Custom modular JK hardtop
09-29-2016, 07:19 PM
#1071
JK Enthusiast
Over the course of this thread I've been working on a few projects that companies have asked me to do - one of those is the slider window kit for factory hardtops. Today I sent the first draft of the installation instructions for the factory hardtop slider window kit to the company that's planning to manufacture/market them. This draft has photos taken during a test install in a modular factory side panel; once the company (or perhaps an early adopter of the kit) does an installation on a full hardtop the photos will be updated. The sliders are ready, the retrofit kit is ready, everything is pretty much ready for the trigger to be pulled on production; the company now has to decide if there's really enough interest in the slider window idea for them to go ahead. One thing I suggested is that they do a limited production group buy to test the waters - maybe they should put out a group buy offer and limit it to 10 sets of windows - if they can't get 10 people (or close to that) to sign up, then there probably isn't enough demand to go into full production. Here's a thumbnail view of the installation instructions. The removal of the factory windows and installation of the slider windows with the retrofit kit is a pretty straightforward process, so this is all there is to the instructions.
09-30-2016, 02:21 AM
#1072
JK Super Freak
Thread Starter
09-30-2016, 05:38 AM
#1074
JK Super Freak
Thread Starter
09-30-2016, 01:37 PM
#1076
JK Super Freak
Thread Starter
I'll pass the interest in the late model 2-door along to the company. As I said, the prototype retrofit kit for that model is done and could be sent over to manufacturing easily, same for the slider window.
10-01-2016, 01:44 PM
#1077
JK Newbie
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Over the course of this thread I've been working on a few projects that companies have asked me to do - one of those is the slider window kit for factory hardtops. Today I sent the first draft of the installation instructions for the factory hardtop slider window kit to the company that's planning to manufacture/market them. This draft has photos taken during a test install in a modular factory side panel; once the company (or perhaps an early adopter of the kit) does an installation on a full hardtop the photos will be updated.
The sliders are ready, the retrofit kit is ready, everything is pretty much ready for the trigger to be pulled on production; the company now has to decide if there's really enough interest in the slider window idea for them to go ahead.
One thing I suggested is that they do a limited production group buy to test the waters - maybe they should put out a group buy offer and limit it to 10 sets of windows - if they can't get 10 people (or close to that) to sign up, then there probably isn't enough demand to go into full production.
Here's a thumbnail view of the installation instructions. The removal of the factory windows and installation of the slider windows with the retrofit kit is a pretty straightforward process, so this is all there is to the instructions.
The sliders are ready, the retrofit kit is ready, everything is pretty much ready for the trigger to be pulled on production; the company now has to decide if there's really enough interest in the slider window idea for them to go ahead.
One thing I suggested is that they do a limited production group buy to test the waters - maybe they should put out a group buy offer and limit it to 10 sets of windows - if they can't get 10 people (or close to that) to sign up, then there probably isn't enough demand to go into full production.
Here's a thumbnail view of the installation instructions. The removal of the factory windows and installation of the slider windows with the retrofit kit is a pretty straightforward process, so this is all there is to the instructions.
10-03-2016, 06:23 AM
#1079
JK Super Freak
Thread Starter
It's still a bit of a work in progress, but I'm just about done with a swing-up "window" proof-of-concept. I did this first one using a 4-door hardtop panel, and I used a solid panel rather than tinted plexiglass because I've got the solid material on hand and it will prove the concept, a plexiglass proof-of-concept would be next. I don't have enough of the correct weatherstrip on hand yet, so I've just short pieces of it at key points to get the dimensions right. The 2-door hardtop behind the test panel is just a handy place to lean the panel against for the photos...
So far so good, although I'd like to find slightly better hinges than these, and these keyed latches are just what I have on hand, not necessarily what I'd like to use for a more final version. Also a small gas strut to hold it in the open position would be a better idea than my long arm.
This concept requires no modification to the hardtop except for drilling holes for the hinges. The factory window could be glued back in place in the future if the swing-up window was removed.
The photos below show the proof-of-concepts of the quick release windows, so if you could imagine the solid panel swing-up done in tinted plexiglass with the hinges and latches you'll get an idea what a swing-up in plexiglass might look like.
So far so good, although I'd like to find slightly better hinges than these, and these keyed latches are just what I have on hand, not necessarily what I'd like to use for a more final version. Also a small gas strut to hold it in the open position would be a better idea than my long arm.
This concept requires no modification to the hardtop except for drilling holes for the hinges. The factory window could be glued back in place in the future if the swing-up window was removed.
The photos below show the proof-of-concepts of the quick release windows, so if you could imagine the solid panel swing-up done in tinted plexiglass with the hinges and latches you'll get an idea what a swing-up in plexiglass might look like.
