so im looking for pictures of the actual cuts and welds and where the cuts are. i am going to try this at home but dont want to end up with a roadster. so any a and b pillar pics plus additional cuts would be a big help. and yes i did search and found a few pics but nothing overly helpful

Only 1 or 2 guys here have actually done it besides Archie, who is the chop-top expert. Your best bet is to read through Archie's threads; this will probably take a while but will be very interesting i think. Before you actually start cutting, don't forget that the A-pillar is going to need bracing welded in AND that you will need short "glass" for the windows (i think everyone is using plexi because shortened real glass has not yet been found)

I could be wrong, but it is my understanding that many of the folks who have completed a chop top on their Fieros did so with the help of plans bought from Archie at Archie's V8s. And since it was Archie who pioneered the methods to perform this and other modifications to the Fiero, you can see why this might be a closely guarded secret. Archie has helped a few people perform this on their own, but it was only with a promise of secrecy because to make that kind of information public could endanger Archie's business, as he does this for a living.

I haven't the faintest clue where to tell you to look for information on how to do this. My best advice would be to give Archie a call and have him schedule a chop top for your Fiero. This way, you're getting the benefit of years of experience and you can rest easy knowing your car will still be structurally sound. I like to think I'm a fairly handy guy as I'm currently in the process of installing a japanese engine, transmission and axles into my Fiero. But I'm nowhere near confident enough in my skills to perform an alteration of that magnitude on the spaceframe.

Just my $.02 but I wish you luck in your search.

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My Fiero ate an import. No, seriously.

quote Originally posted by Brocephus: I haven't the faintest clue where to tell you to look for information on how to do this. My best advice would be to give Archie a call and have him schedule a chop top for your Fiero. This way, you're getting the benefit of years of experience and you can rest easy knowing your car will still be structurally sound. I like to think I'm a fairly handy guy as I'm currently in the process of installing a japanese engine, transmission and axles into my Fiero. But I'm nowhere near confident enough in my skills to perform an alteration of that magnitude on the spaceframe. Just my $.02 but I wish you luck in your search.

Well thanks but to schedule the appt. im going to need more than $.02 the get a chop from archie lol.

quote Originally posted by Brocephus: I could be wrong, but it is my understanding that many of the folks who have completed a chop top on their Fieros did so with the help of plans bought from Archie at Archie's V8s.

People have completed their own chops...?!?
hehe...
-Paul

EDIT (to finish my post...)
The person you need to talk to that will tell you all about it exoticse (is that how he spells it?). He's done his own, and he is a great person to glean info from.
His chop/build thread is here.
Happy hunting!
-Paul

2nd Edit to add another home-brew chop.

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Journal of a concept: http://southeastfieros.com >>> Build Thread >>> Parts thread (for project funding)

[This message has been edited by fieroboom (edited 02-27-2009).]

closely guarded secret = WTF (!?) i think others have done this to suit their tastes as well as their budgets - not everyone has done the same (3 inch ?) amount that Archie does. Hopefully hel'l jump in with some facts.

PS. don't forget you'll also need to modify the interior trim pieces ....

[This message has been edited by PaulJK (edited 02-27-2009).]

If you're going to do this yourself you better have some stones and skills. Cause I had a friend who's great at body work do the beginning stages of mine while my car's apart. I chose to better my skills by finishing the rough in of the fiberglass. Until the car's near finished he'll finish it out, but we're not to that stage yet. Greasy hands and body work don't mix. When all the cutting is done you'll FREAK OUT!!! At this time go get a cup of coffee or tea and take a break, step back get a long look from a distance and you'll see how to continue. It's when you don't step back you freak out and pick someone to finish it for you, of course if you don't do it their way they may make it a lot worse before making it better, this will cost you MAD MONEY!

But as far as pictures here's a ton of them. IF you can find the video of Archies demo he says he cuts at the bottom of the B pillar. This guy in this link takes the top apart then reassembles it after cutting the two outer skins. There's 5 pieces in there that need to go back in the same order they came out. Or as a last shot you can always truck your car to Houston where JScott1 is waiting on you with SawsAll in hand. He's the Roadster king.... Look around for a Big guy with SawsAll in hand you'll get the idea of what's next...

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...070315-2-066331.html


Don't mind the door trim missing. Finished the car at 5am that morning. Waiting on GM to get clips in.


Oh and he can do your Ranger too. They just need different mirrors.

[This message has been edited by DIY_Stu (edited 02-27-2009).]

quote Originally posted by Brocephus: I could be wrong, but it is my understanding that many of the folks who have completed a chop top on their Fieros did so with the help of plans bought from Archie at Archie's V8s. And since it was Archie who pioneered the methods to perform this and other modifications to the Fiero, you can see why this might be a closely guarded secret. Archie has helped a few people perform this on their own, but it was only with a promise of secrecy because to make that kind of information public could endanger Archie's business, as he does this for a living.

Okay. Who let the cat out of the bag?

Well I have nothing but time and patience so I would like to save a few thousand dollars and do it at home. Worst case senario I end up with a roadster. Just wanted to see the pillars and how they are bonded back together. I know about the interior and the re-enforcments but it's just an idea I might cut it up or not

quote Originally posted by shawnk: Worst case senario I end up with a roadster.

nope - worst case, you end up with a parts car

As with most things in life, there are a multitude of ways to accomplish the same goal with each having their advantages/disadvantages.

When it comes to Fiero Chop Tops...
Archie has a detailed process with each chop being performed in the same matter for the last several years. Archie keeps the fine details of this process under lock and key (and I would too), and until recently only did chops in house. He has recently started to work with customers (whodeanie and a couple others) wanting to do their own chop by providing the instructions/windows with the customer doing the work.

There have been several DIY Chop Tops with each one being different (I do not consider that a bad thing). However, the success rate of DIYer doing a chop is low with the many not being returned to running/driving condition. The DIYer bunch might be more willing to share how they did theirs... but finding a conistant approach could be near impossible. Here is the known list of the DIYers...

quote Originally posted by jscott1: <<<<HOMEBREWED>>>>> In No Particular Order 101) Purple Pavement Eater (PPE) Fastback - Rich Warber 1997 102) Silver Fastback - Sharkman 103) Red 84 5 inch chop - RJones 104) 85? Notchback - F355Spider 105) 88 T-top - Jscott1 106) Orville 1 107) Orville 2 108) ShueGlue737 - targa 109) Midshipman Easy 110) Slickrick 2000? 111) Seth - Yellow 88 quad 4 5-Speed 112) Jordangel - Chopped t-top? 113) joshua riedl - Red Noitchback 114) ShawnKFL - Red Fastback 115) OPM2000 - Red Formula 116) Driven Visions - Notchback 117) 85 SE 4 Cyl 5 Sp Bphotrod from MI 118) Black V8 Notchie from Fierorama 119) 86 Chop top Notchback from Houlton, ME 120) Orville #3 121) JMBishop - Gold fastback -Texas 122) Flyingbob - Fastback from Thunder Bay, ON Canada 123) F355 - Silver Fastback - Texas

There was a lot of controversy around F355spider and his chop w/ glass windows... but he detailed quite a bit on how he built his (and I believe he has done a couple more). It is still a good thread for info on how involved a chop will be, the issues that come up and his solutions to those issues.
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...070315-2-066331.html

[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 02-28-2009).]

chopping a fiero is not for the faint of heart. i HIGHLY reccomend you get ahold of parts beater/junker to practice/learn your cuts/welds so you don't cut up your pride and joy turning it into garbage. preferably you need a nice flat smooth floor and lots of wood blocks to hold and support the chassis straight while you're cutting. the hardest part is keeping everything square. make sure your welds are good. if you're not the best welder find someone who is great at it and buy him some beer to help you out. you don't want your car folding up on you driving down the road. the bodywork is mostly just basic fiberglassing the pieces back together. the side glass is the tricky part. i haven't figured mine out yet but will probably go with some lexan units. i was thinking of getting ahold of a set of the lexan windows that jegs/summit sell for camaros and cutting them down and recurving them to fit properly. they are coated with an anti scratch coating which is the problem with the lexan. then you'll have the interior parts to modify to fit, mostly just the a and b pillar plastic. get a practice car!!! it will save you and your ride from destruction. here are pics of my car under way. sorry i have no pics of welds or cuts, and my practice car is long gone. TAKE YOUR TIME IF YOU ATTEMPT THIS!! it will be very rewarding if you accomplish this on your own.





good luck, chris

quote Originally posted by DIY_Stu: Or as a last shot you can always truck your car to Houston where JScott1 is waiting on you with SawsAll in hand. He's the Roadster king.... Look around for a Big guy with SawsAll in hand you'll get the idea of what's next...

[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 02-28-2009).]

Thanks JScott that's the photos I was talking about!!