ClassicCar

MikeWA

Somebody has a '48 coupe top for sale on the main board- If anyone was considering chopping the top on his coupe, you need another top to do it right, I'm told.

bent metal

Why would you need two? I've never chopped a top.

BJ__TN

Bent Metal, When you make say a 2 inch chop, you would have to add some metal into the top to make it longer. Measure the length of the top, then drop down 2 inches and measure it there, due to the rearward slope of the the rear window and surrounding sheet metal it will be longer. That is why you have to extend the top to get it to fit. In some cases, you can lean the windshield posts back a little to make it fit, but I don't think a Hudson is one of those cases. Like You I have never chopped a top but I have seen it done.
Bob

Tom Drew

I've attached a set of 4 photos to how you need to lengthen the top on most chops.

#1 shows the stock top.

#2 shows where an how much we want to cut to lower the top.

#3 shows the cut section removed, and the top lowered into position. Notice it does not line up with either the A, B, or C pillar.

#4 shows how the top has to be cut so the front and back halves match up at the A & C pillars. A second top gives you the extra metal you need to add in the resulting gap. Notice also how the vent window frame will have to be reworked.

Many times you'll have another gap to fill 90 degrees to the one pictured, because the top is also angled from the sill to the drip rail, so it will need to be wider from side to side as well as front to back.

There are no easy chops, but the eariler cars are less difficult because the A, B, and C pillars are straight up and down.

Tom Drew

MikeWA

I asked an old body man one time for tips on chopping tops. First, he said, start with an easy one- do a Model A Ford. Second, let it go at that and never try another one.

half baked

check out www.ruffrodders.com there are a lot of good threads on how to chop over there, mainly concerning shoebox fords and early 50's chevs but a lot of the problems you will face are the same. ive never chopped a car, but spent a lot of time at trade school learning metal transitions so i always think "how?" anytime i see a car that would look good with a chop. the hardest part in my mind would be getting a good flowing line on everything rearward of the B pillar, lots of pie cutting and replacement sections.

rambos_ride

bent metal wrote:

Why would you need two? I've never chopped a top.

2 reasons

#1 In case you screw up

#2 If you didn't have an english wheel it would be tough to get a flat piece of steel to fit correctly on the curved roof where you have to back-fill from splitting the roof for the chop.

unique1963

no worries . he has sold me part of it from the driver's side where a tree had fallen on my roof . looks like i'll be able to fix it correct now .

mike

jsrail

I have a whole roof if anyone needs it (a small dent that could be pushed flush I think), as well as the rest of the coupe shell minus the doorposts and some around the front lower section of the quarter windows. Front fenders with a couple small rot holes on the front edge. Even got the rear springs still on it. Free to anyone who wants to haul it off.

Rarerodder

Buy the top if your chopping. I did my first chop on a '36 Dodge four door sedan about 10 years ago. B & C pillars were straight but A & C-well, I ended up cutting the top into something like 18 separate pieces. That didn't count the tilt out windshield frame and inner window moldings which I also chopped. I didn't have any donor tops so I filled with sheet metal. Many of the pieces were very small like the radiuses (or is that radii?) of the front and rear windows. Got it all together and it looked good! No mismatches and all windown opening lines flowed smoothly. Ended up selling the car before I finished the entire project. Always wanted to see how it turned out but never saw it again.

As for chops since then-haven't even attempted one.

bent metal

rambos_ride wrote:

2 reasons

#1 In case you screw up

#2 If you didn't have an english wheel it would be tough to get a flat piece of steel to fit correctly on the curved roof where you have to back-fill from splitting the roof for the chop.

Yeah, in case you screw up. It would be comforting to know that you had another top in the corner of your shop as you make that first cut.

That's why I didn't understand the extra top thing, I would make the filler pieces. Didn't cross my mind to use a second top.

The photos of the T-Bird are awesome. Good explanation! Wish I could do that kind of stuff on the computer. And POST IT! Nice.

bent metal

[IMG]http://27 cp[/IMG]

Ron P

bent metal wrote:

Yeah, in case you screw up. It would be comforting to know that you had another top in the corner of your shop as you make that first cut. That's why I didn't understand the extra top thing, I would make the filler pieces. Didn't cross my mind to use a second top.

The photos of the T-Bird are awesome. Good explanation! Wish I could do that kind of stuff on the computer. And POST IT! Nice.

I think its a Falcon Sprint ?? Yes-No ???

bent metal

ahhh to'ma'toe, to'mah'toe. haha

bigboy308

Fairlane Sport Coupe?

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