Man Oh Man do I want to chop my top. But I know I'll probably screw it up, with the wrap around back glass and all. I try not to think about it....but it beckons to me from the garage. "CHOP ME" it says. "YOU CAN DO IT...WE'LL BE SO COOL".... So, how do I get the talent/balls to do it or how do I make my car stop telling me what to do? Anybody else have this problem?
i have this problem but whats worse is my friends are all about it doing it also so i am not just trying to restrain myself
Study everything you can find on the subject before you cut it. If you can search here and find a thread on a similar car that was chopped, it will really help. Think through refitting the backlight, any stainless window frames, winshield cutting, leaning posts, etc.
I've done some reading and research, I just can't find that magic nugget of wisdom that "clicks" in my brain to do it. It's a hardtop, and I just can't get my mind around the back glass. And I do not want to sink it in the package tray. I dread getting stuff out of my garage now, cause the car just STARES at me.
i have seen quite a few that ditch that wrap around back window and use a shoebox one that could be an option for yah
First off you need tools and equipment. Many ways to get around the back glass. One way is to replace it with a flat back window out of another car. It is just metal it will weld up. As fare as the ball thing goes you are on your own. My 2 cents
Can we see pics of the car in question? How much do you want to chop it? Good advice has been given. If you are dead set against sinking the back window, then a donor glass is probably your best bet. Oh yeah, don't be such a pussy! (In my experience, being called one of those is the quickest way to make girly men do something they know they shouldn't)
Hey, Can you weld and shape metal? What about sling mud & primer? You'll need all of these skills to pull off a sucessful chop! Be sure to price glass cutting BEFORE you start this chop, its gone up! Go look at a few that have already been cut to see what you want and don't want in a chop. Swankey Devils C.C. " It's time for another Tea Party ! "
There are two different methods in the links provided. The first is sectioning the roof approach. The tricky part that took me a while to figure out was how he made up the difference in the B-pillar. If you look closely, he widened the pillar to make up the distance. My only problem with this method, is I don't like how squared off the roof becomes after the chop(this is my opinion). http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../54%20Pontiac/ The second link shows how a fellow hamber (glassguy) did a 53 ht with just some relief cuts in the rear. I'm leaning toward this method right now. He ended up with plexi in the rear which kinda sucks, but the plexi will make for a good template once your ready to spend the cash on some glass. http://50chevy.com/photos/otherchevys/kernalchop0002 Here is a link to a thread that I started with this info a while back on chopin a hard top. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=255039 good luck..
Oh goodness...you have shamed me with your peer pressure. I will begin cutting tonight in hopes that I shall impress you. And I promise to think of how "girly" I am next time I run into a burning building. I wish I was as cool as a remote controlled flying robot.
You know I'm funnin', lord knows my butthole puckers up tight as a snare drum at the thought of running into a fire. I doff my hat to you my fine irish laddie. From a former Alabaman to another, relax and have fun. Can't wait to see pics.
Aw poop...I know you are. Just pokin' sticks a little. Ive been at home with a sick wife and 3 kids for 4 days and havent had my quota of jabs from the firehouse brethren. Just trying to spar a little to stay fresh. By the way, I have red hair. Please mock accordingly. I plan on posting some pics soon, but my wife let my father-in-law store some mattresses ON MY CARS ROOF while I was at work. Blasphemy I tells ya.
My wife has red hair ... I know better than to tease her too much. Stable to Nuclear in point 5 seconds. Now that you've had mattresses stacked on your car you HAVE to chop it ... all the dust, debris, metal shavings and sparks will keep everyone and everything not car related the hell away from the garage.
Its funny you say that. I almost started frenching the headlights the other day because the car was telling me, "BURN IT...BURN IT ALL"....
There are some good books out there on chop tops . You must be good at Fab work & welding ! That's a must . How much you want to cut off ? I also agree with the other HAMBer on the back glass, smaller and flat ! Did you do a search yet ? I am sure there are some for the car you have .
Has anyone thought about taking a design feature from Chrysler and just raise the door window sill height 3 inches? Look at a Magnum wagon the next time you see one, looks chopped, but all they did is raise the height of the metal in the doors. SOMEONE will photoshop a '54 to show what I'm talking about.
Chop it an inch. 99 people will walk by, but the 100th will stop and scratch his head. That makes it worth the effort. Study the Moonglow. Best Chevy top ever. If you chop it too much you will ruin it. Imo.
Dude you have a lifetime if you fuck it up to put it right... it may take a few times, but you`ll get there eventually... Theres a photoshop thread for this..
54HellAir, Don't know if you have seen this one or not http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=307442&highlight=my+first+chop It looks good and deals with the back glass. It's good to see another brother into cars. I'm a fireman ion the job in So Cal.
Thanks for the link. Believe it or not, I don't have any other trad. car guys at my department. Theyre all huntin' or fishin'. Anyhoo...hello from cold/hot Alabama. Tuscaloosa Fire Dept. Local 403.
Friends are like that until the top hits the ground beside the car, then they are like "oh hell the old lady called I gotta run!"
Do your balls hang low do they wallow to and fro, can you tie them in a knot, can you tie them in a bow......
I was going to say, it's Mardi Gras week, or it was, I guess - flash your tits to someone and get some beads and you'll have a whole string of balls, as much as you should ever need - Of course it helps to have tits, that could be another problem.
Smart idea. Bel Air hardtops are about the sweetest mild custom candidates. Not every car needs chopping.
hotrod deluxe did a step by step chop on a 53 if i can recall right, it was a pretty informative article, great pics and write up. research goes along way, it might be kinda boring but the more information as to cuts, glass, etc. you have before you go out in your garage and whack the roof the better prepared youll be and itll go alot smooter than if you just walk out there with a sawzall and go to town. just my .02.
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