I will also soon pay more attention here but between regular life and these things it's very busy. I hope the reward for me will be in the way of pictures from all your installs. Regards Rob

[robs71k5]

For those that haven't yet received information on how to aquire your Header please check your pm inbox for instructions . Otherwise please pm me your name, complete address including a phone number . I will not be shipping any Headers after the 2nd of Dec until early in the new year .please refer to this thread.

For those that have already picked up their Header I hope you a satisfied with the product and can't wait to see the resulting pics of your installs. Most of you will likely be enjoying a more complete installation than mine at this point as my Header is the first one made not as nice as the ones being shipped and hoping to get one for myself . Lol
Also before I forget a Happy Thanks Giving.
And again I may not have a chance to wish absalutely everyone including and most importantly refugees a swift relocation and a very Merry Christmas .
Cheers Rob

[Blazerowner]

This is a pretty sweet setup. Any thoughts of making one out of steel?

[robs71k5]

Yes that was my second thought.When I first mentioned to someone years ago here about making these out of plastic. I think I was the but end of the joke. I then swung over to thinking steel but didn't like the idea of a steel part rolling around the truck scratching things so I went back to the fiberglass idea and just did one for myself and posted the picture. It really sucked that I had to build it from fiberglass cause I hate working with it as I did this for many years before I retired . But I think they will end up being a fixture in the Blazer world for some time.

[tristan]

Payment and PM sent.

[Blazerowner]

How tough is the fiberglass? Is it fairly ridged and what is the thickness?

[robs71k5]

The fibre glass thickness is strategically variable through out to Header to keep cost down and the strength where it's required. I've been running around with mine now for a few years and it's one of the lightest ones I've made and have not experienced any cracks or other damage what so ever .
The part does require some fitting and trimming out of the box . I think I'm finally getting close to a workable trim template that resembles the bulk of the Blazers . It's difficult because I only have my Blazer and it had work done to the windshield corners so I wondered how close was my efforts resembled the factory design. Then after building the first one I knew I have to add more beef to them but there was no evidence that it required more beef at that point.
As they come now they are gel coated inner and outer surfaces but I tend to sand the roughness on the upper side a little and much of the gel coat is sanded off . A way to remedy that would to give it another coat of gel coat and sand again . Maybe repeat till you get desired smoothness.
I would like if I could build both sides smooth but we're talking some pretty fancy equipment . I have aquired some of it just not all of it yet. But I'm also not keen on vesting myself to heavily into this as I'm supposed to be retired. But I'm busier now than I was when I was working
I'm guessing the thickness might be 1/4 -3/16 thickness maybe as thin as 1/8 in places .
As I said before they are each hand layed per a strategic map and each one goes through my hands before seeing your hands.
I do take pride in these parts and each one is built as if I where to use on my own Blazer.

A keen eye to body work will go along way to your finish .
Trim and fit each end till you get the each ends forward edge so it's not in the bottom of the rain gutter untill the mating surfaces at the 5/16 bolts at each end of the Header are touching before drilling the 5/16 holes Reason for this is two fold . Torquing the bolts down before trim and fitting could crack the fibreglass at the 5/16"bolts and the seal will not leak when installed properly . Then eye ball the leading edge for its contour and sand as required to give it a flowing radius across the trucks windshield. If you take your time I know you will be impressed with the install and if done correctly you will not notice the part even with your top down . Hope your questions where answered . Regards Rob

Originally Posted by Blazerowner

How tough is the fiberglass? Is it fairly ridged and what is the thickness?

I

[robs71k5]

Update : Ok I really need to do something about the inbox being jammed up all the time . If your interested in the Headers. Please send your queries to my personal email account at srpenner@hotmail.com . I will try to organize this info and process from there. I've now noticed some requests that are a year old and unanswered and that must be frustrating for those trying get get in on one. But hair pulling on my end cause I would rather not have people pissed at me If I can help it.

[Gibber1967]

Hi Rob,

At long last I have my header in my hands, it is exactly as expected. I really appreciatte the effort you put to posting the mounting instructions on here...it's not on yet, but I'm not to worried about it now.

Thanks again!

Gibber

[CTENTA1]

Hey Rob

Just got home and the first thing I see is my soft top header. It looks great and did a quick fitment check. Seem's fine, very well done. My top windshield frame sections is actually "NEW OLD STOCK" I bought it from a guy who posted it here and then Ebay. There is no way I could drill holes to it. Im glad you make these because now I can work on ordering my softop. Much thanks again!

[Minnz]

Rob,

Received my strip the other day, very nice. Thank you very much for your efforts.

Lee