Chopped Gen 1

[Flat Black]

Has anyone out there attempted to chop a Gen 1? If so what were you able to use for door glass? I have info on doing the front and back glass but am not sure I can find door glass. Any Ideas out there?

[KREWZER]

:troll:

lol, thats not gonna get old for a while. Just kidding... You could use Lexan? no?

[boohoops]

special order th door glass, i mean isnt that wat th shops do wen they chop tops?

[THE lucky13]

you could just cut down the old windows. Its flat glass, its fairly simple. Just take em to a glass shop after and have the cut edges polished afterwards

[Flat Black]

Lexan could work but may not pass inspection. Special order shops that Ive talked to want $25,000.00 for the setup and a minimum order of 300 pieces. So unless there are alot of Gen 1 owners that want to chop the top thats not happenen. Tempered glass is not able to be cut and there is a curve to the door glass. Ive talked to pepole that have cut laminated glass and smothe the edges, Thats how I can do the front. Have another guy able to make a rear glass out of laminate. The Water jet guys are not able to do the doors. So there I am. Can do the front glass Back glass. No door windows. Have thought alot about the lexan and even with the scratch resistent stuff still discolors and will eventually scratch.

[DaKoTa-BoY]

tempered glass can be cut, just gotta find the people who have the right equipment

[THE lucky13]

tempered glass can be cut, just gotta find the people who have the right equipment

yah what he said!

[98kadota]

lexan should be legal right?? jeeps have plastic windows if they have the doors on. dono bout ur local laws though

[Flat Black]

If you have someone that can cut tempered glass then please dont hold back on the information. Other wise I dont believe you have the proper information. Laminated can be cut by water jet, Ive seen it cut by scoring and then using lighter fluid to soften the laminate layer. Does not always work either way. So if you know someone that can cut tempered glass I would like to meet them.

[AllThingsEnd]

http://www.onedayglass.com/patterns.php

[Flat Black]

Here is the first thing I read about cutting tempered glass from the above link.

One Day Glass can accommodate your custom glass cutting needs quickly.

Cutting Tempered Glass
We are often asked if we can cut glass that has already been tempered. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. All fabrication is done prior to tempering. That means we cut your piece to your exact specifications, drill and edge, and make all necessary customizations. Then we heat treat it in our unique vertical tempering furnace* and ship it to you.

I will contact them and see what they say about making the windows. But if they only start with flat glass then they also will not be able to make them.

[KREWZER]

i think lexan would be a good idea, if it didnt scratch so easily. And as far as i know, i think ive cut tempered glass before. They were huge sheets though. I dont know if that makes a difference.

[wrkofrt]

Tempered glass cannot be cut never ever, it will shatter into thousands of pieces.
Lexan will break down under UV and will yellow, and be cloudy.
Best bet, if you are serious is to have custom glass made, or design you chop where the top profile of the glass stays the same.

[THE lucky13]

If you have someone that can cut tempered glass then please dont hold back on the information. Other wise I dont believe you have the proper information. Laminated can be cut by water jet, Ive seen it cut by scoring and then using lighter fluid to soften the laminate layer. Does not always work either way. So if you know someone that can cut tempered glass I would like to meet them.


doh...i think i was mistaking laminated glass for tempered glass. On custom dakotas there was a guy in a gen 3 that chopped it. Might wanna talk to him and ask what he did for windows?

[THE lucky13]

what about using a sandblaster?

[Flat Black]

Sand Blasting will have the same effect as cutting. As soon as the edge takes a hit the whole thing will turn into little bitty pieces. Well I will keep looking for an Idea.

[DaktoaRules]

What are you looking for ????

Heres what i have done to my 87 Dakota. you can say i cut it....
the last pic is the day i got it home.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P7240001.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P5180008.jpg
hhttp://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P3210027.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P3210027.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P3020009.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/PC090107.jpg

[THE lucky13]

cool truck...but i don't think thats what he had in mind

[boohoops]

lets be honest here, do u really need windows?? :funny:

[AllThingsEnd]

Here is the first thing I read about cutting tempered glass from the above link.

One Day Glass can accommodate your custom glass cutting needs quickly.

Cutting Tempered Glass
We are often asked if we can cut glass that has already been tempered. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. All fabrication is done prior to tempering. That means we cut your piece to your exact specifications, drill and edge, and make all necessary customizations. Then we heat treat it in our unique vertical tempering furnace* and ship it to you.

I will contact them and see what they say about making the windows. But if they only start with flat glass then they also will not be able to make them.

I know you can't cut already tempered glass. I know they have made some custom glass for some people and that's why I linked it.

[Flat Black]

First off I would like to say that I really appreciate all the people that have answered my post and Ideas that have been posted. I like the Pro Street Gen 1 That will be a very nice ride when completed. Have not given up on this project either. I have been on quite a few custom glass sites and they have even called me back personnally to check on what I was after. That how I am still looking for other options and site that you may know about that I have not found.
I have a few ideas on how I can do this and will let you all know if it works or not. Am looking for a donor truck locally right now that has good sheet metal (cab, doors, hood) does not need to run. So any one that may read this if your in the DFW area let me know. Thanks again for all your Ideas.

[koda crazy]

What are you looking for ????

Heres what i have done to my 87 Dakota. you can say i cut it....
the last pic is the day i got it home.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P7240001.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P5180008.jpg
hhttp://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P3210027.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P3210027.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P3020009.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/PC090107.jpg

very nice I to am building a 87 dakota I have the same set up in mind!! what rear end are you using?

[Flat Black]

picked up a Ford nine inch, 31 spline with the 4.5 bolt circle so I can use the same wheels without changing the front, Have not come up with the suspension yet, Would like to see more of how yours is attached especially how you have hooked up your drag link. As am looking at the four link setup but wanted to see how yours was attached. But will probably go with Air bags instead of coilovers. Will have to see.

[Flat Black]

Well I have found a donor truck and the parts I need are all there. Will be trying to do the door chop and if it works........... Well I belive I may have the first Chopped gen one truck.

[danbap]

cant you keep the shape the same and just role the window up to the new hieght?

[Flat Black]

Cant just lower the window as the front of the window also moves away from the front jam as the top comes down. Would be great it they were straight cut like the older trucks with a vent window but then everyone would be doin it. (haha) So I have an Idea and if it works will pass it on if someone else want to try it.

[mopar318]

yah what he said!

ummmm? you mean laminated.

Come on, I though you were building a chopped hot rod.:jester:

[mopar318]

What are you looking for ????

Heres what i have done to my 87 Dakota. you can say i cut it....
the last pic is the day i got it home.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P7240001.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P5180008.jpg
hhttp://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P3210027.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P3210027.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/P3020009.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/rules371/PC090107.jpg

Who made your rear frame rails? Autoweld chassis?

[boohoops]

u gonna section th body too? maybe channel it and get super low to th ground

[DaKoTa 35-2]

lexan should be legal right?? jeeps have plastic windows if they have the doors on. dono bout ur local laws though

Please enlighten me on what Jeep has plastic windows?!?!?!?!? (Besides the soft top which is obviously NOT lexan)

[Flat Black]

u gonna section th body too? maybe channel it and get super low to th ground

Was not planning on channeling the chassy. 2" drop spindles in the front, and ladder bars with coilovers in back. Still have to get in and out of the driveway. I dropped a Ford a few years back. and used dropped spindles and it worked out great. Full suspension without the hard ride.

[mopar318]

A chopped gen II would looks extremely gay, and I would probably have to smack you if you did it.:jester:

[Flat Black]

Well I believe the only real difference between the two are the front clip body wise. So if it works and looks badass. No copying... haha

[THE lucky13]

ummmm? you mean laminated.

Come on, I though you were building a chopped hot rod.:jester:


yah i was thinking of laminated glass. And my hot rod only has laminated glass on the front and rear...hell right now it doesn't have any!

[Shwab]

lets be honest here, do u really need windows?? :funny:

haha! i took mine out when i had it painted, its not my dd but i drove it often and never put the windows back in it. but after trusting the weather man a couple times and having got caught in the rain a couple times deff. sucked! ... on the other hand with the doors completely stripped there super light!:mullet:

[rschrum]

Think about it, you need to do nothing. They will roll up till they seal and the extra will be left in the door.

[rschrum]

Think about it, you need to do nothing. They will roll up till they seal and the extra will be left in the door.

[Flat Black]

I like the picture of your truck. Did you narrow the rear end for that setup or just move the springs? Looks good.

As for the windows. If you roll your window up but leave it 4 inches down you will notice the front of the glass will not seal. So I am working on a fix.

[THE lucky13]

and the windows will end up being not long enough. Are you gonna add a strip to the roof when you chop it?

[boohoops]

done yet?!

[rschrum]

Narrowed Dana, moved the spring mounts to the inside of the frame rails and mini tubed. Dropped 2" all around

[Flat Black]

and the windows will end up being not long enough. Are you gonna add a strip to the roof when you chop it?

Im actually using 4 tops to make one, Quarter from each donor roof so i dont have to make the lips. And I can use an over lap across to top roof section for a little more support.

[DaKoTa 35-2]

Can ya post an attachment without having to DL :sorry::rant:

[larstrak]

i've seen quite a number of plastic-ish acrylic/lexan/plexi windows. all at shows, some looked good, some looked like shit.

just transplant doors off of something else that has the window shaping you want, that'd be SUPER EASY :)

[Flat Black]

I wish I could. Tried to find the convertable doors but they wanted $200.00 per door glass without doors. And never did find anyone that was selling the doors themselves. I figured they would work. But are to rare. So I going to try with the stock windows as they are plentiful and not so high dollar if I break one trying to make it work.

[oldskooloutlaw]

I have not seen anyone cut tempered glass but it can be shrunk very easy and all you need is a ball peen hammer. I know I'll prolly go to hell for that but just couldn't resist.

[Flat Black]

:rant:no soup for you.:rant:

haha

[96BlkDak]

tempered glass can be cut, just gotta find the people who have the right equipment

I know you can't cut already tempered glass. I know they have made some custom glass for some people and that's why I linked it.

Stacey David chopped a top using a standard glass cutter and a bottle of Kingford Lighter fluid.

He only showed the windshield he marked it cut it 2-3 times then doused it in lighterfluid and lit it. TaDa a 3" chop. Im sure there was a bit more to it than that but that was what I saw him do.

[THE lucky13]

that was safety glass not tempered glass

[Flat Black]

that was safety glass not tempered glass

Windshields have a layer of plastic sandwiched between two sheets of glass so they dont shatter when hit with a rock, or a ballpeen hammer as suggested before. Thats why they used lighter fluid to warm up the plastic so that it would stretch and break apart. Have seen the vidio.

[THE lucky13]

yah laminated glass aka "safety glass". I've watched the video also.