Chop First or Channel First? Does it Matter

I've been reading a lot of threads on both chopping and channeling Model A's and have found tons of useful information but I have a question. I want to chop (4" - 5") and channel (3") my '28 Special Coupe. Should I chop it first or channel it first, or does it matter? I bought the car in nearly complete condition, because it was pretty much the same price as just bodies that I have seen, so it's still sitting on the stock frame with all the interior wood intact. I do have another frame that is boxed and Z'd 10" in the rear to put it on.
BTW I'm going to sell the fenders and other parts to re-coup some of my gas money it took to pick it up.

As I understand either way I'm going to have to weld supports inside to keep the body rigid.

Thanks, your knowledge and experience is appreciated.

 

Chop the top first, get all chop work finished and aligned and then do the channel.

Don't do either if you are 6' or over.

 

I'm only about 5'8" and will want to put in bomber seats. I don't plan any long distance driving right now but that may change.

 

wow....that car looks like it's in great shape. I'd hate to see you do either to it.

 

I agree.

 

Ditto... But if you absolutely want to cut a virgin car. Do the chop first.

 

X3

 

Man, that's just wrong. You'd actually be more original these days by leaving it be and running the fenders. Are you sure you can't find a less than perfect body to cut up first?

 

I agree, that thing would sell for enough to buy another body, frame and many other nifty trinkets.

 

more model A's have been destroyed in the last 10 years than in the scrap drives of world war II. it's a shame.

 

the only person who is going to be stuck with that car when its done is you. so do whatever you want. just make it rad!!
we channeled my truck and set up the floor first becuase i knew that it was going to be both chopped and channeled. having the floor in was nice beacuse it added rigidness (is that a word?) to the cab and helped give me an idea if i was going to be able to see the stoplights.

 

I would channel first... it's easier to get in and our of the coupe when it's stock height!! Much easier to work in!

Plus the channel will determine the amount of chop you want to do. You don't want your head folded up against the roof!


Geoffrey... it's Rigidity.

 

I thought this was what hot rodding was about?! I say Cut it up!!

 

It's been said " anyone can restore an antique, but it takes a real man to cut one up". Its your car the only one you have to please is you. It really dosen't matter which you do first. That being said.IMO when you chop it it needs to be mounted solidly to the frame it will run on. therefore I would vote for the channel first.

 

Creativity is lost on the lemmings.........................

 

I'd have to agree with DRuss32 in that if you are going to both chop and channel it I'd want to channel it first and then see if you wanted to chop it at all. Those cars are pretty well cramped for anyone of any size to begin with an you don't want to make it so that you can't drive it like a lot of these hacked down A coupes I see.

I'd suggest designing in some driver comfort when you first build it. You will enjoy the car a lot more and drive a lot more and further if it is fairly comfortable to sit in and drive. You can still have cool looking bomber style seats that you can actually sit comfortably in and drive the car.

I'm Mr. chop and modify it but from looking at the photos of that particular little A I think it would be a crime to cut it down like that just to have a chopped and channeled car. To me it would be pretty cool full fendered with maybe a slight chop if at all and all the goodies that made an early full fendered A coupe neat. Chances are you would drive it a lot more and in the long run enjoy it a lot more.

 

That is pretty sad you are hacking that car up, but if you are dead set on it, the chop needs to be done first. The way to do it with the least chances of screwing it up is:
Leave the body bolted down to the frame. Do lots up inner supports, then cut. If your body is not flat, there is a good chance it is out of square. Just do lots of prep work before you dive in.
Maybe you could start a thread looking for a trade of something to cut up? At least give someone a shot of saving it? It's your car though. Good Luck.

 

If you must do anything, first have a good concept.

Before you do either, consider leaving it alone.

When you do figure out what you want to do, I have to agree with Druss. It seems that you will get the proportions that you want in the end better — if you channel it first then chop it.

Many East Coast rides were channeled and not chopped at all. It wasn't as "Bad-ass" as the slammed cars that are around, but it is an alternative and will give you a car that will stand out from the others that have had this done.

 

There are a lot of projects out there to buy that come with a lot of parts you will want.
Maybe better to sell that car you have and buy a 3/4 done project ( body, frame, lots of parts )
have fun
wil
www.sakowskimotors.com

 

True, and by no means am I a restorer, but there's far to many rough bodies out there to justify hacking up something that nice. Here's a perfect candidate, just across the border. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1930...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3356581f70

 

I say cut the shit out of it.

 

I kinda thought this would be a controversial question considering the shape of the car. I can appreciate both sides.
If I were in the States I would have a larger area to choose from. To be honest when I've been looking in Ontario there aren't many to be had at a reasonable price (< $10K). Also, bringing on across the border is a royal pain, from what I've been told. Buying parts alone you nearly double your costs in UPS or FedEx shipping.

 

kaamsc ... I also see & appreciate both sides ... it is a very nice car and would make a very cool hiboy (or full fendered) coupe ... but if you are going to chop & channel it, then I agree with those that have suggested you channel it first ... that's exactly what my father did with his Deuce 5wd back in the '50s:

 

i try and only cut the shitty ones up....
but if you are doing it i would do the channel first to get the body where you want it, then you can let the look determine how much chop. its easy to say 6 inch chop but if you have it channeled real low alot of times a smaller chop will look better.

 

I channeled mine first as I wasn't going to chop it, but now I'm chopping it 4''.I know what people are saying about not cutting it up, but its YOUR car and you do as you want.Mine was a piece of shit when I got it so it was no loss to cut the Bugger up!
I look forward to your progress no matter what you decide as that is one very NICE lookin' ''A''!

Nick.

 

lol i guess he already said that.

well then i agree!! haha

 

That's awesome. That's the type of look I'm going for. I haven't seen any at the shows I've been to up here. The ones I have seen have been channelled/not chopped or full fendered or chopped/full fendered. While I like them I haven't seen chopped and channelled coupe up here (that's not a rat rod).

The picture of the body alone was the same price as I paid for my coupe.

 

I know their not coupes, but here's some food for thought.

 

Is this what you are wanting to do, but with a 28/29?

 

I'd say fill the top at least first, it will add some strengh to the car.