Help with a chopped top- golf cart modification

[belld]

Hello, I am new to the group and could really use some help. I just bought an 88 festiva, one owner 103,000 miles and want to make it into a golf cart. I plan on cutting the top off and taking off the doors and the rear hatch. I will turn the back seat around, like golf carts and then paint it all light tan. So... to the questions... can I cut the top and side pillars off and will the car collapse in on itself?. or will it hold up just fine? Do I need to weld in some steel beams? Have any of you cut the top off and know where to do it- some tips maybe? Thanks in advance for all your time and help- it looks like a great forum.
Ps-- if you know how to do what I am trying to do, but don't want to type it all out, just email me your phone number and I will call you and ask you about it- Thanks

[htchbck]

706-973-9441... take a look at the pics in my sig, i'm the expert on chopping the top off of festivas around here, gimme a call sometime and I'll do whatever I can to help... and no, the car doesn't collapse

[GenevaDirt]

but if he is taking the doors off..... I would think it would need to be strengthend somehow.

[SimonTuffGuy]

There was that Gator on EBay a few weeks ago... I'd suggest having SOME sort of support if you're taking the doors off as well.

[todd00]

is the car in good shape? if so why chop it up for a golf cart type vehicle. what all are you planning to use it for? i just hate to see a good festiva chopped up like the gator mobile.

[belld]

Thanks for all the replies.... The reason I want to make a golf cart out of my festiva is because most of our neigborhood has golf carts to get around on (not for golf) and they are getting theirs plated (legal to drive on the road). They can only go about 35-45mph and I wanted to make one that I could travel to town in a bit quicker-- and have something different...

Why will taking the doors off make it weaker? Only one pin type connecter holds the door on?

I plan on also putting a golf cart top on it... I'll have to strengthen that to withstand 60mph...

This shouldn't look like a chopped up festiva when I get done, but rather a unique golf cart....

Htchbck-- thanks for the advice and number- I will call you tomorrow- Friday

[25Horseplay]

Where do you live that you have all these golf carts running the streets?

[GenevaDirt]

Why will taking the doors off make it weaker? Only one pin type connecter holds the door on?

I plan on also putting a golf cart top on it... I'll have to strengthen that to withstand 60mph...

This shouldn't look like a chopped up festiva when I get done, but rather a unique golf cart....

Htchbck-- thanks for the advice and number- I will call you tomorrow- Friday

The combination of the roof and the pillars and the floor all work together to keep things together. Taking the door alone off would not really alter this. Chopping the roof off and leaving the door on, to tie it all together whe in operation would not really hurt it either. But if you chup the roof off and then take off the only other solid support the car would have , the doors, you would create a rather weak center because the only thing keeping the cat from bending in half would be the floor and uniframe. I would not ride around in it like that. One bump or good dip and the amount of force on that floor would be tremendious. And who knows how long that would last before flexing to much, especially with weight in it.

[belld]

We live on cliffordlake- a small lake in western michigan--a lot of people use golf carts daily...

What if I welded a square tube to both sides of the car behind the front seats, do you think that would add back as much strength as the doors held in by a couple latches? It is important to me to take off the doors, to not only get the golf cart look, but to be able to jump in and out easily

Thanks again for all your help and ideas--- do you think any festiva's that have chopped tops will be at the waterford event on Sunday? Waterford is about 2-3 hours away from my house..

[neanderpaul]

Well I figured other members would tell you not to chop it up. I'm saying the same. That car with only 100,000 miles can last you another 200,000 trouble free miles with regular maintenance. Check out all the cool rides on this forum before you start chopping.... please.

[25Horseplay]

do you think any festiva's that have chopped tops will be at the waterford event on Sunday? Waterford is about 2-3 hours away from my house..

I don't know if any chopped top ones will be there. But f you have a chance stop out, Sat is the better day because alot of people leave that night.

[todd00]

i say put the car on ebay, sell it and buy a unique looking golf cart. there have to be some unique carts for sale. but save the festiva from destruction. it doesnt make sense to me, sorry. put your axe away.

people dont usually buy the carts for speed, but they are cool and fun to drive. only thing i liked about golfing was driving the cart.

if you want speed buy a festiva turbo. :lol: you will smoke any golf cart on clifford lake and be the king lake loon pardon the pun :wink:

[htchbck]

ok guys, don't worry, we worked out a deal to save two festivas from destruction. He now has my little blue (which would have ended up headed toward a scrap yard within a couple months because I simply don't have anywhere to keep it anymore). So the 88 should stay intact, and the little blue will be rebuilt

[todd00]

so you are swapping then i gather? is the blue one going to end up a golf cart still. or did he give up that idea all together?how are you arranging the swap.

[htchbck]

its all done... I gave him the little blue cause I don't have room for it anymore. He and his wife and daughter came down monday night and the festiva is now on its way to michigan on a trailer, with a brief stop in pigeon forge to finish out their vacation My old little blue will become his new golf cart, and his 88 is going to stay intact as far as I know... I'm starting my new project this week... not saying anything yet except its call the "Battle Tank of Doom"