thx for the feedback daniel.
once the roof clip was up in the air i was able to get an idea of where i might make the cuts. i figured better to cut off too little than too much. the front was the first.
i measured the sheetmetal on my cab/targa above the windshield. i lifted the rubber windsheild trim and jammed a small steel rule as far down as it would go. presumably bottoming out on the window trim. it was about 44mm. i assumed a 40 mm cut from the front of the clip would be safe. i marked with my kids sharpie and grabbed the angle grinder w/cutoff wheel....
if i had to do it over again i would have cut it way longer. maybe 15mm from the front edge....more on that when i get a chance to go through the pics. it looked like this after the first pass.
