'72 commando--hard top removal

[Chrisfollin71]

So I think I'm ready to take the top of my '72 but noticed strips of metal with weatherstripping attached running down from the top itself to the bottom of the tailgate. I noticed that the entire top thing is glued down with adhesive as well. It begs the question:was the top supposed to be removed? Or is it one of those things where everybody does it due to its bolt-on nature. Do you have to cut the weatherstripping and its mounting thing with a saw? How about the structural integrity of the vehicle with the top removed?

[Pack Rat]

Should be nothing but a seal running down between the top and the tailgate opening. Original factory was a continuous seal that goes from the bottom of the tailgate on one side, up and around the lift opening and back down the other side of the tailgate. You can cut that seal where the top meets the body leaving the pieces in place and still attached to the top and the body. Rubber tape was originally used between the body and the top on the sides and across the front of the windshield header, sometimes takes a bit to separate the two after all these years if the top has never been off before. If it has been off no telling what previous owners have used to seal it.
As far as structural integrity, shouldn't be any problem, these things were designed to run with no top. A Commando with a soft top is the same as a Commando with a hard top body wise. When you take the top off there's a couple of hidden nuts at the back up underneath the lip above the tailgate latches, one on each side.

[Chrisfollin71]

I think I'll wait til spring to take it off. Its kinda cold (well, in southern NM terms