Okay so i will be chopping my top sooner or later and im curious as to how its done.
From the way it "looks" all you do is take off your rear clip and all other necessary clips and then right above the sail windows you cut out how ever many inches your chopping your car. Then after you cut out the desired amount of inches then you just press the top of the car down until the cut areas meet then just weld it together then chop the rear clip down till it fits right and then there ya go, you have a chop top.
So yea, my question is- " all you have to do is chop the area above the sail windows and then press the car down and weld?
And i know that you will have to have a new rear window that is modified to fit and new door windows that are modified as well. But is a new windshield necessary considering that nothing up there is chopped?
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01:57 PM
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Mike Gonzalez Member
Posts: 5093 From: Colorado Springs, CO. USA Registered: Jul 2001
You cant "modify" door windows because they are tempered. You will need to get your side windows before you chop so you can fit the windshield angle and height to windows. No need to mod the windshield if you just lay it back.
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02:13 PM
jetman Member
Posts: 7799 From: Sterling Heights Mich Registered: Dec 2002
Please forgive me if this is a dumb idea but have you talked to Archie at V-8 Archies yet? I've met Archie a couple of times, it would surprise me if he wasn't willing to offer some advice on your chop top since he's done many in the past. He may be willing to sell you chopped sail panels, windows or other custom parts to make your conversion go well or at least point you in the right direction.
Just a thought on my part.
------------------ jetman Silver 86 SE 2M6 4-speed, with "check wallet light" Now fortified with 8 essential slices of bacon goodness
I think you need to brace or at least support the center of the car before cutting so it does not sag. Laying the roof down will move the rear section backwards, no idea how you allow for that or even of you need to. There have been a couple of diy chops on here, no idea how successful they were, try searching for them.
Seems like a good way to make a good car into a pile of scrap if you are not careful. It'd certainly make Archie's prices look cheap at that point.
Originally posted by Fiero Reagan: So yea, my question is- " all you have to do is chop the area above the sail windows and then press the car down and weld?
I think you will break the front window doing this. Pretty sure you have to make some cuts at the bottom (and maybe top?) of the A-pillars.
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03:56 PM
fieroguru Member
Posts: 12478 From: Champaign, IL Registered: Aug 2003
So yea, my question is- " all you have to do is chop the area above the sail windows and then press the car down and weld?
I think you are over simplifying the effort and precision needed to properly chop a Fiero. There are several DIY chops that have been done and a few have documented their work in build threads.
Archie sells a chop top "kit" with the detailed instructions on how to perform the chop and includes the side windows (and possibly more stuff). I do not know how much it costs, but it is probably significantly less than a turnkey chop...
When you buy a set of glass chop top windows from Archie, he sends you a CD with instruction and a couple hundred detailed pictures. The instructions are easy to follow and I now plan to do my own chop top…OK truth be told I will be chopping the parts car first incase I mess up, before cutting up my 88 GT.
From what i have seen you dont cut at the top of the roof. (it could afftec the structural integraty of the car) what i have read is you cut down around where the frame rails meet the cab and lower it down in on itself. I'v never done a chop top and dont plan on one anytime soon but from pic's i'v seen thats what it looks like you do.
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12:53 AM
SMTHGT Member
Posts: 1075 From: Seagoville , Tx. Registered: Mar 2010
There are many cuts that have to be made to pull a choptop off, pie cuts at the base of the A pillar, pie cuts on the inside or interior side of the B pillar, the top of the A pillars need to be cut and the radius at the top front of the side glass reformed, the top of the B pillars need to cut the appropriate amount for however much you are chopping it. Be aware if you're looking for a 3 inch chop you're actual cutoff at the top of the B pillar is less than 3 inches as the pillars have to lean in more to meet the roof section. If you have or plan to keep your factory sunroof you have to trim the rear hoop to allow the sunroof area slide towards the rear of the car. The most important thing is to properly support and keep everything square when the car is all cut up. Once all your cuts are made and the structure is realigined back together you have to gusset and weld all the pieces back together. You need to make excellent welds to maintain your structural integrity. after that it's easy lol!
[This message has been edited by av8fiero (edited 06-10-2010).]
