Projects 41 PLYMOUTH CHOP/BUILD, IN OVER MY HEAD

And here we are again with the "no roof" photo you have to take

 

Now, based off the handful of chopped plymouths I've seen and liked. I had decided to start with a 3 inch chop. Most that I have liked have been stated to be about 3.5. So, I figured conservatively I would start at 3 and work my way to 3.5. Wrong... Im in the less is more camp typically, and should have known better. I took out the full 3 and placed the roof on and hated it. So, i ended up having to add 3/4 of an inch back to the A pillar. Kids, learn from my mistakes. I'll end up beefing up the inner structure of the pillar to compensate for the splice. But it was the only real "bummer" of the day. Here is the pillars tacked on and the rear roughly set in place. The back came down another 1/2 inch when all was said and done.

 

I tried looking for a thread on here about chopping these and there wasn't a lot of step by step stuff. Hopefully some of my ideas here can help those scratching their heads at the problems this particular chop throws out. The B pillars on these are at an angle from the factory, also from the factory they taper. Which presents an issue. I liked the angle it was at from the factory and didn't want to angle the pillar more. So here is how i solved that while fixing the taper issue. Im only about halfway done with the upper front corner while I'm writing this. So i'll have to finish/update this when I have time to get back into the shop and work/take pictures.

 

I started by cutting out this whole section. I went until the inner door corner got flat and cut there. Including the inner structure and all.

 

This is how the taper issue will be fixed while making it a little easier to handle and line up in the corner

 

A few slices and some fitting and we're ready to tack it in.



I will eventually cut out the section with the big gaps and replace it with a new piece of sheet metal. But not until the rest of the pillar is constructed. For now it will just have to look ugly.

 

Thats about all the pictures I have right now. I will update with more when i get more work done. In the meantime here is a little comparison of the roof before and after. Like I said, Im in the less is more camp. So it isn't going to look crazy chopped. Just trying to help the proportions a little bit.

 

Lookin good so far! You've got a nice profile starting to take shape with the chop.

 

Thank you

 

Im watching, hoping for the best. Looks like you have found a path. I liked the 0 inch chop too.

 

I agree that these look awesome un chopped (at least I'm assuming thats what you're saying. But I can never leave well enough alone.

 

Not much to report... Been working on my 59 again. Finally got it back on the road so i can work on the plymouth again. All I've really done here is cut it up a little more, and worked on getting a little of the flow better in the back window. Heres a few pics. Easier to tell where the chop is going now, without having the old sail panels in the way. Oh... And don't mind the off center wheel. The body isn't sitting right on the frame and will be a few inches farther back once I cut the floor out more.

 

Subscribed!!

I gotta 40 that I just pulled the glass out of to get ready to go under the knife.

 

Watching!!

 

Great work so far! Any progress?

 

Been more than a year and two months.

 

I got run out of here when I posted a subframe deal..............

 

Those could easily be aftermarket. During WW2, Ford was fully involved with war production and wasn't supplying many replacement parts for their cars. The aftermarket stepped up and offered some of them; another guy on here bought a '40 Ford grill that was an aftermarket wartime replacement. The usual giveaway is most were cast from aluminum and lacked plating, as zinc and chrome were both critical materials. And technically, it should have a War Resources Board number on it somewhere as permission was needed to manufacture this stuff but some parts may have been built 'off the books'. Cool catch!

And I think those would look great on your Plymouth....

 

How did this turnout? I'd love to see how the sail panels and panel between the trunk lid and rear window was wrapped up on it.

 

I remember a similar aluminum '40 Dodge grille. Not the best of castings. That Lincoln one looks pretty good.