Found this for free. Yep...free. And literally 4 blocks from my house:D

I honestly have never felt the need for a hard top. But who would pass one up for free?? Not sure of the damage extent yet other than whats in the photos. It will most likely be another project in the coming months. A new rear window, hinges, support rods, and hopefully just a little epoxy. If its worse than it looks, then I will pull what I can (wiring, side windows) and sell and then scrap the rest.

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Wow, hard to argue with that. Looks like it can be repaired pretty easily too.
 
Wow, hard to argue with that. Looks like it can be repaired pretty easily too.

The spice color wont match anything but what hell, right? The cracks dont look to bad in the photos. I'll post up some more pictures this afternoon when I pick it up.
 
Definitely fixable. Owner said it fell off the hoist. It's been sitting outside for a few years at least. Spider carcasses in every nook and cranny.

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Hosed off and scrubbed well. 3 areas that need addressed. One is a rather large crack, only one wall or layer though. The only one that goes thru is a small one right in the rear window channel. I am going to start working on it later this week. I'd love to slap this on and run it all winter.

Need:
SMC resin and fiberglass mat
Body filler
New rear window
1 heating element
Wiper and wiring.

If I followed jjvws link well, I need to grind/sand a valley at each crack, apply the resin and mat, let dry and sand, and then add body filler and sand again. Paint. It sure sounds easy enough to do

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Well, good news is I think I can get away with body filler on most of these. The biggest will need some new fiberglass matting. I think it's easy enough to where I can slide something behind this panel and build off that. Pics below after a quick 10 min sanding job.

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The crack in the window channel does not go thru, so that's also good news. Again I think I may just use a filler there.
 
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Small update. I belong to a local facebook group (small, just a handful of us that have wheeled over the years), I posted about my free hardtop find and someone mentioned they have a wiring harness they are willing to part with. Brand new from jeep, still in plastic. I offered him $100 and he sold it to me. I have no idea what these usually go for and whether or not that is a great deal, but bottom line is I should be able to plug and play this now!

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I am also pricing out bits and pieces; used wiper motor and wiper, new struts and ball mounts, used gaskets, mounting hardware, glass, and finally resin and body filler. Its coming out to be a little more expensive than I thought. I wasnt aware so many things were discontinued!
 
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Hopefully the wiring is for the correct hardtop model. I think someone makes an adapter that will allow a wiring harness for '97-'02 to work with a hard top from '03-'06 and vice versa.

I know it's not local to you, but there is a rear window with wiper motor, defroster, and privacy glass available here in the Phoenix area (not mine).
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/pts/d/jeep-wrangler-tj-lj-hardtop/6708129154.html
 
Hopefully the wiring is for the correct hardtop model. I think someone makes an adapter that will allow a wiring harness for '97-'02 to work with a hard top from '03-'06 and vice versa.

I know it's not local to you, but there is a rear window with wiper motor, defroster, and privacy glass available here in the Phoenix area (not mine).
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/pts/d/jeep-wrangler-tj-lj-hardtop/6708129154.html

I was wondering that myself and have been researching a bit. Q-tec sells a plug kit for $20. Worst case is I dont have a wiper/defrost for a little bit. Ive never had those features before so it wont be a big deal to me.

Wow--that guy is priced a high. Ive look at everything on Ebay/Amazon and am almost $200 cheaper, that is even with shipping calculated in.
 
I agree, it seems a bit high. However, I had my rear glass replaced through insurance earlier this year and the retail on just the glass was over $900. I was shocked.
 
I agree, it seems a bit high. However, I had my rear glass replaced through insurance earlier this year and the retail on just the glass was over $900. I was shocked.

Whoa! $900?? I thought the $250 Ebay version was high.
 
The wiring harness fits the hardtop plug! No soldering needed! That's a plus. Next step, hitting the buy button on Ebay for a wiper motor and wiper, struts, gasket, hardware, glass (big ticket item) and one heating element.

Already have SMC resin and fiberglass coming. I hope to make progress next week. I'd love to paint it this winter but the colder temps might prevent me from doing that.
 
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Daily driver mod. Wired my early 00s gntx mirror. I didn't have a desire for map lights, only wanted the compass and temp. Ran wiring thru the windshield frame and used a grommet towards the dash which you can see. Finished it off with my voodoo doll who's supposed to remove procrastination


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Are you nervous about tightening the bolts onto the glass?