Howdy UKnow, are you sure your in the right forums, because you said - Found a thread here with a member running a TJ hardtop on his YJ. I'm too new to message him, and the discussion was a few years old, so I figured I'd open this up to get our friends with JK and JL knowledge on board.

People do it, but why? You call your baby, do you want a hack job on your baby?
To answer your question, which has been asked alot... is no? You can fit it, but if you want your doors to work with it, "Hack-hack, if you want it to fit your jeep properly, "Hack-hack! MHO, your not going to find the answers to making them fir without, "Hack-hack! Good luck though.

 

CJ7 hard tops do fit YJs

TJ hard tops do not fit YJs

You can modify the top as much as you want to fit a YJ, but it still dont fit a YJ.

 

Jeeps started getting wider after YJ so hard tops for them would have to be heavily modified to make them fit the narrower YJ.

 

TJ was the same width but the tub rails where the hard top sits is completely different. They integrated the belt rail for the soft top into the sheet metal (stupid idea if you ask me) so you can swap tops easier. They have a completely different profile as does the door area so YJ doors even of modified will never seal properly.

Anything can be modified but is the end product worth it? Not to me....

 

To top windshield mount location is different TJ to YJ and given cost of remaining oem tops the take a sawzall is a bad idea
You want to buy TJ tops to jack them up I guess it is your money to burn

 

Jeep TJ hardtop given to me... I have a YJ...Strategy...

Hello- I've got an '89 Jeep Wrangler, YJ series.... I've driven it with a soft top as long as I've owned it - Since 1992. A neighbor has a 1997 Jeep Wrangler (TJ Series I think), and had the glass rear right window break - he replaced it with a soft top. He offered the hard top to me...

www.wranglerforum.com

 

Digger84:
Thanks for linking that thread; that is the thread I was talking about in my post.
As of today, I've been allowed to message Jerricho to ask for their pictures. I was away for a bit, so not sure if the message option becomes available after a certain amount of time, number of logins, number of participations, etc, but I'm thrilled I'm able to PM now!

Thanks Again. Stay Low, Stay Safe, & GOD Bless, My Friend!

 

See post # 6 & 7.

The pic of the TJ with a Safari top prototype is a TJU. It's longer than a regular TJ.

Anything is possible with enough money. What you're thinking about is way, way beyond any sense of practicality. My best advice is to enjoy what you have or buy a LR Defender. You'll likely be money ahead with the Defender vs, modifying any hard top to look like a Defender top for your YJ

FYI...

https://www.hemmings.com/auction/1989-land-rover-defender-90-775893

.

Good Luck, L.M.

 

If it was easy, I'd have a hard top.

 

Well, if you can't find a good used YJ top, then you can always get yourself a new top at a cost of $2500-$3200, not sure if our full doors would work with them? Or better yet, take that $3200 and custom fit you a top? Oh, the $3200 would only cover the customization and not including that fancy top you got up there. I can say I speak for everyone when I say, "There's a lot we "Wish" we could do to make our little baby better! It all comes down to how much you are willing to spend?

That is a cool top though, and a cool thought, hope you can make it happen.

 

Some people have cobbled a TJ top onto a YJ. It requires some modification to the windshield frame and perhaps modification to the top itself. If you want to drop $4500.00 plus options (dome light and brake light) and tax & shipping, let us know what it took to get it fit properly. It's not a job that I think a novice should tackle.

Gr8tops

SAFARI CAB PRICE DROP. We've lowered the price on the TJ and LJ Safari Cab Hardtops AND color matched side panels is included in the pricing. TJ base price dropped to $3700 and LJ is now $3950...

www.facebook.com

If you're anywhere near Denver, I'd be interested in seeing the end result.

Good luck, L.M.

 

Thanks Everyone!

So, it looks like there might be some fiberglass fab in my future...
I have our hardtop, and another YJ hardtop to work with.

I'll keep trying to find info on modifying other hardtops to suit, but I won't be buying a $4k top as a practice piece.

Since some conversions to half cabs or Jeep trucks involve bonding two severed hardtop pieces together, it should be possible to cut my top at the roll bar to set up a T-top style joint.

Anyone ever heard of someone adding T-tops to their YJ? Apparently, at one time there were some two piece hardtops offered by 3rd parties like Keystone. I know there was an all acrylic type hardtop I used to want that was made with lots of removable panels; it was made by a company called Road Armor, I think, but I haven't seen anything like it for some time. BTW, they made some sweet wrap around brush guards and tire carriers that looked like pieces of an exoskeleton IMHO. I wanted their whole system, but it cost more than the Wrangler I owned at that time.

Regardless, I think it'll be cheaper to make the safari top out of the two I have. It looks like hardtops are going for $1200-2100, or so, meaning I can't sell the extra one to swap for a safari one. I'll also have more control on the finished product by doing it myself.

Any helpful info for working with out particular hardtops?

Sometimes there are certain products, specific tricks, or particular coloring choices that can make a difference in being able to make something look like it's from the factory. There might also be hidden structural members, or a dangerous lack thereof, which could make a difference in the best plan of attack.

Guys who've half cabbed their rigs or completed truck conversions, please chime in on specific challenges you faced.

And, guys who've modified their rear window, please give me some tips on where you got your glass, if you found something better (i.e. acrylic, metal, etc.), and especially what kind of weather stripping you used to get a seal.

Those who've repaired their side windows, please help keep me from buying a poor gasket material when adding the top glass.

I'm also hoping to get a tube bender to make the light bar mods, but was trying to get a little more advice on what to look for. I've always loved fab work, and I've recently gained access to a TIG welder. Unfortunately, it's been awhile since I've done any serious welding, so please send some words NORTH for me the next time you pray.

Please help me avoid making any of the mistakes you've made with your sage advice and caps lock yelling.
Thanks Again! Stay Low, Stay Safe, & GOD Bless, My Friends!

 

The last time Jerricho was on the forum was July, 2021

YJ and TJ hard tops are SMC (Sheet Molded Compound), not true fiberglass. If you use boat resin it will fail.
Here's a thread where the builder made a half cab from a whole YJ hard top. I can't link to the page that has the hard top build. You'll have to skim through the posts that don't apply to your project to get to the part that's applicable to what you're doing..

The WAR PIG - Shortbed Pickup w/109" Wheelbase -...

Okay, kids, here's the plan...I'm building what Jeep doesn't build, a V8-powered, 5-speed, 4x4 shortbed, 2-door pickup. For years I've been thinking about how I would do this. I've finally pulled the trigger. I'm in the middle of the project now. 1. Started with an '88 GW. Previous owner...

www.wranglerforum.com

The side windows are held in with urethane adhesive (3M windshield urethane). The molding that you see around the outside of the glass is a cosmetic molding simply there to fill the gap between the glass and the topper.

Please start a thread in the YJ build section. It'll be interesting to see what you come up with. Post lots of pics. We all like pics.


Good Luck, L.M.