I am installing a Bestop Bikini top and channel. The channel is longer than the old one judging by the holes and snaps. The top does not appear long enough to fit across and snap on both sides.

any adeas?

thanks

Best top part #
51209-01 channel
52508-01 top

Did you buy the Header and the Top from the same place?

What Im getting at is I bought a Smittybuilt channel with a Smittybuilt top which turned out to be a POS so I went with the Bestop Bikini and id does not fit all that good on the Header from Smittybuilt.

Stay away from smittybuilt........words of wisdom.

both best top bikini and best top channel

According to the Bestop web site, traditional bikini top #52508-01 fits 86-91 CJ-7.
The only summer tops listed for a 1980 CJ-7 is the strapless bikini top, #52518-01, or the traditional Sunlighter bikini top, #52588-38

The box says 76-86 CJ and 86-91 Wrangler. Up to the change in the rollbar I think.

So I call Bestop today, final story is...

Bestop bikini with bestop channel uses no snaps.