Choptop guys, questions for ya! WITH PIX NOW

[grand_wag_85]

Started chopping the top on the Cherokee and have some questions for ya'll that've done this already.

For those who've done 2 doors, what did ya do for the gap in the sheetmetal along the sides? Also, what about seat belts?

Going to run a bikini top so what do you guys do for side and rear windows? My doors are trashed so I will either make a set of doors or try to salvage what's left but the window frames are shot so at the very least I'll need to come up with some kind of windows and something to go behind the front seats to keep the rain out and the heat in.

Last but not least, does the windshield frame need any additional support from the rear with the roof gone? Was thinking about welding in some runners from the roll cage like TJ's and YJ's have.

Anything else I may be missing?

[Casey]

I learned two things.

1. Cut from both sides of the windshield (or any panel with more than one wall). Where we had cut with the sawzall cutting both pieces, the panels got dented and or the inside cut (where you're not looking) looks like a noodle. I'm going to weld a piece of heavy sheet metal on the top. I'll have a spreader on the cage to use as an attachment point for the w/s frame if needed.

2. Saving the hard top for replacement can be done, if # 1 is followed.

The gap between the inner and outer quarter panel, we used a piece of square HREW 1 1/4" tube, welded to the body panels. I am capping the odd shaped door post tube with some 1/8" flat stock and butting the 1 1/4" tube to it. Same with my tailgate. I trimmed it to the same body line as the roof. I need to cap it with some heavy sheet metal.

I have most of the the tubes bent up and some of the holes drilled through the floor. Most of my rocker skid/cage tie in points built.

It's ALOT of work to do it right. :eek: :)


I have the factory '79 Chief lap belts. And a couple I stole off rigs at ECI '06!

[grand_wag_85]

Let's just say my roof isn't saveable...

[Casey]

Then just be careful at the windshield. Cut it from both sides. You'll have to cut through all of it at the door posts but that's it.
I wish we had taken more time on the w/s frame. The inside is wavy and will require more work to look decent.

I'll get some pics posted for ya...maybe tomorrow night. ;)

[Desert Beast]

i just sawzall'd it all at once. but i wasnt going for looks.
as for the gap, i squezed the 2 panels together and welded them.

http://www.southbaycustoms.com/fullsizejeeps/roofchop.gif

:thumbsup: (just dont try to throw it away in your appartment complex trash bins. they dont like that.)

[Jeep_Guy]

What about mounting the seat belt to the rollbar like a yj?

[grand_wag_85]

What about mounting the seat belt to the rollbar like a yj?
Just thought of that...Great minds think alike:D

[grand_wag_85]

Desert Beast-How far did your tires stick out after you hacked the flares?

[Brad W.]

if you are doing a true cage, both the seats and seatbelts need to be moved to the cage. You want to stay in the cage if you wreck it hard, not have the cage crush you as it comes apart from the jeep.

[Desert Beast]

Desert Beast-How far did your tires stick out after you hacked the flares?

not much, about 1" or so.

http://www.southbaycustoms.com/fullsizejeeps/Fupd.JPG

[orangecherokee]

i just sawzall'd it all at once. but i wasnt going for looks.
as for the gap, i squezed the 2 panels together and welded them.

http://www.southbaycustoms.com/fullsizejeeps/roofchop.gif

:thumbsup: (just dont try to throw it away in your appartment complex trash bins. they dont like that.)

x2 I just squeezed them together and welded them. Saved time and money.

[grand_wag_85]

One last Q....How legal is it to have a choptop out on the road? I can understand the safety issues but with a roll cage, is it still illegal?

[customcj7]

Here's my chop top photoshop job! :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v214/nhodierne/bigtires.jpg

[Heimeken]

I welded a 1" strip of 1/8" thick steel in the gap of the rear panels.

I just recently made my chop-top street legal in Texas. I am sure the requirements differ for each state but here it is pretty easy, specially for 24+ year old rigs that do not require emission testing.

Brakes, e-brakes, horn, wipers, all-lights (including license-plate), seatbelts, good tires, front windshield and front bumper is about all that is required. Check your state.

[Desert Beast]

states differ, but in ca i was told by a chp officer that all you need to retain is the windshield. (obviously all other street legal items are required also, light, brake, that crap)

[grand_wag_85]

Chatted with various cops about this including NY and PA State Police as well as several Sherriff's deputies, run into too many of these guys...in a good way:rolleyes:

Basically they all said you need lights, mirrors, windshield and seat belts and you're good.

:alc::fsj: :sawzall: :omfg: :whistle:

[jepj2000]

Be sure to take plenty of before, during, and after photos of the choptop. Keep us posted and let us know how it turned out.

Rankin

[grand_wag_85]

Will do, dulled the sawzall blade out so I had to call it a night...Demolition rated my @$$

[BLiP]

Yeah lots of pics please I outta UPS you my video camera so we can get full footage of it all. I wanna know how your gonna mount the soft top I wanna cut the roof off of mine but it is my winter driver and I wanna be somewhat protected from the elements I was thinking I would cut mine from the door piller back that way I can retain my windows and what not and just remove my doors when I go offroading. But so far my best idea has been to talk to a convertable top place and see about having one made for it might be expensive or go get one off a blazer and make it work:confused:

[AlsChopShop]

be sure to get plenty of pics, i'm planning on keeping my top so it can be a convertable. :thumbsup:

i think the biggest problem will be connecting it back up to the windshield piece.

Al

[grand_wag_85]

Well, not as clean, or as :cool: , as Desert Beast's Cherokee but here's the pix:

Before:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/spf150/100_1016.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/spf150/100_1017.jpg

Looks kinda like the Bat mobile roof:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/spf150/100_1018.jpg

After:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/spf150/100_1021.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/spf150/100_1022.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/spf150/100_1019.jpg

BTW-That white gooey stuff is left over paintball residue, someboy decided to use my truck as an assault vehicle...

[AlsChopShop]

looks like the windshield frame is toast. you still plan on keeping it?

also can you snap a pic or 3 of the cut along the top of the windshield? trying to visualize how i'll match them up later to put the top back on mine.

Al

[Fiodh. Argus]

that's pretty cool, looks good.

[grand_wag_85]

Al-The windshield frame is tweaked towards the passenger side and the welds are partially cracked where it meets the body near the bottom of the dash. I'm going to attempt to straighten it out, reinforce the windshield frame and weld runners to the windshield frame from the roll cage.

As for the cut, if you look at your roof you'll see the grooves that run horizontal accross the roof, I cut it just in front of the one closest to the windshield frame. If you look inside of the truck right arround the same area you can see where the manufacturers welded the panel over the doors to the windshield frame, I cut mine right on those welds which also put me cutting thru MANY layers of metal. If you're planning on having a removable hard top the front will be the hardest part. Also, look into one of the hoist systems available for CJ/YJ/TJ hardtops

[Geeeep]

It would be cool to fab up a mount for a folding windshield from a M-715

Look at these links, it's been talked about before.
http://www.greatlakes4x4.com/showthread.php?t=19989
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117972

[Tad]

Here's a little close up of what you are cutting through.

http://members.cox.net/pmountsoa/Day28/02cpillarweld.JPG

It can be a real PITA.

[Desert Beast]

looks good. might want to beef up that cage a bit now.