My chop top dreams are officially on the way to becomming reality !!
Got a great commission check for this past week and I have now set up a special account just for my chop top funds ! At a cost of $ 4 k, i am already over a third of the way there !!
Of the guys seriously considering getting a chop, how much have you saved so far ($ or %), and how close are you ?
Hey,.... Archie needs to know so he can plan whether or not he will be going to Italy, or to Detriot for vacation lol ! Archie,..when you gonna put me on the payroll ?? I think i have become the Choptop PR king !!
------------------ The Dirty Rat Chopped, dropped and just plain NASTY! Choptop Targa #1 383 Stroker MPFI with N2O 1" Drop 3" Chop 11" Brakes 19" Motegi Roja's wrapped in BFGoodrich Gforce T/A KDW-2 rubber RCC Coilover Suspension Updated Jan 21 '04 www.dirtyratracing.org
i'm physically closer to it but flat broke. moved my project from my brother's house to mine, so i can look at it and fool with some parts i've got already for it, but that's about it.
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12:06 PM
v8fiero400 Member
Posts: 963 From: Houston,TX,USA Registered: Jan 2004
Archie said he was going to make a KIT one of these days with the lower lexan windows, etc. I'm sure the kit would sell to those who have expirence working on frame and body.
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12:25 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
I would like to see how someone is going about doing this.
By the way Tony, Archie accepts Mastercard and VISA
And I am his second biggest fan of the chop top
------------------ If you find my advice useful, then please give me a positive rating, thanks... 1988 GT (Firebird Interior),1988 Coupe (Daily Driver), 1985 SE (Project Car), 1985 Coupe (parts car), Firebird Interior Installation Website
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01:18 PM
achawkins Member
Posts: 1891 From: Greenville S.C. Registered: Jun 2003
Forgive my ignorance, but why is it possible for Chester to have a chop-top targa and not possible to have a chop-top T-top? Did I read that wrong or something?
------------------ Marty, '84 SE, '85 2M4, '86 SE, '87 GT, '88 GT
[This message has been edited by achawkins (edited 06-28-2004).]
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01:38 PM
Scythe Member
Posts: 1055 From: Burke, Virginia Registered: Apr 2003
Forgive my ignorance, but why is it possible for Chester to have a chop-top targa and not possible to have a chop-top T-top? Did I read that wrong or something?
This is why archie will not do it....
quote
Originally posted by Archie:
I'm sorry, there is just no way I'm going to chop a "T" top car.
I would hope that this post can explain exactly why I'm not going to screw-up a Rare "T" top car.
Check this out......
When we chop the top we lower the windshield by 9 degrees. SEE "A"
That shifts the whole roof back about 1-1/2 inches. SEE "B"
That will change the angle and hurt the seal in the area where the roof panels meet the windshield. SEE "E"
As the roof shifts towards the rear of the car the trailing edge of the "T" top panels also moves back toward the rear. SEE "C"
As a result that will screw-up the seals and several other things at Fiero B pillar. SEE "D"
If you've ever removed the headliner from a "T" top car and looked at the "T" top structure from underneath (in the area "E" from the inside) You'll find that it extends almost all the way to the rear window. We do a lot of cutting and welding in this area and (SEE "E") and if we try that with a "T" top car, I'm afraid we'll ruin the "T" top car.
I hope that explains it.
Archie
[This message has been edited by v8fiero400 (edited 06-28-2004).]
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05:39 PM
exoticse Member
Posts: 8650 From: Orlando, Fl Registered: Jun 2003
MID-Augest or early September? maybe this time I'll be #17?
No fair !! you are lapping us !
No seriously that is cool, can't wait to see it. I think i am maybe a year away, realistically, but you never know, a couple more good bonuses and i may be there a lot sooner.
Something fun i did as motivation, i took two small pictures of the GBCT and Madcurl's silver chop top, and laminated them onto the back of a credit card sized piece of cardboard.
I keep it in my checkbook, and whenever i think about spending money on something i don't really need, .. i just look at the picture. I think this or the chop top and it makes my decision and motivation to resist so much easier and stronger !
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10:52 PM
Jul 22nd, 2004
NotAFieroAnyLonger Member
Posts: 4413 From: 75762/Texas/USA Registered: Dec 2003
Something fun i did as motivation, i took two small pictures of the GBCT and Madcurl's silver chop top, and laminated them onto the back of a credit card sized piece of cardboard.
I keep it in my checkbook, and whenever i think about spending money on something i don't really need, .. i just look at the picture. I think this or the chop top and it makes my decision and motivation to resist so much easier and stronger !
I think that is a GREAT IDEA for motivation... BTW, Is your chop done yet..??
------------------ Custom Built -- W I D E B O D Y-- GT!! One of One!!
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04:21 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
It is possible to chop a T-top, you just can't do it with the stock windshield like Archie does. He does his as a business and has therefore created a cookie cutter kit to make them less expensive and easier to do. The way to chop a T-top is to use a different windshield and move the bottom of the windshield forward instead of just leaning the stock windshield back. A couple of people on here are chopping T-tops without moving the windshield forward and are just planning on having a custom windsheild made.. I'm dreading seeing the cost of a custom windshield!
I also chopped my T-top in Photoshop after a couple of people requested it..
Anything is possible, but that would be a-hella-lotta work to mess with the panels to shorten them.
Maybe, or it is only a few inches and you section out apiece and replace the glass with lexan. Either you do a custom windshield or a custom T-top, Or maybe there is a third way?
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11:21 PM
Jul 23rd, 2004
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
After seeing the way Orville does his car.. he actually lengthens and widens the Fiero roofline.. I am thinking about taking measurements off of some older Trans Am. I'm thinking maybe just cut the top off right at the line of the doors, cut off the windshield and pop the whole unit on there.
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01:30 AM
Aug 2nd, 2004
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Well, let me see, car payment, house payment, shop payment, electric bill, food ( wife swears she cant live without the stuff). And that leaves me with .36 cents toward the chop . And now thanks to jscott1 she just took my Visa away. I guess all I have left is my dignity, no wait she has that too. Guess its Detroit for Archie. Next year I'll try to help send him to Italy ( Gladly) Brad
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06:00 AM
PFF
System Bot
cooguyfish Member
Posts: 2658 From: Hamilton, OH, USA Registered: Mar 2002
As soon as i can sell my silver fiero, which is posted in the mall right now i can more than afford to have a chop top done. but i also want to do the targa top so i need to find out how much that cost too...
-Fish
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10:17 AM
Oct 8th, 2004
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
My chop top dreams are officially on the way to becomming reality !!
Got a great commission check for this past week and I have now set up a special account just for my chop top funds ! At a cost of $ 4 k, i am already over a third of the way there !!
Of the guys seriously considering getting a chop, how much have you saved so far ($ or %), and how close are you ?
Hey,.... Archie needs to know so he can plan whether or not he will be going to Italy, or to Detriot for vacation lol ! Archie,..when you gonna put me on the payroll ?? I think i have become the Choptop PR king !!
Okay Exoticse....your next! Come on Christmas is near. You know you want it?
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07:34 PM
ShueGlue737 Member
Posts: 521 From: Fowlerville, MI Registered: Apr 2004
i wanted a chop top but didnt have 4k so i just busted out the recip saw and welder, little bit of fiberglass and plexiglass, add some luck a tape measure and some elbow grease and bam there u have it, oh and the targa top off a solid roof parts car from the junk yard for 10 bux + some steel from work to support the frame. now some spring paint and a brand new built v8 chev 350 and summers gonna be a good time this year\
justin
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07:55 PM
Oct 21st, 2004
exoticse Member
Posts: 8650 From: Orlando, Fl Registered: Jun 2003
I guess I didn't notice.
I now can say I have a convertible Fiero! 
. And now thanks to jscott1 she just took my Visa away. I guess all I have left is my dignity, no wait she has that too. Guess its Detroit for Archie. Next year I'll try to help send him to Italy ( Gladly)
