4 man soft top help

[MUDSUX]

Hi everyone,

I am in the process of converting my 2 man M998 to a 4 man soft top and need a little help. It seems the 2 side rails are not lining up correctly. Everything bolts up fine but the rails are being bent downwards as it connects to the C pillar. Is this normal? This also makes it difficult to close the middle doors as the rails are bent down and not letting to doors close completely. Just wondering if the nutsert in the C pillar is placed in the wrong spot. Thanks in advance.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/k01avveyjwkswbh/DSCN2846.JPG

https://www.dropbox.com/s/a3zlvmffnmgslie/DSCN2851.JPG

[nickd]

Before you modify the connection at either pillar, hang the door on the hinges and adjust the hinges on the truck and the other half of the hinge on the door. I had the same problem with my hard doors.
good luck,
Nick

[MUDSUX]

Thanks Nick, I tried that. Its hard to see from the pics but there is like a one inch difference at the c pillar and I really have to pull down the rail to fit it. Maybe this is normal but it just seems wrong to me. Maybe it's slanted at the back for rain runoff?

[Kurt Lesser]

The tops are basically flat to let the rain (what rain, it's California?) seep through the velcro and soak the camping gear in the back. LOL

Those side rails should be level or your going to have trouble wrapping the vinyl top around them. If nothing else, install another wellnut or rivenut in the "C" pillar.

Kurt

[Hell On Wheels]

It could be the "C" pillar base plates could be bent forward that creates this issue. Looking at your second pic it appears to be mounted to forward. It should be at an angel like 80 degrees.

[MUDSUX]

It could be the "C" pillar base plates could be bent forward that crates this issue. Looking at your second pic it appears to be mounted to forward.

The C pillar is not bolted down yet in that picture. It was pulled forward by the side rail. If I pull it back the dip is even worse.

Here you can see how far off the side rail is after the C pillar is bolted down:

[Retired War Horses]

I just installed a new top on my m1035.....my B pillar was NOS and had no well nuts yet I lined it all up between the A and C pillar and the drilled the hole for the well nut I the C pillar....perfectly straight. But I had to still give a tug on the right side to get the screw in. Did you drill the holes in the fender or were they already there?

[Retired War Horses]

One more thing....if you unbolt the channel and just hold it up, can it align correctly...perhaps the A-pillar hole is to low, you would not have noticed it with the short rail for the 2 door.

[MUDSUX]

.......Did you drill the holes in the fender or were they already there?

They were already there. My A and B pillar already had the rivnuts installed too. The front door close with no problems. I tried connecting the siderail to the factory C pillar rivnut and the downward pull of the side rail interfered with the hard doors so it does not close properly. I tried adjusting the door hinges too but it did not help. I can't imagine a factory soft top could be off. I must be doing something wrong.

[Denderwuz]

This may sound stupid but do you have them rails on the correct sides? I'm pretty sure there is a left and right rail... I'm about to do this exact same project myself so I'm interested in how it turns out.... Nice rig BTW I like the camo

[MUDSUX]

This may sound stupid but do you have them rails on the correct sides? I'm pretty sure there is a left and right rail... I'm about to do this exact same project myself so I'm interested in how it turns out.... Nice rig BTW I like the camo

Yes it is on correctly. I double checked. I ended up drilling a new hole and putting in some blind rivets about 1/2 inch up on each side.

[natebm1123]

Hey late reply but did you ever figure out why you had to drill higher holes? I'm having the same exact issue and its driving me crazy. I have an 89 1038. Got my C pillar and top from MWE and all they told me was it had been sitting up for awhile and needed to warm up lol.

[Action]

Hey late reply but did you ever figure out why you had to drill higher holes? I'm having the same exact issue and its driving me crazy. I have an 89 1038. Got my C pillar and top from MWE and all they told me was it had been sitting up for awhile and needed to warm up lol.

The handrails do not need to warm up to be installed. They are metal. I think i always used rubber wll nuts instead of metal rivnuts. But that wouldnt change position of the screw holes.

Jason