I'm back on the forum after a way to long time. I had no chance to work on my 1957 imperial. I hope that I can realy start of this year. All the parts for the 392 I have now, just need to get the block to the chop for a hone and linebore. I haven found this pic on the internet http://www.johndagostinokustomkars.com/images/57 Imperial Imperial Royale.jpg My 1957 is a 4 door ht but with the same roof line. I like the looks of the choped roof. But to cut the windschield seems to be a bit of a problem . Is there any experiance here with having it cut with a waterjet. A new windschield for a 57 imperial is hard to get overhere in the netherlands. Remco
Maybe you can sink the gl*** into the car so you don't have to cut the gl*** heres a pic of gene winfields caddy as an example.
On most builds, D'Agostino has custom windshields made by some guy from Finland(?) I believe. On a tough-to-do wraparound like yours, that would be the best solution. But expensive! There's beena lot of threads about getting custom curved gl*** made, but with no real authority, or real prices. I know for a fact, that the custom rear windshield made for the Barris designed, Jerry Kind built, Chrysler City Coupe cost about 10,000$, done here in the US. I think the second one was only 2 or 3000m, so after molds are made, repos are cheaper than the first one. The second best alternative would be to cut the gl*** and build your windshield opening to fit it. The more you cut, the more fabrication is needed. I did very little on my 55 Olds when I chopped it back in 83. You might also have to fabicate, or really rework you trim for the gl***. Sinking it into the cowl is another alternative. Be warned, though that doing this effectively makes the gl*** too small for the opening, and you'll be doing sheet metal fabrication on this version, too. We did the Kopper Kart gl*** to simulate this way of doing it. Barris sunk in the gl***, probably due to the fact that cutting curved gl*** was still new, esp. the deep wraparounds, and also, that the rear was tempered...not able to be cut. The gl***, esp. up front, was too small for the normally chopped roof, so they extended the pinchwelds to fit the gl***, and then made extensions between the stock trim and the windshield rubber to fill in the space. This look is OK for some, but not very attractive, my personal opinion. I've also seen where they "thicken" the pillars to make up the difference for the smaller gl***..again, OK for some.......
do a search here, and online. lots of info/opinions available on cutting curved gl***. my '54 Chevy coupe had the front & rear gl*** lowered into body
Hello Remco DK autoglas in Alphen a/d Rijn can make autogl*** in every size you desire, also curved gl***. So also topchop gl*** is no problem. See www.dk.nl Groeten Hennie