Thinking of chopping the top, have some Q's bout body lift.

BugMan114

Hi yall. I have always wanted to chop the top of my bug, but my head is already to close to the roof, and wanted to know if anyone has ever but those three inch body lift kits, and chopped the top like 3 inches. thus head room would be the same. This will be for a rat rod, which will have NO fenders. I couldn't find any pics, but does anyone know of any pics of a rat rod, with a chopped roof, and a body lift kit? BTW its for my 74 super.

I am going to cut out the strut suspension and weld in a linkpin beam, with about8 inches of tunnel, for the rat rod look. it will also be lowered.
_________________
1974 Super Beetle: Custom resto in progress
1972 Super Beetle: Daily Driver
1971 Std. Beetle w/ 1929 Mercedes Benz Gazelle kit
1960 Baja Bug
1969 Baja Bug
Sand Rail- Homemade
Sand Rail- FUBAR

Aircooled Airheads

Why the hell do they call it a gland nut. its obviously a big fat bolt!!!

drscope · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:44 am Post subject:

Go here;
http://www.volksrods.com/index.htm

Most of the Samba folks will give you grief for wanting to cut up a bug. over there, thats all they do.

BUT, putting a body lift is sort of getting away from the rat rod look. most folks prefer to have the body lowered over the pan. Raising it up would just look silly unless you are doing a BAJA.

As for the chop, you will need another donor car. The roof and doors must be stretched as the roof comes down. Another roof skin and door tops are the easiest way to go as you won't have to work new metal to get the curves and contours.

And this is a fat chick right? You wouldn't be wanting to cut up a pre 68 would you?
_________________
Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

50ate · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:54 am Post subject:

Yup DR. he stated it was a 74 super.. So have fun with your proj and good luck

BugMan114 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:01 am Post subject:

I didn't think it would look good, but i just wanted to make sure( bout the body lift). I am a member of the v-rodders forum, but all they do is bitch about not making an intro post, and why the hell i would want to chop a super. I guess i can lower the seats, or even get some of those fiberglass racing seats. I just don't want to be bumping my head on the roof. Laughing

_________________
1974 Super Beetle: Custom resto in progress
1972 Super Beetle: Daily Driver
1971 Std. Beetle w/ 1929 Mercedes Benz Gazelle kit
1960 Baja Bug
1969 Baja Bug
Sand Rail- Homemade
Sand Rail- FUBAR

Aircooled Airheads

Why the hell do they call it a gland nut. its obviously a big fat bolt!!!

fluxcap · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:31 am Post subject:

When you chop the top, also add a sunroof. The you'll have all the room you need Laughing

_________________
Eric - 1966 camper bus

"It's like, how much more black could this be, and the answer is none.......none more black."

djkeev · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 11:51 am Post subject:

Correct me if I'm wrong but you're going for LOOKS not FUNCTION.

I don't think that you can have both in almost any major car modification.

For function, leave well enough alone.

For looks you've got to make sacrifices. Head in the roof or get some seats that sit down on the floor, rearrange the steering wheel and drive peering over the dash like you are 5 years old.

Dave
_________________
Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

BugMan114 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 2:11 pm Post subject:

My plans were to add an oval clip for the rear, and was debating weather or not to also use a ragtop section. But i'm still not sure. I would think it would be easier to use the oval section, and ratop roof, as far as welding goes.

Also who says you can't have funtion and looks. There is always a way to have both. i didn't say it would be cheap to have both, and its usually much cheaper to go for one or the other. I would definalely have to go for a lower seat, probrobly a fiberglass or plastic racing seat. I also want to add a roll cage.

The only thing i am not sure about now is the windshield. I'm debating weather or not to chop the curved windshield, or somehow graft in a standard bug windshield.
_________________
1974 Super Beetle: Custom resto in progress
1972 Super Beetle: Daily Driver
1971 Std. Beetle w/ 1929 Mercedes Benz Gazelle kit
1960 Baja Bug
1969 Baja Bug
Sand Rail- Homemade
Sand Rail- FUBAR

Aircooled Airheads

Why the hell do they call it a gland nut. its obviously a big fat bolt!!!

drscope · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:

If you have an oval rag top to take the roof clip from, why not just use the oval body? The oval windows are short enough that you wouldn't have to do the chop to get the "look".

There are lots of things you could do with seats to make things more functional. Why not just cut and lower the seat frames you have? There is no expense there and everything else remains stock and usable without any other modifications.
_________________
Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

BugMan114 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:14 pm Post subject:

If i can find an oval body cheap, then i'd definately go for it, but for now all i can find (near me) are ragtop clips, and oval window clips.
_________________
1974 Super Beetle: Custom resto in progress
1972 Super Beetle: Daily Driver
1971 Std. Beetle w/ 1929 Mercedes Benz Gazelle kit
1960 Baja Bug
1969 Baja Bug
Sand Rail- Homemade
Sand Rail- FUBAR

Aircooled Airheads

Why the hell do they call it a gland nut. its obviously a big fat bolt!!!

Iowa Mark · Samba Member Joined: May 06, 2004 Posts: 1071

How tall are you? I'm 6'-3" and have a boat-load of headroom in a Bug. As to a lift kit together with a chop top....isn't that kind of like putting your toilet up on a platform and then cutting off your feet? Wink

Hey, go for it! Maybe a set of 28's with spinners and you've got that "DONK" we all be want'in! Very Happy

Maimas13 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject:

GreeneHoosier · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject:

BugMan114 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject:

It should look similar to yours, but i was going for a rat rod look. It will be lowered, with NO fenders. Instead of struts, i am going to wedl on a linkpin beam, and framehead, and also extend the tunnel about 8 inches, to move the tunnel forward. Basically like this:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

I always heard that you can simply sand blast the excess glass away, and it won't shatter, and works great. That true? Are you saying not to chop it cause it would look stupid, or cause it just can't be done? I'm thinkin it would look stupid, but thats why i'm here, i was lookin to see if anyone had done it, and if there are any pics of a chopped super?
_________________
1974 Super Beetle: Custom resto in progress
1972 Super Beetle: Daily Driver
1971 Std. Beetle w/ 1929 Mercedes Benz Gazelle kit
1960 Baja Bug
1969 Baja Bug
Sand Rail- Homemade
Sand Rail- FUBAR

Aircooled Airheads

Why the hell do they call it a gland nut. its obviously a big fat bolt!!!

BugMan114 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject:

petrol punk · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:14 pm Post subject:

Headroom??? The builder of this Beetle is 6'4"!

_________________
36hp '56 European DeLuxe oval, '70 bug 1835cc dual 36DRLA, and a '98 4x4 5spd single cab Tacoma

16CVs · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject: Chopping a late super.

If you are going to chop it and actually finish it. Have the Glass done first. figure how much you want to chop it and cut the glass that amount. Then fit the opening to the glass. too much lean or too much rake or out of square you will never get a glass to fit with breaking down the road.
I have cut numerous windshields for chops *both VW and other" .Some people say it is silly to do it first ,but think about why you would do it. You can take your old glass and find out why san d blasting will not work and use it as a template and then have a Old timer glass guy fab one up.
Please realize that cutting curved glass is tricky and sometimes takes 2 or 3 windshields to get one.
Don't even try to cut down tempered glass sides and back. They will blow up.
If you are thinking about laying in an Oval clips ,P mail before for some real life tips.
There I have not told you it cannot be done and have have given you in 500 or less words that which has taken me years to learn.

Stacy

drscope · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 5:57 am Post subject:

Maimas13 wrote;
only thing I can say is dont chop a super... ever, you wont be able to have a glass windshield anymore, and if you were to graft an oval and ragtop into a super it would look totally out of place

So you are saying someone with the talent, money, time, tools, and imagination to chop the top, graft in a roof clip and a rear window clip, stretch the door tops and the roof, and complete all the fabrication that needs to be done, won't have the ability to come up with a piece of curved glass for the front hole?

Glass is easy. You simply make a template and send it out to the glass folks. I learned that while watching Boyd Coddington build his hot rods. They all have glass and nothing there is factory.

You need to watch more TV!
_________________
Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

16CVs · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:10 am Post subject: chop top

Yeah but remember Boyd is dead now. I digress. Most cars that are chopped are carefully picked because the glass is flat and can be easily cut. They also plan what they are doing and lay the rear window down intact so that they have a glass rear window.
Go to a Hot Rod show and look at most chops,you will see most of the curved glass cars either have no glass,is ill fitting or they use plexi.

.02

BugMan114 · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:52 am Post subject: Re: chop top

drscope · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:07 am Post subject:

If you are going to be cutten, welding and fabricating, don't let a little thing like the curved glass stop you! You could always graft on the front window clip from what ever car you get the rag clip from.

Make that curved glass flat.
_________________
Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

Thinking of chopping the top, have some Q's bout body lift.
Page: 1, 2 Next

	Forum Index -> Other VW Vehicles/Volksrods	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: 1, 2 Next
Page 1 of 2