Anyone have info or advice on chopping these? It's a sedan(post) 2dr car. The tops are the same a Buicks of the same year as well. Any direction would be great. Looking at a 3in. chop.
Check out Tex Smiths, How to Chop Tops book.....you'll probaly have to get a new one afterawhile though becuase you'll wear it out. Try just staring at the car and visualising it for awhile. Get some old cardboard and trace your windows and then take the templates and cut them down so you can get the right amount of chop. When you do chop measure twice and cut once. Mark your cut lines with masking tape it's cheap and straight. Just remember the more cuts you make the more distortion you have, and more **** you have to line up afterwards.
Talk to ChopOlds here on the HAMB. He's one o the best builders in the Jersey area and has a chopped '55 Olds. He can probably give you some pointers.
I know every one has to start somewhere but I'd do alot of research before you do anything. It would **** to **** up a good 54 Olds. Where are you located Frank Palmer from my neck of the woods did a 55 Olds sedan not long ago.
Thanks for the kudos, Joe! Not one of the best, just a dedicated backyard builder! I did my 55 about 20 something years ago. The sheetmetal work is pretty basic. I did mine 2 1/2", but it's a hardtop, so the roofline is pretty low to begin with. I had to widen the roof 1/2" up front, so the top posts lined up with the bottoms. You don't want to fool with changing the shape of the windsheild posts, as the gl*** is severely curved. Ao no 'angling' the post inward, or back. The rear window would have presented problems, as it, too is a wraparound. Mine was pretty rotten, so I swapped it to a 57 Olds. Took me 3 months to get it all s***ched back together, part time. Lots of cutting, and piecing together! The tough part is the windsheild. I could not find anyone to cut it, so I did it myself. Not a job for the weak of heart! I cut the top off, the required amount, and then had to take out a small angled wedge on the side wraps, so the gl*** would lay back down up top. Very tricky stuff! I then had a regular gl*** guy, and local custom dude, Bob Barkoff, do the final polishing of the edges, fitting, and installation. Next of the headache list is the vent window surrounds, but you may not need to worry about that, being a sedan. Mine was pot metal, I had to find a great welder to put them back together. There's also lots of stainless trim to cut and weld back together. If I get time, I can post some old pics.
This is exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks for the insight. Yeah, the idea of chopping a low miles, Super 88 ruffles the feathers of a few, but after having some ol' lady walk by and say" Look, there's an Oldsmobubble!" that was the deciding factor. Chopolds, If you could post some pics, that would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
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