I remember you saying you were interested in chopping the top.
I am doing something similar. My top was crushed by a tree, why I bought the 98 sport so cheap.
I have a different approach to putting it back together then your plan with a hatch.
But here you can see what one looks like dissected. I cut mine at a weird place, in the middle of where the old window use to be.
I did this to keep the original seat belt location in the rear passenger seats.
It would be much easier to just follow the window line and cut it there.
And the roof strength is compromised with cutting it, needs a roll bar added there fore safety of the passengers.
But any ways, here is a couple photos of it opened up. Right now I am in the middle of soldering the wiring harness back together that I cut.
I hope to weld the side panels in later, right now just screwed in place until I get a welder.
You can see the rubber weather stripping on the right, it was on the rear hatch and recycling it to use here.
Also made some caps to cover the opening in the upper right and left roof corners. Will all be siliconed in.
A closer look
Here is what I hope to just weld up grind and paint :bsnicker: