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Is there a way to chop the top affordably?


icesky

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Hey,

I was wondering if there was a way around the glass situation on the 240 after you chopped it. After calling a few places for lexan with diamond coating, it came out to around 1000 after shipping, any way I can save some dough, maybe someone can point me to a place I can buy lexan sheet with uv protection, scratch residents for a good price?e glass situation on the 240 after youi chopped it. After calling a few places for lexan with diamond coating, it came out to around 1000 after shipping, any way I can save some dough, maybe someone can point me to a place I can buy lexan sheet with uv protection, scratch resistents for a good price? Thanks Again

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There is a product called "Speed Glass" which is a Lexan type of stuff. It is pretty affordable (about $250 would get you a big enough piece) and claims to be very scratch resistant.

 

I'll probably end up going this route with my chopped top Z. I looked into having a custom glass windshield made, but that is really pricey!

 

Edit: Here is their website. They also sell their product through Summit Racing. http://www.percyshp.com/speedglass_pages/speedglass_home.html

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After chopping mine it came out even (within 1/16'' from side to side). With the method I used to chop the top, the only way it could really come out uneven is if you don't section the B-pillars/quarter panels evenly. If you cut these sections identically, the only way to line up the car is to pull back the roof evenly on both sides.

 

I just used a tape measure and measured from the rearmost point on the car to the sectioned piece on the B-pillar. I then used masking tape to mark where to make the cuts. To actually make the cuts, I used an electric reciprocating saw.

 

Then I cut the pie-shaped piece down the top of the quarter from the rear of the car to the window. The metal here is much thinner and the reciprocating saw probably would have chewed it up a bit, so I used a hand held jig saw.

 

As you pull back the roof to meet up to the quarter, the roof should line up smoothly, but there will be some misalignment in the window channel and along the pie-shaped cut. You will have to weld in some patch panels at these areas.

 

There is a full writeup on my website at http://www.geocities.com/boodlefoof/Project_Racer-Zroof2.html

 

There are also some more pics and info on this site at http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=101672&highlight=chopped

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There is a product called "Speed Glass" which is a Lexan type of stuff. It is pretty affordable (about $250 would get you a big enough piece) and claims to be very scratch resistant.

 

I'll probably end up going this route with my chopped top Z. I looked into having a custom glass windshield made' date=' but that is really pricey!

 

Edit: Here is their website. They also sell their product through Summit Racing. http://www.percyshp.com/speedglass_pages/speedglass_home.html

 

Judging by the charts on that website, a person could shave 80+ pounds by replacing both the fron and rear glass.

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Judging by the charts on that website, a person could shave 80+ pounds by replacing both the fron and rear glass.

 

And that would be very wrong. The OEM rear hatch glass weighs 15 lbs and the OEM front windshield with the rubber gasket in place weighs 30 lbs.

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Icesky:

 

Regarding the windshield, you might want to talk with Mike at PierreZ in Hawthorne, CA. He is the owner of the pristine Metallic British Racing Green Convertable that is always featured at the MSA Show. His windshield was shortened using a high pressure water jet cutter. It came out very clean, but, again was a bit pricy. He could also give you more insight into some of the other questions you may have regarding a convertable conversion.

 

VAN

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There is a full writeup on my website at http://www.geocities.com/boodlefoof/Project_Racer-Zroof2.html

 

There are also some more pics and info on this site at http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=101672&highlight=chopped

 

 

I hadnt looked through your page since the chop top pics, that flare kit looks rad, good work!

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