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Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:34 pm
by tekatlarge
Over the years I have seen a lot of various ways to do the chop top on the B2. I have seen them walled off and left open and the multiple canvas top examples.

What I haven't seen is a conversion like a Big bronco. There was one guy that was known as the saws all specialist that tried to section and cut a full sized big bronco glass top but he was unsuccessful. I would think that the cab profile would be closely matched by using one of the PVC shells for small pickup trucks. I am sure with a little persuasion it could be made to work. If you could make it fit well then you have the best of both worlds. You could have a dry winter wheeler and a open summer rig. Up here in the northwest It would almost be a necessity unless you want to get wet a lot.

Anybody else have any ideas.

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:52 pm
by Mud Addict
I have heard of people trying to alter a Ranger canopy to fit. Use the top off of Ranger bed sides, so you have some where to set it. :redneck:

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:14 pm
by 04sd
I had a removable rear cab panel on mine to close it up for the winter. In the summer I ran with a bikini top on the back. Ranger bed rails and tailgate. Very few guys are willing to spend the time to do it though, most chop tops are hack jobs.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9970648@N0 ... 761070252/

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:00 am
by tekatlarge
04sd wrote:I had a removable rear cab panel on mine to close it up for the winter. In the summer I ran with a bikini top on the back. Ranger bed rails and tailgate. Very few guys are willing to spend the time to do it though,most chop tops are hack jobs .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9970648@N0 ... 761070252/
You hit the bulls eye there! Most chop tops I have seen are just that Hack Jobs. I think if someone thinks it out and uses the right materials it could be made like a factory job. I think I will see if I can find one locally that I can make a cab forward template out of.

The whole down side is that a wheeling rig by definition is a rig that will have body rash somewhere sometime. Some like the look but I just believe when I do something it is a reflection on me and my work ethics and abilities. Maybe that is why I never got into Rat Rods. It has to look finished to me.

If you think of it sometime could you measure the body width at the bed rail height and near the top and maybe the top to the top of the body on the side.. It's just a thought and not that important but if you do measure it please send me a copy of your measurements.

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:40 pm
by 04sd
If you put on Ranger bedrails and tailgate like I did it'll match the dimensions of a Ranger bed, so you could use a Ranger fiberglass cap. The roof line between a BII, Ranger reg cab, Ranger Extended cab are all a little different but similar. So you can cut down a fiberglass Ranger cap, clamp it down to the bed rails, but you're still left to make a clean transition and good seal to the BII roof. Would just take a little fiberglass work but certainly a workable solution.

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:07 pm
by Ranger Dave
the roof heights are different between the B2,reg cab ranger and xtra cab. the B2 being the tallest roof. thats why there are 3 different visors for um

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:42 pm
by tekatlarge
You really didn't have to say that Dave!!!

How much are we talking about on height difference?

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:48 pm
by Ranger Dave
hang on

reg cab ranger
Image

xtra cab
Image

B2
Image

you dont know how many times ive been told that a ranger visor fits a B2.

xtra cab visor on a B2
Image

b2 visor on a b2
Image

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:11 pm
by tekatlarge
I see what you mean. What is the actual measurement,in inches from sat the top of the bed rail to the top of the roof of the regular cab and ext cab ranger?

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:26 pm
by Ranger Dave
dont know,im not checkin now,its 9 degrees out

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:33 pm
by 04sd
With fiberglass caps though there are how many different manufacturers and even with each one multiple models. So it's a matter of finding one with the shape you like and modifying to fit. I still have a cap I was going to cut for the BII but never got around to it. Now I may cut it down to fit my short Ranger :)

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:39 pm
by 04sd
Dave,

Not sure if you've seen my latest project on the other site but here's a fairly recent picture with it almost done.

Image

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 7:15 pm
by tekatlarge
Dave,
9 degrees out and I don't even set the remote down....I know what ya mean..

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:48 pm
by PetesPonies
Saw a cool looking topless BII at the junk yard recently. It had fiberglass panels that were made for the truck, at all edges where it was cut. It was a factory piece of some sort . anyone know what I'm talking about?

Re: Top Chop Ideas.

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:28 pm
by Ranger Dave
PetesPonies wrote:Saw a cool looking topless BII at the junk yard recently. It had fiberglass panels that were made for the truck, at all edges where it was cut. It was a factory piece of some sort . anyone know what I'm talking about?

lets see some pics