Hello, I just ordered a bikini top for my 1990 jeep yj, and I was wondering if there is another part I needed to buy? When I bought the jeep it had a hard top on and I haven't taken it off yet. I saw that there was a thing called a windshield channel that I may need to buy in order to attach the bikini top? Anyways, my question is: what is the windshield channel, is it already on my jeep (or help me find out if it is), and do I need to buy one now? Thank you 😃
Bikini top windshield channel?
alakasam44
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
Joined
·
12 Posts
Hello, I just ordered a bikini top for my 1990 jeep yj, and I was wondering if there is another part I needed to buy? When I bought the jeep it had a hard top on and I haven't taken it off yet. I saw that there was a thing called a windshield channel that I may need to buy in order to attach the bikini top? Anyways, my question is: what is the windshield channel, is it already on my jeep (or help me find out if it is), and do I need to buy one now? Thank you 😃
Joined
·
81 Posts
Yeah you'll need one. It's just two pieces of metal that screw into the top of the windshield frame to hold the front of the top in place. My jeep already had the holes drilled, but I have heard that jeeps that came from the factory with just a hard top don't have holes.
Joined
·
1,012 Posts
That's surprising to hear.
Can't believe it was more cost effective to run two different frames down the assembly line with the chance of a screw up rather than just have every windshield frame pre-drilled for the soft top.
Maybe these jeeps that didn't have holes just didn't have holes in the right places for aftermarket channels?
The 1990 YJ factory soft top windshield channel has eleven screws coming straight down from the sky. One is dead center with five spaced out on either side.
When you take your hard top off look for the holes, if you have them make sure you buy an OEM type channel.
I haven't had much luck drilling small screws into the sheet metal.
And channel screws have a load to carry.
Joined
·
1,969 Posts
I can testify to this. If you look closely that's a pool sitting on my soft top. Obviously it's time to get a new top. But the channel definitely needs to be screwed on correctly to hold the amount of weight
Joined
·
226 Posts
I need to buy one of these also. There are many to choose from. Would be great to get some recommendations.
current: 07 JKUR previous: totaled 93 yj after new engine and tranny perfect timing!
Joined
·
202 Posts
You do need the channel for the top to fit!
I just bought a pavement ends bikini/bihimi/safari whatever (the one that covers the back seat too). Got it from quadratec and when I put it in my cart a compatible channel from rampage was put in with it. Arrived Friday and I had the whole thing installed in 30 minutes. Worked great. All of my holes at the top of the windshield were stripped (hard top has to be off in order to see the holes). I used self-tapping TEK-screws with some rtv gasket silicone and attached the channel with the teks about an inch or so away from the existing holes.
Also the channel came with screws and the 1st one broke off right away that's why I went with the teks.
I like the top so far but if you have a sound bar not all the velcro straps will work. Also I have tiny bungees keeping the straps tight. There are buckle type straps and velcro.
52$ for the top and I think 17$ for the channel. So I bought a hat to hit 75$ to qualify for free shipping.
Hope this helps
Joined
·
226 Posts
Does help. Thx!!
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
