chopping a 40 chevy pickup

any suggestions? Gonna jump in tommorow.... pics? i have found a few but it seems like everyone does it a different way....anyone with experience?

 

Three window or Five window. Suggestions: Plan. Just jumping right in leads to a nightmare of rework and a world of pain.

Plan around the windows. How will they fit after the chop?

 

it will get wider and longer so plan for that

 

actualy the top is wider than the bottom, that top has plenty of curves every which way, don't go to much on the chop

 

I did mine. Still need to finsih welding it out, but you can look through my build pics.

Best place to cut the roof is near the lower edge of the back window. I cut the window out first and sectioned it half as much. 5" out of the roof, 2.5" out of the window.

You will need to cut the roof left to right and add in a strip across the top if you want to keep the windshield angle. If you aren't afraid of a bigger job, you could lean the windshield back, but that entails doing the same to the window frames on the doors, also.

I narrowed my can 4.5", so I'm not sure that you need to split the roof down the centerline, but you might. The piece I tool out was not tapered, so you might not need to.

Take the section out of the A-pillars up pretty high. There's lead down low.

I suggest welding in bracing laerally and diagonally in the cab and the roof. I didn't get too since I narrowed mine, but it will save some h***le if you can preserve the shape.

EDIT: well, just saw all my picture links have died, so shoot me an email and I'll attach some to my reply. I'll have to sit down and relink all my pics.

 

Here's an older post on one way to do it

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48269

use the search function and type in 41 chevy chop or 46 chevy chop, they are all the same cab top from 39-46

 

Let's try these:

 

I'll be back with more shortly.

 

I did a chop on a '37 Chevy pickup and a '40 Chevy pickup. Quite similar to scottybaccus. I cut the rear window out first also. I took 2.5 inches out of it and 4 inches off the top of the cab. He is right about there being lead in the lower part of the windshield post. Excellent thing to remember to point out. Also dont forget to watch where your cuts will be so not to interfere with any of the hardware in the door jambs or A pillar post trim pieces. And lots of bracing! Here are a few pics. I have a bunch more that I can't find.

 

Check this one out. Alex gambino is doing mine and here is the post on how to do it

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=578435

 

I found this one after I had already finished mine. ^^^^^ Wish I had found it beofre. Absolutely awesome work.

 

thanks for the chop pix, i just snagged a '40 cab and sooo want to chop it.


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Alex is a genius. I love the way he split the roof panel.

 

very well thought out i will be using this technique when i get to mine

 

Here's a few cut lines on my 41, 4 inches out of the top and 2 inches under the rear window and 2 inches through the rear window. This was my first and only chop about 15 years ago, probably do a couple things different now days.

 

He is the best !! That's for sure . He should be posting more pick of the chop soon

 

Time to wake this one up..... how about an update?