I think its time for a carson top on the shoebox

First things first go to the guy who jacked it all up, Take his welder from him and beat him severely !!! Then work on getting a new roof.

 

"If the frame sags or whatever"

Seems to be some confusion with will or won't a frame sag. Cut a roof off a unibody car and it will sag. cut the top off a car with a frame and it won't because the body is bolted to the rigid frame.

 

Sorry bro, I thought it was a frame car.

Wait, really, 50 Ford is unibody?

 

Driving to Mi an buying the roof would be cheaper than a Carson top in the long run. It also won't be ugly as **** ( not a Carson Top fan).

 

Frame or not. They will both sag, or move, without additional bracing when you cut the top off. Gotta treat them like a convertible, if it's a convertible and over structure them the same way...John

 

DONT CUT THE ROOF OFF AND DRIVE IT!
You'd have to drive it with bracing everywhere. The door jambs would cave like a sum***** (If they havent already). If the chop is that bad I am wondering if they even bothered to brace the inside. Try and find a donor roof. They are out there. Even if you end up with a more -door or a sedan roof, you can always cut it to fit. I made a coupe out of a sedan. Everytime I see a Carson top, I think chop job gone wrong. Just my two cents.

 

HAHAHA! It sure will ****in sag! BIG TIME! The frame won't sag,but the body will! You don't brace it up first,you'll go through hell aligning everything back up.

 

Donor top! I think that's the best wat to go.

 

I'd suggest selling it to someone that can actually afford to do something with it. Then when you get into a better position to build a car that isn't throw together in a haphazard manner you will be a whole lot happier. Your wife and child too. Things take time in this world. I know. I have been there.

 

carson tops look good (sometimes) on 40s cars,,i've only seen a handful of 50s cars where it works,,,,a donor roof is your best bet in my opinion, , ,

 

Hey,

A few quick questions: What kinda experience do you have in chopping vehicles, what tools and shop area? Are ya a good welder?

A guy with average to advanced skills can do more with less money than a guy with little skill/experience. The fact that it's a coupe isn't a biggie to someone with advanced skills, you can move the Sail panels and the Dutchman panel anywhere you wan't. You'll have to add metal to the roof to cover movin the top panel foward anyway, so adding an extra 6''-10'' ain't a biggie to someone who's been there. Yeah, the roof you've got to work with isn't great, but if you're broke, addin alittle metal to this one to save it, will free up cash for other areas of the build.

To make a real "Carson Type Top" requires alot of metal fab experience, as well! All of the metal framing that supports the vinyl top, the rear gl***, the areas where the side gl*** meet the cant rail, all have to be built. Even one of those sad "Tupperware" deals requires planning and fabrication.
If you just cut the roof off this vehicle and figger you'll drive it as is, you;ll really **** it up! True drop tops, have boxed frames and more steel box sections in the rockers, floors, back panels & cowls, they ain't just 2dr. with the roof panel left off!

Good luck,

S****y Devils C.C.
" Humpty Dumpty was pushed !"

 

I vote donor roof too. That thing is ugly...

 

"HAHAHA! It sure will ****in sag! BIG TIME! The frame won't sag,but the body will! You don't brace it up first,you'll go through hell aligning everything back up. "

Exactly! what are you adding to this? Folks whom replied thought the frame would sag, big diffrence between body and frame. Still wouldn't cut the top off.

 

From what I have seen...I would say 75% of the shoeboxes with a carson type top on them do not look good, but the other 25% I think look real sharp, not against them at all!

I would post pics of ones that I love but not sure if that is kosher on this board or not.

This is a learning project for me. No time frame, no delusional expectations about the outcome. If it ends up being a big pile of parts so be it, I can take out the motor, transmission, dash, gauges, all but the body and start with something else.

Im not to worried about the bracing of the frame on this one. The car was braced on the interior when the "chop" was done. The doors are aligned perfect believe it or not.

I will search the yards here when I can find some time and see what they have. Thanks all for the helpful input!

 

We have many resources here in Idaho for your top concerns.

 

appreciate it Jaws.

 

Whack it off.

Weld the doors up. Don't need 'em on a roadster.

Best wishes on your project.

 

No read what I said...If you are just going to take the top off and roll it around like that without a top, yes you must be reading to much Ol Skool Rodz......

 

hey devotion, 2 door donor roof on ebay,epay,egay, whatever you want to call it. $10.00

 

appreciate the heads up on that roof! I will watch it.

 

Who gave Helen Keller a jigsaw?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1949-1950-1951-Shoebox-Ford-2dr-roof-for-chop-top-donor_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3a54a4aaacQQitemZ250528180908QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_687wt_1167

found this on egay,i am not involved in the sale....

 

Go for the Carson Top if you want to. Not enough of them around these days. Just remember to brace the b-pillar door jamb area. You can see how they do it at Extreme Customs web site. Good luck.

 

Hey, I have a top cut off a 49 coupe that got the Carson top treatment its yours if you want to pick it up, got cut right behind the header panel most of the post and right below the rear gl***.

No way will I will consider shipping or delivering it, so please don't ask. If you turn it down it will become a friday night freebie or I'll louver the hell out of it and become wall art.

 

"Hey, I have a top cut off a 49 coupe that got the Carson top treatment its yours if you want to pick it up, got cut right behind the header panel most of the post and right below the rear gl***.

No way will I will consider shipping or delivering it, so please don't ask. If you turn it down it will become a friday night freebie or I'll louver the hell out of it and become wall art. "<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

What a deal!

 

I have a feeling free is just too expensive for this guy.

 

Nah! free is just right, he has a few weeks and if its still here before Xmas it will become a Friday night freebie.


OOPS! forgot to mention it but believe I have the rear side windows and sheetmetal that was cut off also, just sweetening the pot so to speak.

 

Totally curbspeed, free is way to expensive for this guy. Thanks Zapato. I am working on freeing up some time to do a suicide mission up there some day if at all possible. I will let you know by the end of the week.

 

So Billy Beaver, Devotion and I fixed the roof on this thing. Here are some before pictures







Billy Beaver (Tyler) cutting out the windows

 

Here are some progress pictures. We finished the roof I just do not have the final pictures uploaded yet. I will post them when I do.