Technical 32 5w chop styles

Hello all, I’m looking into chopping my 32 Ford 5w somewhere around 4” possibly more up front for a slight wedge chop but see there’s 3 different common ways to approach this.
1. The roof stretch
2. Leaning back the entire windshield
3. No stretch or lean back but pie cutting the A pillars to meet the top. ( this is the one I’m leaning more towards)

I’d like to hear all the pros and cons of all , any experience on , what’s is the most traditional and relatively easiest to accomplish if possible. I’ve done other chops in the past but this will be my first deuce. I’m confident with my Tig/Mig and fab skills.

Any photos will be more than appreciated!

Thanks




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Back I need the olden days it seems most were chopped by stretching, with an even chop front and back. I can't remember seeing any pics with slanted posts like is more common on a 34. But nowadays slanting the posts is more common, and giving a slight wedge is common too.

I can't say I understand what you mean by your #3 method. You'll have to show pics to explain that one to me.

 

Are 2 and 3 the same thing?

 

I don’t have any photos but from what I understand both post get pie cuts in the center to meet each other. Top becomes wider and bottom becomes narrower . I think this method works more on mild chops as the more you chop the more the stagger gets.


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I think for 2 the whole windshield gets layed back. A cut is made at the bottom of the windshield aft of the cowl and pushed back . 3 is more of relief /Pie cuts on the pillars to meet top and bottom . The cowl is undisturbed.


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I don´t remember how much I chopped 15y ago this 1932 5w. I slanted very littlerA-pillars after upper hinge.
I like, if 5w coupe quarter window is after chopped more long than high.

You find more chop pics in my website: www.auliz.fi


Aulis

 

My coupe 3 inches from stock stretched the roof and doors.

 

2020



1975 (probably hotrodded 20 years prior to this)


This coupe was chopped a lifetime ago. It is currently gettin a little tuneup, but the chop is staying the same. It's cut about 5.5" straight down. Required splitting the top over the doors and the quarter windows.

 

Hurry up with that "tuneup". We'd like to see it on the street!

 

When I had my 5 window chopped we cut the front 3.5 inches and the back 3 1/8th inches. Leaned the front posts. Looked good.

 

This was cut in the 50s

 

I cut this one 4”. Laid the posts back. Required significant work on the forward upper door. Also moved the lower rear quarter of the quarter windows forward about 3/8”-1/2”.

 

Good idea for a thread!

 

That body is amazing !

 

Great Chop

 

That '32 5w looks really good... I mean really good.

 

Nice car, but you may need to check your tape measure,
- looks about - 3&1/2”, give or take 6mm........

 

looks about 4” ?

 

My bad Clem , and you are correct , the channel was five , the chop three and a half.

 

Check out YouTube series by Mad Fabricators. Whole series of videos on chopping a 3 window by Bobby Walden. All the same principles will apply to what you’re wanting to do. Been watching them and his approach and thought process is perfect in my opinion.




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I shared this on another thread, it’s by U.K. hot Rodder Dave Haskell and he has used your option 3 which turned out really well. Worth a watch if you can understand the London accent

 

Poke around on here a bit. The Steadfast guys have it going on!

 

Here's 32 my friend drug home. Can't find a completed pic right now!

 

Here we go!

 

4.5”, leaned the posts back, no stretch.

 

One thing to me that gets over looked sometimes is the stance of the car. A car has to have the right stance to go with the chop whatever you choose. Example you see some cars that sit to high to be chopped as hard as they are. Just my 2 cents consider all the factors before you decide on the chop.

 

This chop is perfect !

 

First rate chop. As is the whole car

 

Here’s my 32 five window I’ve started to chop. I took out four inches all the way around. Moved the top roof and inch to meet the pillars. My First chop , the body isn’t that great so decided to go all out and chop it up. It probably won’t get a paint job in my lifetime way too much metal work needed for that.