Orig. soft top door channel on windshield?

[squidtone]

Hi guys...
I'm finishing up on my windshield frame in preparation for paint, and I'd like to finish welding up all the strange holes. Some are from the old hard top, others from who knows what.
But I'd like to leave holes in place for original equipment such as the soft top. I believe my Jeep came with a full Willys soft top as it had all the footman loops as well as door hardware holes in the tub itself.
My issue is what holes should exist on the windshield frame itself for top hardware. I believe there should be inside channels on both vertical sides of the windshield frame...much like the strip that goes horizontally on the upper outside of the windshield. I assume the door canvas slips into the channels and acts as a hinge(?)
I cannot find any pictures on the internet of what these channels look like, and Walcks website says "image coming soon", so no images there. And besides I still want to know if these attach with screws, or were they welded onto the windshield.
This website shows Jonathan installing a top onto his Jeep, but there are no door/windshield details...(just bow details).
If you have info to share, I'd appreciate it!

[athawk11]

Hi Dave,
They were attached with some type of weld process... or some other similar process.� If you still have the horizontal channel across the top, take a look at it to see what the connections look like.� A small uniform (1/16")� dimple/divot.

I welded a new horizontal channel on a 3A frame by drilling 3/16" holes and plug welding it. I smoothed these welds down with a grinder, then duplicated the small 1/16" divots using a drill bit.� Turned out looking pretty authentic.

[1955CJ-5]

Here are a couple I took when repairing my windshield frame.

I have others that I'll post when I figure out where Windows 10 hid them.........

[Rus Curtis]

Dave,
As mentioned, regardless of screws or welding, you can weld/grind and make it look original.

I took a peek at Walck's and noticed no image also.  It mentioned it includes the upper hinge for the door - which should be correct.  I noticed the same channels at another vendor with images and they seem to be the same.

https://www.kaiserwillys.com/door-frame-rope-channel-pair-fits-49-53-cj-3a-m38

[1955CJ-5]

Here is another pic showing the upper door hinge and channel.

Those in the link in the above post look correct....

That hole in front of the top frame iron is for the hard top...

[athawk11]

After viewing Randy's photos, I'm way off base.  The side channels are simply spot welded.  The horizontal channel shown in the photo is held in place with these small uniform deep welds.  Clearly a different process.

[1955CJ-5]

Here is a good comparison with Tim's photo...

My frame had all these little holes for the hard top.

The only other holes are for the rear view mirror, wipers, center vent hinge bolts and latches.

At just the right speed the little holes whistle..jeep music!

[squidtone]

Ahhhh, excellent help with the photos guys!
Mine are completely gone. I'm sure to make room for the Koenig half cab they put on. Those channels would have interfered with the hard door panels.
I'll weld up the holes and probably skip the channels until I'm decide on a top. I'll save some paint for them.
Thanks again, I've never seen these details in my years of CJ3A hunting on the internet.

As a side note, the external horizontal channel piece on mine fell off pretty much when I picked the Jeep up in 2006. I bought a replacement from Walcks and I was quite disappointed with how flimsy it is. I mean reeeeally super thin sheet metal. And the channel gap is waaay too wide too. I'll pinch it to the correct gap opening and weld it on. The makers tooling was also too small so they had to weld two pieces end to end to make up the length. Sheesh.

[squidtone]

I just attended our first Cruise Night (Marks Cruise Night, East Granby Connecticut, not unusual to have 900 cars, held every Monday) and to my astonishment, it was "Jeep night", and there was a single CJ2A, a single CJ3A, an M38, and a crusty CJ3B. There were probably 100 or more Wranglers.
Anyway, I drooled over the CJ3A and it was pretty well done. I noted all the channels on the windshield, noted how the vacuum wiper motor mounts (and realized I welded up the two vacuum motor mount holes on my windshield...doh) and generally was pretty impressed with the attention to detail. So it was great confirmation on these details.

But one more query:  Was a rear view mirror factory issue on the windshield? And was it mounted like yours '55CJ-5?

My Jeep came with a rear view, but it wasn't mounted up top.

Dave

[1955CJ-5]

If you have a reprint of the service manual there is a drawing of the interior layout on page 252 that shows the mirror and bracket.

I think there is a copy on the 3a web site but haven't found it yet....

I believe my bracket is correct but the mirror itself is a period aftermarket accessory....the holes were already in the windshield frame and the bracket fit fine.

[Bob W]

The inside rear view mirror was an option on a CJ-3A.