Here is another great solution sent to us by our customer, Dowie Soetenga a Mechanical Design Engineer.
Willys CJ-3A DIY Bow Bar Kit:
I decided that I wanted to run a Best Top bikini top, Part# 52507-01 for ’76-’83 CJ-5, on my 1950 CJ-3A. I picked this bikini top because I found that it was 3″ narrower and fit the CJ-3A windshield perfectly. Reading the current Q&A on Kaiser Willys, there wasn’t a good way to run a bikini top without a roll bar. I engineered a simple DIY kit that consists of 1.00″ O.D. round tubing, black rubber crutch tips, and brass flag grommets. The attached .pdf engineering drawing shows the profile of the bent tubing, and the .250″ pins that locate through the brass grommets. The outcome looks great and works perfect. The tube assembly can be erected in minutes and stows nicely in the tailgate area of your Willys.
-Dowie Soetenga, Mechanical Design Engineer
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This is an old post but what did you use to lock in the top at the windshield?
I would love to buy this frame if you make them up and sell them. Please let me know. I am having trouble downloading your pdf. I can not get all of the drawings. Thanks!
The locating ring is 6061T6 aluminum extrusion, cut to length. The dimensions are 1.50″ I.D., 2.50″ O.D., .500″ thick. You can order it cut to .500″ length from Speedy Metals. Cost is only $1.98 each. You will have to finish and drill it though. Here is a link to this aluminum extrusion from Speedy Metals. This ring locates perfectly with crutch tips for 1.00″ O.D. tubing.
https://www.speedymetals.com/p-4599-2-12-od-x-05-wall-tube-6061-t6-aluminum.aspx
i made the bows for my bikini top out of electrical conduit. i used the front pockets to hold the bottom. (they are $79.99 at kaiserwillys.com if you are missing them.) i made the lengths so that they could be stored in the factory side pockets. i like your gromet and pin idea. i think that i will add them to mine to help keep it located front and back.
Dowie, this was a great idea…as soon as I saw it I started this little project. I have a nice roll bar for my 3A but don’t like to keep it on. But…I do like the bikini top so this is the perfect fix.
Ed and Rachel, I also would be interested in your design for a rear spare tire mount that can be taken on and off easily and that doesn’t need much fastening to the tailgate. It doesn’t need to be as professional a design as Dowie’s but any photo’s or a rough sketch would sure be appreciated.
Thank you all.
Hi Ed,
Is your spare tire rack design something you would like to share with other Willys owners? If so, shoot me an email at webmaster@kaiserwillys.com.
I love this bikini top. I am just about finished restoring a 1948 CJ2A . I would like to have a top like this for my ’48 ! Is the top, frame and hardware for sale ?And where could i buy it?
I done have the ability to make the frame myself .
Dowie,
That is an awesome design bikini top. Looks like a roll bar too!
Good job. I have designed a rear tail gate spare tire rack. It mount’s
over the top of the tail gate and is anchored thru the gate slotted holes.
Constructed material is chromally tubing and all welded construction.
It fit’s any pick-up tail gate. It is 36″ wide x 18 ” 14 ga tubing.
Great idea, where to you get the ring that you mounted to the rear wheel well?
What did you use for the base?