Bought a few Fiero parts off of ebay and instead of shipping decided the nice fall weather why dont I drive the two hours one way to pick it up.
The guy was nice and decided to show me whatelse he was going to end up selling on ebay that was off his son's car.
I was like :0
I was looking at a 1987 Gt t-top car.
I bought front bumper,fenders and inner fenders and wanted to see what was left.(notice had fender bender trunk damage hit in rear)
Drivetrain gone,and cradle (customer pulled up for it as I was leaving,original 71,500 miles . on it.)
But frame ,wiring pieces of interior and t-tops was left.
I asked about t-tops if they were for sale he said make an offer.I asked for the whole top with t-tops and I'll cut it off for say 100.00 he said sold.I was like OMG!!!!!!
He then said wait..went to garage.He brought back a grayish black dusty bag to me and I opened it up..t-top without a scratch.He said bags have to be cleaned up,but knows they were never opened.He was going to get the other one.I looked at what was I was holding (t-top) and noticing the t-tops on the car.
He was giving me mint t-tops with bags and t-top section with tops for 100.00
I gave him the money and took the bags with tops and his reciept and will be back Monday to cut the top.

So still on cloud nine I got home and have been reading everything on here about t-tops,choptop s,to cut as much meat as possible from this donor to end up being a t-top section for my car.
He will let me cut as much as I need he said he had no problem with.
My problem is...
I need to brace it .So when I cut it.Set it in a 5X8 flatbed trailer 2 hour ride home and set it on my garage floor..through all of that not flex,so it will maintain shape for when I do my t-top.
This guy lives in a gated mobile home,macured lawn community.So welding and torching in his yard really isnt going to work.
So any suggestions would so be appreciated.
Thanks..

A sawsall would probably be ok for cutting. But before you cut, see this thread. Lots of useful info there.

A sawzall is all I used. I cut right through the windshield and then through the rear window. I was done in about 10 minutes. If you go this route, wear safetyglass, little pieces of glass is flying everywhere.

Don Z.

Thanks but again the problem is where to brace it so it stays together being cut , put on a trailer and transported without flexing and getting ruined with no welding

You are extremely lucky my friend to find something like that for $100.

quote Originally posted by pswayne: see this thread. Lots of useful info there.

I've never had to chop off a T-Top but since pswayne have already linked to my build thread, I'll just mention:

Carefully remove all weather strips before plugging in the sawsall, you will NOT find these weather seals ANYWHERE. there are some options for seals from other cars but if the seals on that T-Top are good then save them.

Remove any other plastic and rubber part and safely store away.

If you decide to sale these extra glass windows I'll gladly cover your purchase price any day
Just P.M me.

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[This message has been edited by Mister (edited 11-02-2007).]

Thanks Mister for the part about weatherstrips.
How's the weather ,by the way,moved from BC a little more than a year ago here to Florida but sooooooooo miss everything

I doubt the ride home would damage the T-top section where you couldn't get it to mate up to the other car. It will flex, but all in all it should hold it's integity enough to do a simple roof swap.

What about like 2 sawhorses on the trailer and some straps securing the top for the ride home ?

The sawhorses and straps sounds good...but leave the t-tops on correct? Because thru the whole cutting down at the bottom of the windshield and also back by the door/firewall area I plan to leave them on.
Should I also make a brace like everyone else has on the drivers/paseenger side window area like everyone(when they chop) does before I cut to help keep it together and maybe a cross one as well?

If you have the option, cut both A and B pillars at the bottom, near the fenders. Knock out or cut out all glass. Obviously, I'm not talking about the T Tops here. Tie the pillars to each other and then secure the top to your trailer, that'll help support/brace the top. Even if it does flex a little, it will probably get more flex while you're trying to mount it to your car. Nice find but, if I may suggest, I'd take a water hose with a sprayer to it before cutting anything. Have someone sit inside the car while you do your best to try and find a leak.

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Ron

Never, never do anything or wear things that you don't want to have to explain to Paramedics, it can get very embarrassing. They talk!

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 11-03-2007).]

Leaks? forgot to mention...have sat in the car (no seats,no carpet,just metal floor...lol) and he ran a garden hose on top of the car
15 minutes in a hot dirty car (looking at all the dead bugs) there was not one leak.
But today cleaned and Armoralled the bags and guys listen I will have to take a pic of the t-top frame and these tops with bags when I get it home. Because you really wouldnt believe that ,because I do believe this guy when he said these in the bag were never on the car..their incredible.

This might have been mentioned...but it bears repeating...DON'T cut the weatherseals no matter what you do.