A Model Tudor Chopping - Articles?

Hi guys rather then ask a lot of silly questions now can you please point me in the right direction of some good tech articles on chopping a Model A Tudor. Once I have read these then I'll ask my silly questions Thanks.

 

Street Rodder did an article in the early 70's that had **** Dean chopping a `29 tudor in one day. i can't recall what issue , maybe someone else can find it

 

here is some work we did on a 31 sedan

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79083&highlight=31+chop

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=80056&highlight=31+chop

send me a pm if you have any questions - i mught could help - what are you chopping? 28-29 or 30-31?

 

i have a 30 model a sedan w/ a 5 inch chop.
heres what you do, go out and buy how to chop tops-the book. it has detailed pictures and all the info you need to chop your model a's top. one thing that most guys like to do when they cut the a piler is instead of cuting throw the middle they remove the visor and upper support brace and cut the top of the a piler off. this makes it so you dont have to use a portapower to push the a pilars back in alighnment. all the other pilers will fall right into place.

 

I was wondering, on a '29 what do you do about the top hinge when you remove 5"

 

hardest part for me was the verticle body line on my 29 in the rear , lining that ****er up caused the most grief.

that and trying hard as hell not to warp it when spot welding, grinding (still warped)

but i had help from two guys, its definitly not a 1 man job. we all never chopped a top before and i think it came out pretty damn good.

 

Choprods did a really nice tech article about it but the pictures have all disappeared. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59221

 

You're right, welding between the rear window and the back window was the toughest part - I did it by myself and wished I had had a third hand for sure.

I really should have had those little clamps.

 

i got rid of the top hinge when i did mine.....notched the header and slid it over the post , so as not to have to worry about the taper.....as for info......i actually learned alot from watching dave simard (sp) do it on monster garage....the relief cuts made all the difference...brandon

 

Thanks guys - appreciate the info and offers of help. Will take you up on it shortly. Hopefully in 36 hours all going to plan I will post pics of the next project - not sure what year it is all I have been told is it is complete except for the radiator cap. I started building a bucket, then the 34 truck fell into my lap and I started on that and now perhaps a Tudor which would see the truck get sold to a good mate looking for a project. At this rate I should have my 5 window coupe next month Id keep them all bit have a single garage and live near the ocean.

 

Just chopped a 29 and 30 both 6 inches, cut below the top hinge with no problems

 

http://web.mac.com/marcandlauren/iWeb/Marc and Lauren/Welcome.html

check under ROD BLOG

later

 

Bought it today and pick it up next weekend

Plans are keep the paint, repair the few bits of rust. Chop, channel, dropped I beam using as much of the original components but disc brakes. Not sure on driveline yet.

 

Pick up a copy of "How to Build a Hot Rod Model A Ford" by Dennis Parks. It has one of the most detailed "how to's" on chopping a 29-29 sedan I have ever seen. He also has some neat ideas. It is available from motorbooks.com. Do a search for Dennis Parks it is one of the last ones under his name. Worth every penny if you are planning a Model A Sedan build.

 

Can someone pls tell me what episode this was so I can chase it down.

Having sold this car and just bought it back feel free to add any more info that might help me too. Thanks.

 

tbh, i dont think anyone is stupid enough to need a how-to. its the easiest car ever to chop, i did my '28 5.5"in a day by myself, got all the pillars and swages lined up and welded, and all one side piecut and finish welded and ground back. its almost perfect, no filler needed. took me half a day to finish the other side off.
what took longest was removing all the old wood so i could weld the inside of each pilar!!

i split the windscreen header on mine and removed 1/8" from the centre. it was cut below the top hinge but the hinges line up good and the doors open and close perfectly. i put 2 piecuts into each rear corner to pull them into shape, and i found it easy to do without clamps.

 

I too did it by myself in a day. Never chopped one before. No help. Do be affeard, just do it!!

 

Got a copy of the dvd coming. Just want to look at it being done 1st as it will be my 1st chop. Will post pics as we do it. Thanks.

 

I have to agree. I had never chopped a top either and I took 4" from my A by my self in a weekend. I just made 4" templates and put them where I wanted them to go, spray painted the area and started cutting.
I did not brace anything, I just had the body level and it went back together with out any problems. I am not recommending this but it is what I did.

 

Yep - that's my site... I'm an amateur but I did take a lot of pictures... start here:

http://tinyurl.com/lb8vq

And keep clicking next and you'll see it all step by step.

I used this book as my guide:
http://www.amazon.com/How-Build-Hot-Model-Ford/dp/0760308799

 

Hey headhunter thanks for a great blog. Have just spent the whole afternoon reading it.

 

No problem - glad you enjoyed it! It's my first car so it's far from perfect and I'm learning all the time but feel free to PM me if you have any questions...