Should I chop the top?

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rsrai

rsrai

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Dec 7, 2005
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I have been under the pretense that I would fix the top or have it fixed, but once i started chipping away at the paint I realized there is not much roof sill left. It would be very expensive to get fixed. I already have to do the floorboards.
The pro's:
cheaper fix than replacing metal
allow a custom roll bar, easier to weld up
can get a soft top made up that wont rust

the cons:
wont have a solid roof- weather, although in cali not much of an issue, plus not a DD
will open up to more money spending (bobbing the rear, roll bar, soft top, etc)

Here is a link to the pics of my roof, it is pretty f-ed up. Give me your opinion on whether you would chop it, even though i am pretty much convinced I am going to cut it, I think it will make me drive it, otherwise it is just sitting here waiting for me to either fix the rust or take it to the bodyshop.

http://web.mac.com/therais/iWeb/Site/FJ 55 .html
 
Just so you know, you can link to pics on your page:

IMGP2389.jpg


That roof looks pretty bad. I am not in favor of cutting up any more Piggies.

Tough call...
 
rsrai said:
I have been under the pretense that I would fix the top or have it fixed, but once i started chipping away at the paint I realized there is not much roof sill left. It would be very expensive to get fixed. I already have to do the floorboards.
The pro's:
cheaper fix than replacing metal
allow a custom roll bar, easier to weld up
can get a soft top made up that wont rust

the cons:
wont have a solid roof- weather, although in cali not much of an issue, plus not a DD
will open up to more money spending (bobbing the rear, roll bar, soft top, etc)

Here is a link to the pics of my roof, it is pretty f-ed up. Give me your opinion on whether you would chop it, even though i am pretty much convinced I am going to cut it, I think it will make me drive it, otherwise it is just sitting here waiting for me to either fix the rust or take it to the bodyshop.

http://web.mac.com/therais/iWeb/Site/FJ 55 .html
Click to expand...

Transplant a roof like Cruiser guy ( i think thats who did one)???????
 
:eek:
Since I'm a hardcore purist, I'd never consider cutting the roof off no matter how bad it's oxidized. I always say " If it ain't stock, I don't want it on my rig!" Spend the $$ to fix it just like it rolled off the showroom floor.
:lol::lol::lol::lol::rolleyes:

Okay, now for a reality check --> There a few options of roof mods on the 1st page of my buildup thread. FJBen photochopped a blue & white :pig: Check 'em out & see which one's appealing. If you got the time, $$$ & tools, I say go for it :bounce2:
 
invest in a mig welder and a learning CD; try to keep it stock...................agree totally with mile2
.........too many pigs being cut up and view cutting up personally only as a step towards their inevitable demise; my 2 cents,

Lou
 
looking at it closely; a roof transplant "a la" cruiser_guy or arthog........or else invest in a cd on metal shaping; old fashioned hammer and dolly stuff!, 3pups has a roof he might be willing to sell to a fellow member..........there is a pig carcass about 60 miles from me but th eowner wants way to much money for it:frown:

Lou
 
Thanks for the input guys, I have checked the threads with the photoshops, plus i have some of my own ideas. I also have a MIG welder, which i convinced myself to buy (didnt have to twist my own arm much to buy a new tool). The roof is one hurdle, the others are the pillars which also have rust holes.
I was hoping more people would say chop away. :)
 
Hey man it's your pig do what you want with it. It's your vehicle so do what makes you happy with it. If it's chopping the top off the do it. If its restoring it then do that. But you can't make everyone happy. So I say fxxx 'em all. I'm gonna do what I want to my rig.

;)
 
Ravi - looks like I'm swimming upstream here but you have a ton of rust. It is going to be nearly impossible to get all of that rust cut out so it won't come back. I see you spending a ton of time learning how to weld, shape metal, etc and still not having a 'showroom' Pig. If you want to wheel this, it won't be a DD, then I say chop and bob it. I would never chop and bob a pristine Pig but you have a ton of rust and you have to deal with it at some point. If you want to put a ton of time, and I mean a TON of time into it then chop and bob it unless you have a nice transplant roof waiting in the wings.

In the end - do whatever the heck you wanna do.

:cheers:
 
I have a roof on a 7/70 but it is in New Mexico and it has its problems (mainly it is siting in the yard on the old pig...and I am no where near taking the time to mess with it). Well maybe not mainly. It is clean of rust as far as I have looked and the upper pillars and middle pillar are good. But, I would guess there was a late night party star gaze and so, the roof is caved in the middle. that can be fixed easily enough but that's a lot of work in total for a roof.
 
chop it!

If you want a restoration project, find a better candidate. Chop the top and spend your efforts on the bottom half. Drop in a cage, strap on a home made bikini top and enjoy that California weather!
 
eventhough said:
Ravi - looks like I'm swimming upstream here but you have a ton of rust. It is going to be nearly impossible to get all of that rust cut out so it won't come back. I see you spending a ton of time learning how to weld, shape metal, etc and still not having a 'showroom' Pig. If you want to wheel this, it won't be a DD, then I say chop and bob it. I would never chop and bob a pristine Pig but you have a ton of rust and you have to deal with it at some point. If you want to put a ton of time, and I mean a TON of time into it then chop and bob it unless you have a nice transplant roof waiting in the wings.

In the end - do whatever the heck you wanna do.

:cheers:
Click to expand...

Thats the quandry, no matter how much time i put in it, it will still not be a showroom pig, all my work might make it harder for another to restore it if i choose to sell it down the road. I would rather focus on the bottom half and make sure i can sit in it without falling out.

I am pretty much convinced to chop it, like others have said they are not gold, and I am not sitting on a gold mine to pay for the restoration work it needs.

I guess its time to start a thread about chopping it. I remember seeing a thread where there were measurements about bobbing the pig. Anyone have that handy?
 
I bobbed mine 12". I also cut my rear frame & raised it up for more ground clearance. The hardest part of this mod is aligning the rear clip w/ the front while keeping the bed level too. Sounds easy but wait till you get to that point :) Pay close attention to the gas tank inlet also. That panel is somewhat flat & the rear clip is concave, so filler is a must to match the shape. I hope you can make it work cuz I got fed up with sheetmetal work & cut it all off. Good luck man! :hillbilly:
 
bobbing it is going to be down the road if i chop the top. For now I am contemplating a chopped top, fix the floorboards, and get a full cage built, keeping in mind a potential bob in the future.
 
I would chop it, tube it, put some big tires under it and wheel the pooh out of it!!!

Hey, but that's just me!!! Do what you want! :D
 
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