The only glass chop top windows I am aware of were from the F355spider group buy. He did his own chop and had a group of windows made. Here are a couple of theads with info, but these windows are not a very good fit for an Archie chop and are better suited for home built chops where the chop can be tailored to fit the windows. I still have my set just waiting for when I chop my car.
Troy, If I recall right part of the side impact beams had to be removed, I heard they are thicker then Archie's lexan windows and of course weight more which is not good for your lambo doors.
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07:29 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
If the glass is tinted, it maybe one of f355 production windows? Either way someone is thinking outside the box.
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"Anyone can make a copy of something, it may look good, but never is the real car. Make something from your imagination, something unique, something nobody has, anything is possible and, ideas can become a reality; Archie and the Crew can make your Dreams into a reality."
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07:39 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
I need a set before the 25th, It would be nice to have a starting point, but if need be I'll try to get a set made from scratch. Having a nice car in NY with windows that flex is just asking for problems. Hey curly call me we have a new mission. Any info on custom glass company would be greatly appreciated
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09:25 PM
DIY_Stu Member
Posts: 2337 From: Republic of TX Registered: Jun 2007
Troy, If I recall right part of the side impact beams had to be removed, I heard they are thicker then Archie's lexan windows and of course weight more which is not good for your lambo doors.
The first of his chops was done in the same manor as Archie's. Make cuts then bring roof down and back. Move in B pillars to match up with roof. This brought the tops of the windows way in. This kicks the bottoms out. Yes the windows have less bend in them, but if you're confident in chopping you car and HAVE THE SKILLS, then the windows don't matter. My chop I widened the roof by 1.5 inches. This allows the windows to sit in a closer to natural position. This keeps the beam from interfering with the bottom edge of the glass. Have you seen an F-Body Door? There's a 1" piece of tubing for a crash bar mounted to sheet metal plates and to a thin Fiberglass door. The Fiero Beam is OVERKILL to say the least.
The windows are thicker???
Original Glass is 0.190" thick Chop Top Glass is 0.160" thick
Originally posted by DIY_Stu: Have you seen an F-Body Door? There's a 1" piece of tubing for a crash bar mounted to sheet metal plates and to a thin Fiberglass door. The Fiero Beam is OVERKILL to say the least.
The windows are thicker???
Original Glass is 0.190" thick Chop Top Glass is 0.160" thick
Don't speculate please.
Thanks for the clarifying the window part. I misunderstud previous recieved info. I was told the Fiero door is heavier then the Hummer H2 door... I hope I was not mislead too . Part of the reason I did not go with Lambo doors.
I need a set before the 25th, It would be nice to have a starting point, but if need be I'll try to get a set made from scratch. Having a nice car in NY with windows that flex is just asking for problems. Hey curly call me we have a new mission. Any info on custom glass company would be greatly appreciated
If you can have them made as drop in replacements for Archie's windows, at a reasonable price, then count me in for a set. I got a quote and it was more than I could handle. ($2,000+ set up fee). I believe that F355 paid a similar set up fee, but he amortized it over the 15 or 20 sets that he had made. A group buy is probably the only way this will work unless you want to front the setup cost.
If you can have them made as drop in replacements for Archie's windows, at a reasonable price, then count me in for a set. I got a quote and it was more than I could handle. ($2,000+ set up fee). I believe that F355 paid a similar set up fee, but he amortized it over the 15 or 20 sets that he had made. A group buy is probably the only way this will work unless you want to front the setup cost.
What ever I do will have to be made for an Archie chop, The f355 Glass looks great but the Nixon chop roof line is 1.5" wider which changes the window pitch. I've been told that it can be made to work, but If I'm going to have custom glass made I want it to be perfect or close to a perfect fit. I'm sure that with 25 Archie chops running a round we can get something started .
I remember F355Spider's bit trying to get glass choptop windows. IIRC he was trying to get drop-in Archie-chop ready glass windows.
He almost had it, but the windows didn't curve as much as the Archie lexan ones (even though, again IIRC, the Archie-style lexan was what he sent to the custom company as an example to make), and it was going to be ANOTHER setup fee to fix it.
He figured out a way to "make it work" but they weren't perfect. You might try getting in contact with him to see what he had to do to get as far as he did, and see if you could manage to get that last step.
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11:39 AM
gofast250 Member
Posts: 292 From: santa maria,calif. usa Registered: Feb 2005
I have a set of the 3" chop top Tinted Glass side windows ,I decieded after chopping a donner car ,im not going to go forward with chopping my nice GT . So i will sell my windows ,from the group buy from F355 . I want 500.00 + shipping for them ,Thats what i payed.
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11:45 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
lexan is more secure in the sense that if a car jacker rolled up on you and tried to smash the window with a brick it would bounce up and hit them in the head.
On the otherhand it's less secure in the sense that they could just grab and edge and just fold it back and reach in the car. The glass folds back too but not as much.
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03:57 PM
Jun 5th, 2008
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Just noticed I missed a lot more of this thread. Some things need to be cleared up a little.
I'll correct some of the mis information. Nixon never had a set of Archee windows. He cut, shaped and sent his Own.
NIXON chopped his first car doing it similar to Archee's by Cutting, Dropping, Leaning in the B pillars and welding it up. This made the top of the windows in the Exact same spot as Archee's chops. When he started the next one he was tired of the b pillar being so close to his head the second car's roof was widened by 1.5" as an experiment and the window Tracks WERE ONCE AGAIN ADJUSTED to align the windows. The "Modifications" to the window tracks are nothing that can't be undone. The tracks are extremely adjustable from the factory.
JScott don't you have some glass ones already? WMartin also has some. Both have Archee Chops and Nixon says The first Archee Chop top to show up with the Nixon Glass windows he will Install them in your car for FREE!!!
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08:42 PM
Jun 6th, 2008
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
JScott don't you have some glass ones already? WMartin also has some. Both have Archee Chops and Nixon says The first Archee Chop top to show up with the Nixon Glass windows he will Install them in your car for FREE!!!
I do have Mike's glass, and as tempting an offer as that is...my chop top has spent the better part of 4 years in and out of shops. I'm not too anxious to have it molested right now with any more cutting. I'm going to wait patiently for Archie's drop in replacement glass.
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05:12 AM
DIY_Stu Member
Posts: 2337 From: Republic of TX Registered: Jun 2007
My understanding is that the impact beam has to be notched. And even if it didn't I don't want to remove my outer door panels. That's going in the opposite direction from where I want to be right now.
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07:52 PM
Jun 7th, 2008
DIY_Stu Member
Posts: 2337 From: Republic of TX Registered: Jun 2007
The outer panels do need to come off to make the process a lot quicker. But since your windows are no longer riveted in then it could be done without that being done. Just a little more difficult.
DIY_Stu thanks for verifying that he is one in the same. That being said please advertise his sh@t someplace else. I'm sure he would agree sence he thinks so lowly of this forum and Archie choptops. :
a quote from FF355spider on the kitcar forum on a thread about Curlys #20, the widebody kit, and my car :
quote
Originally posted by FF355spider: I knew it more of Archie's nut swingers trying to promote his crap. Personally I love the Chop top Fiero but these cars are out of proportion they do not fit. The hood on that one car is just plain ugly. Please guys keep the trash on PFF were it belongs and do not pollute the good forums.
DIY_Stu I know you were just trying to help but start another thread for his Sh@t.
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04:37 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Originally posted by FF355spider: I knew it more of Archie's nut swingers trying to promote his crap. Personally I love the Chop top Fiero but these cars are out of proportion they do not fit. The hood on that one car is just plain ugly. Please guys keep the trash on PFF were it belongs and do not pollute the good forums.
I remember this thread were my car was bashed by a few of the kit kar members and those internet insurgents on the Pennock's Sucks forum.
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11:06 PM
SAFASTRO Member
Posts: 604 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Nov 2006
DIY_Stu thanks for verifying that he is one in the same. That being said please advertise his sh@t someplace else. I'm sure he would agree sence he thinks so lowly of this forum and Archie choptops. :
a quote from FF355spider on the kitcar forum on a thread about Curlys #20, the widebody kit, and my car :
DIY_Stu I know you were just trying to help but start another thread for his Sh@t.
You have got to be kidding me! I don't believe I started this thread by asking Who's choptop this was with glass windows. I just merely came in answering the questions that were asked. I guess we'll all be waiting on the Archee GLASS windows. Just quit asking the glass shop if you can save money by using Nixon's tooling. He's been called four times by the glass shop about people asking that question.
[This message has been edited by DIY_Stu (edited 06-08-2008).]