It all started when I sold my silver Chop-top. I did not realize she was so addicted to my car. We would go out and she would wear her Fiero shirts. She even put up pictures of the car around the house.
Then I gave in and let Gianina know about the 88 T-Top Stephen had for sale. She said buy it.
So Christmas day Gianina got her Christmas present. She was the proud owner of an 88 T-Top Fiero.

Loading up the car at Stephen's House. Many thanks for letting us pick it up Christmas.

On the way home had to stop at Willy's and make sure the car was hanging in there.
The Smile on her face was worth it.

quote My Wife’s 88 T-Top Chop-Top LS4 Build

How? I must see... subscribing.

hehe, sounds like a wonderful present.

Hope to see more of this build.

Ah hah !

This must be the texas t-top choptop that a member reported stopping by to see ?

Wow spider can't wait to see this one.

Nice man, If you are going to do the chop yourself, PLEASE post all the pics you can of the process as I have been seriously thinking about taking a sawzall to my car at some point. The chops just look amazing and while I know it is tons of work I think I am up to it. Good luck on your build and congrats to your wife. My wife and I got FieroThomas Fiero GT black with red lettering matching shirts that we wear too and they are like a little treasure when we go for a ride together in the car. Peace

Pete

quote Originally posted by Pete Matos: Nice man, If you are going to do the chop yourself... Pete

Of course he is... I still wish I could've bought his silver turbo chop.

F355- are you going to be able to use your glass side windows with this chop? Wouldn't the T-top frame throw off all the proportions of your standard cuts?

[This message has been edited by skuzzbomer (edited 06-15-2011).]

Glad to see you back in the game.

The only tricky part of the t-top chop top is that you need one extra piece of custom glass....either custom windshield or custom t-top glass. Given the rarity of the Fiero t-top it's probably easier to go with the custom windshield. Not difficult but so far no one has wanted to complete the job.

If anyone can do it, I know you can.

I have to say if anyone can do it and do it RIGHT then Mike is the guy....Not only does it right but makes it look so simple in the process.......Will look forward to seeing the car once it is finished...

quote Originally posted by exoticse: Ah hah ! This must be the texas t-top choptop that a member reported stopping by to see ? Wow spider can't wait to see this one.

Yea, Kevin spilled the beans. For the most part the car is already chopped. I will catch up on the build as soon as I can. She has a lot for me to do to the car so it will be ongoing for a while. Your car is looking great.

quote Originally posted by Pete Matos: My wife and I got FieroThomas Fiero GT black with red lettering matching shirts that we wear too and they are like a little treasure when we go for a ride together in the car. Peace Pete

You got it nothing like matching T-shirt pride.

quote Originally posted by skuzzbomer: F355- are you going to be able to use your glass side windows with this chop? Wouldn't the T-top frame throw off all the proportions of your standard cuts?

Yep, I am using my side windows. I could go back with OEM windshield but I wanted to use the 96 Sebring windshield. I will be moving the wipers forward and making a new front tray to hold the bottom of the windshield. This will give her a bubbled windshield that will extend out toward the front giving a more modern look. Will post a few more pictures tonight.

Good to see you around, Texas 5.

That's gonna be so sweet!

quote Originally posted by F355spider: Yep, I am using my side windows. I could go back with OEM windshield but I wanted to use the 96 Sebring windshield. I will be moving the wipers forward and making a new front tray to hold the bottom of the windshield. This will give her a bubbled windshield that will extend out toward the front giving a more modern look. Will post a few more pictures tonight.

Sounds perfect....that's exactly how I would have expected it to work.

I wish I would have known you when I had my chop t-top...no one wanted to touch it to make glass for it and I ended up selling it. You might see it again some day as last time I knew it was at Loyde's.

quote Originally posted by jscott1: Sounds perfect....that's exactly how I would have expected it to work. I wish I would have known you when I had my chop t-top...no one wanted to touch it to make glass for it and I ended up selling it. You might see it again some day as last time I knew it was at Loyde's.

It would have done no good....That car was doomed from the first cut to the last "GORILLA" weld that was put on it....I saw the car when it first made it up this way and the way it looked at that point it was a parts car....I give Will a thumbs up for trying but not pretty.......

quote Originally posted by MstangsBware: It would have done no good....That car was doomed from the first cut to the last "GORILLA" weld that was put on it....I saw the car when it first made it up this way and the way it looked at that point it was a parts car....I give Will a thumbs up for trying but not pretty.......

Yeah it was a good effort...butif I ever intend to build a chop t-top I'll ask Mike to do it.

I was not expecting to do a build thread so there are not a lot of the chop.

Gianina took one of me taking out the interior.


A couple after the chop fitting the body back


Sorry but that is all I have for tonight

I can't wait to see more progress. How could you do this and NOT have a build thread?!?!? lol

Good luck with your build, I'm looking forward to seeing you pull this off as no one has pulled a Choptop t-top off yet as far as I know.

wow,
subscribed.

Jim

quote Originally posted by av8fiero: Good luck with your build, I'm looking forward to seeing you pull this off as no one has pulled a Choptop t-top off yet as far as I know.

Thanks,
I have a few pictures of the T-Tops in and the driver side window test fit. All the welding is done on the top. I have the body cut down in the back. I did not cut any on the T-Top frame it is as it was just a few inches lower.
The Glass shop I got the Sebring windshield from said they will cut my back window for me. I hope to get them a wood template made this weekend. I have to be at work both Saturday and Sunday this weekend so I will not be able to do much. The pictures I post tonight will get the build up to date as it is.

quote Originally posted by Marine1981: I can't wait to see more progress. How could you do this and NOT have a build thread?!?!? lol

There r reasons....you just havent been around long enough....

quote Originally posted by F355spider: Your Chop helped feed Gianina with her addiction, she is still hinting around about your lambo doors. You should see the list she has for me to do.

Thanks...

This is looking good. The white coupe is exactly how my chop t-top started life. Unfortunately it never got past the needing a windshield phase. The Sebring windshield and extended cowl should look really nice. I have a spare t-top car begging for this treatment.... Hmmm

I feel like I know this car - I believe it has my radiator in it! Looking good so far. I really like the Chop Top T Top! All you need now is a power rear window - nearly a roadster!

Pat

quote Originally posted by katatak: I feel like I know this car - I believe it has my radiator in it! Looking good so far. I really like the Chop Top T Top! All you need now is a power rear window - nearly a roadster! Pat

It did have right before I sold it. About a week before selling it a pin hole started leaking so had to swap in another one..Buy not complaning as the El Paso crew was a life saver.....have to throw in another thank you for all the help that night....

Wait...... you can chop a T-TOP????? I thought that it was impossible to chop a T-TOP.

MORE PICS, MORE PICS.

Rob

------------------


88 Coupe, CJB T-TOP, LS376 and a GT clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAH9yjw6XR0

quote Originally posted by qwikgta: Wait...... you can chop a T-TOP????? I thought that it was impossible to chop a T-TOP.

Impossible?

Let’s see!

Time + Money + Skills = T/Chop Top

Yep it’s possible

This is were we are to date. I put the tops in to show the fit. No seals, I want to order the new ones for a Camaro. One picture shows my window test fit.




Every thing lined up good took me two days to weld it up. I took more measurements than needed but Gianina told me it better be right.

quote Originally posted by katatak: I feel like I know this car - I believe it has my radiator in it! Looking good so far. I really like the Chop Top T Top! All you need now is a power rear window - nearly a roadster! Pat

Yes! Do a power rear window. Has anyone done this? You have the advantage of having less window to roll down.

I love that it is a NOTCHBACK! Sweet build! I'm a fan of those five-spokes as well.

quote Originally posted by dratts: Yes! Do a power rear window. Has anyone done this? You have the advantage of having less window to roll down.

This sounds better than it really is... on a mid-engine car there would be tons of heat and noise coming in on you making the rear window not so pleasant.

quote Originally posted by dratts: Yes! Do a power rear window. Has anyone done this? You have the advantage of having less window to roll down.

ECM wiring is still in the way and the angle of the firewall is wrong

quote Originally posted by Gokart Mozart: ECM wiring is still in the way and the angle of the firewall is wrong

Yep a lot of heat at the window.
This has to be the cleanest and WOW engine bay preps I have seen.

I see what you say about the angle. As far as the wiring is concerned, Joe put my wiring in the trunk so that I have a clean firewall in my ls4 Murci roadster. I always hear about heat problems with fiero roadsters, but I have two of them and engine heat has not been a problem. If anyone could do it you could Mike, but it obviously wouldn't be easy and anyway you already have a unique car, being that it's a chop top t-top. Maybe a removable window for the roadster look.

[This message has been edited by dratts (edited 06-18-2011).]

A Fiero roadster is probably a different story with heat, with the whole top gone. 13 years ago (yikes!) I drove a notchback around for a couple days after removing the rear window (forget why) and thought it would be a good idea. Even with the sunroof out, the engine heat was cooking my head and I put the window back in. I think the heat just gets sucked back into the car through the open window because of the roof air flow..

Good job on the chop! I like it..

[This message has been edited by Riceburner98 (edited 06-18-2011).]

quote Originally posted by Riceburner98: A Fiero roadster is probably a different story with heat, with the whole top gone. 13 years ago (yikes!) I drove a notchback around for a couple days after removing the rear window (forget why) and thought it would be a good idea. Even with the sunroof out, the engine heat was cooking my head and I put the window back in. I think the heat just gets sucked back into the car through the open window because of the roof air flow.. Good job on the chop! I like it..

Well so much for that idea! It would have been a lot of work anyway.

OK, ,so what am I missing. If you lay the window back, the T-TOP panel has to go back into the rear clip if it stays the same size. If you don't change the size of the top, then did you cut the top like the old school chops and lower the whole thing? I guess im having an issue with how its done, because I have looked at my top, and I can't see how you would do this and have the top line up with the windows.

Rob