Frame is pot metal...cut,weld, rechrome Vent is SS with a 2 1/2-3in chop, you could reverse the cut off top of the frame, weld and polish. But the rear is another story!!! How many cars you had since I last saw you???? LOL.....OLDBEET
the rear section you cut off the bottom and either weld mounting bracket on higher or make new mounting hole lower.
I have seen them cut an welded . Buddy I know sometimes bend them with a steel pattern that he make to the size he wants them. The pattern fits in side the vent window just like the gl***. An then he cold bends them to the shape very very slow .Just depends on the vent windows sometimes he has to cut. Most of the time just one cut. This is on stainless.
On my 55 Cad its potmetal. I cut it to size and screwed it to a piece of angle iron. Then off to the chrome shop for welding and a new coat of shiny. Awful damn pricey though, but when I finally get the side gl*** done it will make it worthwhile.
A few, buyin and sellin the dream. Just sold the chopped sedan, and I am gonna make this hardtop into a convert, the right side drip rail is toast..
if your going to make it a convert with chopped windshield just cut the frame off even with the top of the vent window and get rid of the window channel on the back of the vent.
If yer going to "Carson" top it, there is a guy in Bend, Ore that did them for us with a week or two turn around. Good work and cheap. Think he is related to Sid Chaefers (sp) from Cali..........OLDBEET
He did two 50-51 Buicks for us. Chopped about 3 in, one piece door gl*** and cut down quarters. Took the cars to him, he built the frame and covered the outside with black Hartz, inside some other smoothe stuff. Furnished fasteners, back window all for $2500. each. About 6 years ago. Two week turn around. And a very nice job. I think TUFF TIN would know him......OLDBEET
That sound good, I am gonna try and find a roof for the car first, I got a lead on a stripped out hdtp with the lid still on it. I realy want ot try chopping the hardtop, then if it looks like **** I can make it a convert.
The real trick is to shorten the front edge and relocate the hinges so as to leave the stock appearance and width at the top of the vent window. Most chops have the top of the frame wacked off which leaves an incredibly wide area across the top of the frame (ugh !) Do it right...........more work but what a difference !!!!
This thread was just what I was looking for also...I've been looking at my potmetal frames and dreading cutting them. I've got a good chrome plater locally, but I figured he'd tell me welding the frames was crazy. Guess if he does I'll go somewhere else, haha...Ditto on the stainless frames - they look easy to modify. But you'll end up lengthening the door gl***, right? Which on a hardtop means also extending the chrome gl*** surround? Or am I thinking about it backwards. I want everything to work and seal up after taking out 3 or so inches from my 55 Capri. Thanks!
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