My first Chop 1950 Plymouth...need some advice.

Here is what I did on my back windows to make them as big as possible and look correct.


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Glad i could help, Good choice in widening the roof, now we need to see the results from your hard work pay off, just have to fill in the gaps under the back window and the sides and it will look killer too.

 

subscribed.... updates??????

 

Didn't get much done since splitting the roof. I had to finish up a paper for school since im at the end of the semester. After finals this weekend i get get alot more done.

Here are a few more quick pictures: Ignore the pie cut from the A pillar, i was going to lean them in, as we well on my way with the first pillar before i decided to split the roof. It at-least helped twist the pillar a slight bit to align with the roof perfectly tho.

 

Looks good, i was thinking about how i was going to do this on my way to work. Thats exactly what i was thinking, thanks for posting, being able to see it definitely makes it easier to visualize and get it done.

 

Great pics, now gives me an idea for a project.

 

Thanks, I can't wait to get everything tacked and lay down the rear window. then i can bring it outside so i can get a better view and perspective.

 

Excellent plan of attack, visualize and think before you cut, this is the very best thing someone can do when performing a chop, you are on the right track now, pictures help when trying to explain something, glad 53chevtrev had a picture available to help explain what i was trying to say with words.Take your time and make it right.

 

50s Mopars have that ugly "lump" on the back. I chopped 3 inches, then 4. Then a guy we know that chopped his own car came over and asked with a straight face, "Did you chop any of it yet?" So, I did 5 in the front, 7 in the back on mine, only to make sure the rear flows. I also have a different rear window, since it's a Sport Coupe (hardtop). I think it would have been easier if I had the same window you have. The black car is mine, the brown car is what I was shooting for. I hope this helps.

 

Lookin' GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep us posted,........

4TTRUK

 

A small suggestion, protect your dash and steering wheel with a heavy blanket or what ever you have.
No use causing more work if your gauges etc are covered in grinding spatter.

 

Thanks guys. I usually need to see something then i feel confident about doing it. If it wasn't for sites like this and youtube i would have never had any of the skills i do.

I like the different rear window. Figuring out what kind of car it was would confuse the heck out of me if i saw it in person.

 

On to some minor updates. I was able to spend a couple hours monkeying around. I sleeved one a pillar. I did exactly what was suggested and took the section that was cut out and chopped it up to fit. I then drilled 2 holes in the pillar for a spot weld to hold it in place.

 

When i do any welding near them i try and throw my welding blanket on them. The dash will need to be redone regardless. since when i swap the motor im going with new gauges of some sort.

 

looks great! im soon going to grow some bigger balls and start cutting on my buick. keep the good progress up!

 

How you traveling marcello7x , any progress in between school obligations buddy ?

 

ha, that pic w/ the widows peak cut out and lying on the cowl sure brings back memories.
biggest tip I can offer is make dam sure all the pinch welds in the windshield area are all in the same plane. Glass wont flex to line up.

 

Nice fit on the a pillar.

 

I was able to finish sleeving the driverside, and making relief cuts in the driver lower pillar to flex it a bit to line up. I started a filler peice and tacked the roof together right behind where the peak infront was cut out. As well as tacked the roof in the back.

 

Since i took alot more out of the rear there is a slight angle at the cut. Im going to go through and weld in some filler and grid it down to a nice strait edge.


I def shouldn't have worked on it today, im now stuck in the library studying for tomorrows final. But its all in the name of hotrodding.

 

You lost me a little on that. If you mean the gap at the back glass is wider than the front, thats normal. My roof was widened 3"s at the back and 1.5"s in the front (then I split that to be .75"s on each side of the widows peak).

I could take a pic later if it would help.


Now go study!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



jeff

 

this pic should help: (yes there was a little misalignment correction on the drivers side)

 

I recomend you buy the book by tex smith, how to chop tops. It was a huge help for me and my first chop! Allways chop the door frames first that will help you out alot. Good luck

 

I love those 50's!

 

Great to know you did 3 in the back. I was struggling to decide on how wide. The front is tacked together at 1.5.

The roof is slanted back so the A pillar on the roof is slightly leaned back compared to the body so flat glass won't lay flat.

I'll look up smiths book, thanks

 

it dosent matter how wide you go, all that matters is that the roof lines up w/ the pillars, that the whole purpose of splitting the roof.
(ha, not bad, i just replied to two posts w/ one sentence).

Marcello, if your laying things out and flat glass wont lay flat, how are you planning on putting glass back in there?
When I did mine I cut an over size pc of glass that would lay on the pinch weld so I could be sure all the planes were in line.
Proper fitting glass is a sign of a good chop.


Jeff

 

The question I have for you, Marcelo is, why did you split the roof if you're putting relief cuts in the corners of the window opening? I've seen chops with the relief cuts in the corner of the window opening and some that split the roof, but not with both. Does that work best for the type of roof you have? Wouldn't that need a wider windshield at the top when you put glass in? Just curious, don't mean to throw wrench in the whole thing.

 

Where at with it now buddy ?

 

I started by trying to lean the pillars in instead of widening the roof. So put one cut in the passenger side. Then i decided i was better off splitting the roof. When i got to the driver side i saw that on this car the a pilars twist slightly as they go from the hood area to the top of the roof. So i then put a relief cut on the driver side in order to twist it ever so slightly to line up perfectly with the roof.

I didn't get any work done yesterday. Trying to catch up on sleep from all the studying, then partying after the last class of the semester, my motivation was a bit low. I did atleast get it out of the garage to take some pictures.





The angle of this picture makes it look like its leaned out more from this side, but its just the slop of my front yard and the angle.

 

Here is a quick edit i did with paint, to see how it would look onces its lowered with the skirts, pillars slanted and rear glass leaned down.