Who knows how where to cut this?

I am in the process of re-chopping my sedan that the previous owner has hacked together. I have taken my time to everything aligned and tacked into place. Exept the rear window on the p***enger side. It is going to have to be cut to get the the body line and the window area looking straight but where do i cut? Where would be the least noticable? I need to move the metal about an eighth of an inch foward. Thanks guys

 

any one?

 

The bodyline to the left looks close so I would take my first cut to the right of that

 

Def get the body line first. Then maybe a pie cut between the line and the window opening to bring it all back together. Is it just misaligned? Is the door opening right? THat might afect the window? Just shootin it out there. Good luck.

 

x2 what they said.

Cut the lower panel:

I'd cut a thin vertical line maybe 5 to 6 inches down VERY close to the forward detail line. Then spread it until it lines up. I doubt you would notice that you would end up with a slighty less than a perfect rectangle window opening. JMO

Seems easier that cutting and recontouring the top panel? It was just cut wrong.

 

"Who knows how where to cut this? "

not to piss on your project here, but a better question is where do I start?
how about making some body mounts and bolting that body down to a frame. Make some bracing for the door opening and try to square the whole thing up, so it can't flex all over the place on you.
my .02
good luck

 

X2

There's no way you'll ever get the roof straight without the floor in the body being solid.

 

X 3
Get the body bolted down set some doors in palce check everything before you work on the chop. If i was to build a house i dont start out with installing the roof trusses first you need a good foundation to build from if you want it to turn out right. I know chopping a top will give an instant change to the look of the car but, in the end it will be a lot more rewarding if you work from a soild base. Just my two bits.

 

Hey,

Does the left rear window line up, and are ya happy with its' look? If so scribe a piece of thin cardboard held up the window opening. Now use this as a guide to tell ya how much to pull the bottom of that Cpost foward to match the upper section. From the photo, it looks like a downward slice in the shape of a pie section is needed 'bout 4"-6" just back of the window radius. I'd throw a couple tack welds on the two character lines before I did any cutting or prying in this area, though.

Yeah, in the real world, it's always best to mount & level a body onto the frame PRIOR to any layout work, cutting or welding. These old body on frame vehicles get really ''floppy'' once cut open, and panel alignment can be serious work if the body isn't held ridgid prior to cutting them open.

Good luck!

" Meanwhyle, back aboard The Tainted Pork "

 

If it's to look like your avatar you neen to chop out 4 or 5 more inches!
Bill.

 

One more vote for getting the body firmly mounted on the frame and getting everything (doors and gaps) lined up and squared up and then redoing the chop.
Not just the older bodies like that one but any car or truck body will move around some when you cut the roof off of it and you may never get things lined up right.

Mount it properly on the frame.
Get the doors to fit exactly the way you want them to
Brace the body so nothing moves (see almost any chop thread for that).
Then do your cutting and refitting.
And you won't have that "Ah, **** what do I do now" feeling because you will have it right from the get go.

 

Yup!! I'm with the other guys. You can't build a house from the roof down,
you need a solid foundation. So start with the body mounting and get the bottom square and then square up the upper body and door openings and finish the roof chop. Lots of 3/4" tubing welded into the body is a good investment. If you take short cuts it will take twice as long!!

The Old Tinbasher