m37 hard top

[F18hornetm]

Well thanks for all the encouragement on fixing it and info on it not being such a common top. Like I said would like to keep it, but wont know all its damage until completely off. Insulation is actually very good. [even still blue] Although if I do decide to repair, I will ask you guys what's best to replace it with. Hope to get it off tomorrow night and will let you know the progress.
Again, thanks for everyone's thoughts/ideas.

[F18hornetm]

Well got it off and yeah its rough. Front inside edge that mounts to windshield mostly missing. but there is one section I could save for a pattern. The front outer edge will need replacing to as most is packed full of body filler. The rear lower mounting lip is mostly gone. Both areas around the door opening is about gone. The good news is the area around the back glass and all of the large sheet metal is good. Seems is most damaged around all the edges. So, after hearing you guys about saving it we've decide to repair it. I'll post some pics as we get it apart and make some new panels.

[F18hornetm]

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas and New years.
The sawzall was the way we got it off as well. Had to cut 4 bolts out of front top mount. The sheet metal along with a load of other steel for other projects will be delivered tomorrow. Hope to start on the top Sunday, or Monday night. Currently building my youngest sons house so most of free time is spent driving nails.. At least inside work now and no more laying block

[Jess]

Good for you on saving the top. The areas above the door with the drip channel could be use a soft top piece for replacement and if the rest of the top section is reasonably straight, the sides can be rebuilt. I gifted a hardtop off my parts truck that I felt was beyond salvation and after seeing the completely restored top, had a bit of gifters remorse. It looks like new and makes my friends truck water tight for those west coast days. Sheet metal work is my least favorite task so I have tended to leave those jobs in favor of other more enjoyable work. I guess I really should give it a try and maybe learn something.
Have a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year, Thanks for sharing your project with us.

Jess

[m15256]

My Air Force truck came from the factory with a hard top. The spot welds in the gutters over the doors let go and it accumulated a lot of water that saturated the insulation. It rusted basically from the inside out. Luckily I found a really nice one out of Colorado a few years ago from a guy that got it in a package deal with an M35. This Summer I completely stripped it and repainted inside and out. The window track still needs some work. The sliding window gasket is three sided with the pieces joined at a miter cut on the left. The rubber flap on the window frame serves as the fourth (right) side. It is a rubber "P" extrusion with the flat part 3/8" wide and 1/8" thick. The round part of the "P" is 1/4" diameter so the whole width is 5/8". Visible on the back of one of the long pieces is a very faint DPCD logo and the following part number. 1396076.
If anyone finds a source for this material I certainly would appreciate that information.
As I said in a different post on the same subject I had to buy a box of the weldment nuts to get the few I needed, so there are extras in case anybody needs them.
Rick