Technical BODY, A fool chops at home. Step-by-step photos.

That's areally nice resolution to that door pillar.
I was just trying to visualize your stainless? window frames and the frames on a first generation Datsun 240Z came to mind (because I have the frames and door glass in my "collection I guess) You might want to check one out to see what kind and how big of an inner flange/lip they used on hte body and the shape of the rubber weather strip, just for an idea, design inspiration. Also, about any Corvette since '68. A lot of cars had frameless door glass in the 70's. Most of them the rubber was huge and ugly but worth looking at to see how or even how not to do it.
I'm sure your sollution will be as tastful as the rest of the car so far...
I gotta see it some time!!!

 

What are those door mirrors???!!!

 

<font color="green">I saw a guy this weekend that did a hardtop conversion on a similar beast.

Although yours is WAY more refined.

He solved the window deal with Electronics.

Not TRAD I know but it was some cool engineering.
when you worked the door handle, the window rolled down enough to clear and then a solenoid popped the door open.

Just a thought.

NICE WORK! </font>

 

how much did you take out of the roof? looks good. post more photos!

 

NICE JOB! Thanks for taking the time to post your photos....

 

Awesome post...and one of the nicest kustoms I've seen. It's especially nice because it isn't one I've seen done quite like that before.

Do you have any detail or in-progress shots from when you welded the patch in place over the rear window to contour the original roofline into the new back window surround? I noticed in one shot you had a strip of sheet metal in place...did you cut out more of the original roof? When adding metal across the width of the roof like that (or on the front like you did) is it best to work from one side to the other, or is it best to do a little on each side and work toward the center? I'm not familiar enough with the way metal behaves under that kind of heat, but I'm going to have to do some similar work on my chop and I'm terrified of warping the metal.

Thanks again for the great post.
Curt

 

The first factory stainless door window frames like what you're describing were on the 41-42 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special that a "rookie" Bill Mitchel designed. They called it the convertible look.
Thought you might like to look at the history of the breed; http://www.car-nection.com/yann/dbas_txt/Phocad42.htm

 

Nice.

Someday someone's gonna say "I chopped it like the Cleatus Chevy" and they will reply "Oh, yeah, cool."

 

You did good, looks nice.

 

Oh yeah....I guess it would be good to say how much it was cut: 4" in front / 5" in back.

Doc: those mirrors are something I found at a swap which appear to be old aftermarket items that have "AECO - Hollywood" cast into the base. I have not seen another pair exactly like them.

Rash: I client/friend of mine is building a 49 Merc that will use the electronic partial roll down before opening the doors feature (from a BMW). He is even doing curved side glass in it (cut from a Yukon windshield I think) to match the curve of the door. Definitely not a traditional styled car, but it will be very cool when he is done with it. But that all seemed way too complicated for my more basic building skills, so I am using the low-tech approach.

 

great post, I love all your posts regarding this car.. One of my favs...

 

Incredible! Thanks for the post. I learned a lot.

 

WOW! that is one great job! What type of welder are you using?

 

nice post cleatus. Great work.

 

Wasn't even going to come in here, then I remembered what you were doing. Damn glad I did. Thanks. A lot of great tips, patience, and work.

Said it before. This place is better at putting forth the info the mags should. Real world.

Dead heat with Bleed's radiator shell post, and Sams buildup as my favorite all time.

 

i think this is one the most interesting projects on this board. cleatus, some time in the future, it would be great to see a comprehensive post covering the entire buildup. i want to see that car in person sometime too - it's beautiful.

 

One of the best posts ever.
Cleatus, that car is incredible. Just a gorgeous work of art.
Your dedication and workmanship are admirable.
I wanna see it in person one day. The magazines ought to be jumping all over your Kustom.

 

what they all said, great job......

 

Thats super RAD...

nice chop dude....

PC -

 

Great progress shots. Your attention to deatil is awesome.

Ryan needs to put this in the Tech-o-matic.

Keep up the good work.

Neal

 

DAMN!! If you're an amatuer, where the hell does that leave us real amatuers? Maybe we can say you're in the minor leagues, I guess that would put me at the t-ball level.

 

Cleatus, I have a question. Do you have to have the window down to open the door?That is one fine fat fendered custom. Thanks for posting the pictures.The light green primer fits the car also. TP

 

TRIPLE WOW!
(1) The post is right on and very well written...
(2) The workmanship is inspiring to say the least!
(3)The (mostly) finished car is incredible in line and proportion!

But don't get a swelled head or anything! Your still only little Cleatus from the HAMB...even if you do become a customizing legend!
WE know were you came from...
Thanks for a deadly post!


Bill

 

Yeah, I agree, first chop, just learned to weld my ass! That is some seriously wicked shit my friend. Damn, I NEED to learn to weld pronto...

 

that makes me want to just start tearing into my 41.....

Thanks a lot for the pics cleatus!

 

Thanks for sharing and especially the detail cleatus. It's posts like this that make me feel braver in my garage (and also embarrased at my own slow progress.)
--------------------
"My Doc said stop drinking... so I'm going to freeze it now and eat it like a popsicle." Dean Martin

 

"I am not worthy....I am not worthy..." AWESOME!!

 

Thanks for all the kind words my brothers, it means a hell of a lot, and I sure do appreciate the knowledge I gained from the HAMB - wish I'd found this place a couple years sooner into this project!

The car was certainly a labor of love thing and a real learning experience for me. Still working the bugs out - I do all right on changing the sheetmetal, but I sure wish I was a better mechanic (as you could prob tell by my various dumb questions on the HAMB from time to time), but I did put over a hundred miles on it this past weekend just motoring around the countryside without problems, so I think I'm getting close - then I can get back to the fun stuff (customizin!).

I have plans to change the whole front of the car - again!

 

What they all said, i was reading the chop with great interest, until i came to the almost finished pic of the car. WOW then i realised it was that car...i love that car, so i went back &amp; read it all again!!
one of the best posts &amp; very very inspiring.

 

SENSATIONAL!

Nice work Cleatus. So what colour you going to paint it?