I know it's been talked to death, but I just have to ask I am going to be chopping the top on my 53 chevy 3" and I thought I had it pretty much figured out until I read some of the posts on this site and they described chopping the roof without making a cut down the center of the roof, my car is a sedan, is it possible to do such a thing to a sedan? Please even though it's been talked about numerous times I would love to hear from some of the experts on here so I dont screw up my car. Thanks willys-a-gas
53Chevy, There are a couple of great people you can talk to about this... First, and foremost, you may want to do a search on chopping either in this board, or do a search for it in the tech section... If you don't turn anything up, I do know a person who is a master at chopping tops that I can appoint you to... TTYL. Later, peace... Troy.
Thanks Mafia, I have been searching for a month now and found bits and pieces here and there then I ran across the post that stated you shouldnt split the roof down the middle which I think is great but i dont know if it could be done on my sedan, if you could turn me to somebody that could answer a few questions I would really appreciate it. thanks willys-a-gas
thanks alot, old beet, I would have never thought to search unfinished chop.. I quess the problem I am running into I noticed everyone either lays down the back window or puts on from another car but what I am looking for is for some information on some leaving the back window stock but cutting it shorter I realize you cant cut the original back window but aftermarket rear gl*** is laminated so i would pick up one of those and have it cut. So I need some pictures of someone who cut the back windows shorter and possible used plexi-gl***, once again thanks I am going to look back for all information.
The problem with just leaving it in the factory location in my opinion is the hump above the rear gl***.When the gl*** is layed forward it not only makes the roof line flow better it also helps close the gap that is created when the roof moves forward.Please don't split the roof.You can move the posts around to make them fit because they are not that far off on a 3" chop.When the roof is split it is really hard to get the roundness back in the roof and in my opinion all that roundnessthat what makes a 50's car a 50's car.I done a couple of these cars so if you have any more ques. PM me and I'll try to help you out as much as I can. Jamie
yes I have done it.... you can see how.. here: http://public.fotki.com/sawzallshop/sawzalls_shop_-_projects/mikes53chevy/ later
yeah,DO NOT cut the roof in half..that'd be the STUPIDEST thing to do..because then you'll have a TON of bodywork to get that gap lookin nonexistant.it's MUCH easier to push IN the posts and either find a way to cut the windshield (if not the stock one,get a laminated one) or use a piece of lexan than it is to fix a spliced roof creepy
Believe me, you wouldnt have to twist my arm too hard not to cut the roof in half that's the only thing that stopped me from starting, I know that would be a nightmare but everyone that i talked to locally told me thats the way it had to be done, (obviously not) I have the wrap around rear window and I really dont like it when you lay down the back window I would rather buy an aftermarket rear window which is laminated and have it cut to fit, there is someone that is about 45 minutes from me that cuts windshields so that wouldnt be a problem Thanks sawzall that's a great job you did on your car Thanks Daddyo I will PM you my email address any help would be greatly appreciated. hotrod54chevy it's the happiest day of my life to hear that i dont have to split that roof down the middle, I knew that would be a real ******* to straighten that out. Can I chop this car with that type of back window? and shorten it? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
5" front- roughly 5 1/2" back, roof slid forward about 6" and a shoebox ford back window laid down. Biggest reshaping of the roof was above the quarter window's to remove the 'crown' to make it flow into the ford window/ sheet metal. like they already said, don't cut the roof in half..you don't need to. And if you don't want to use the original wrap around backlite...start searching junkyards for a donor.. I think a 49-52 chevy back window would look good in one of these and should fit nicely too.. just a thought. (sorry,i know i've posted this too much, but i just wanted to show ya one chopped without cutting the roof in half, and using a different back window..)
Now that is a beautiful Chevy! Having already done my top (I used a '48 Chevy rear window, but similar idea), I'm wondering how you kept your side gl*** angles correct with that much chop? Or does it not matter that much? I cut my roof down both sides because I wanted to reduce the crown height, but it was a huge amount of work for a subtle change, but I was worried about keeping my door posts at the factory angle. Does it not matter?
I leaned my post's in to compensate for the amount of chop, so the stock angle is long gone. To take the crown out of the roof, it was cut about 2" above the drip rail from the door post all the way back to where i had cut the stock window out..about 25". Then it was pie cut and the rear section pulled down to meet the cut at the quarter window. The area at the front of the pie cut was shrunk using heat-hammers-dollies.. I'll admit there was a ton of work in those areas of the roof..especially considering i never did one before.. I had a friend of mine help me do this area..he's an experienced tin knocker and know's how to move sheet metal..he tought me a lot!! taking that much out of the roof did throw everything off as far as angle's of the posts etc..I don't think it would have been that hard with something a little more mild like 2 or 3"..could be wrong though..
I'm probably approaching this thing from the wrong direction because no one else has mentioned this. Are you an experienced bodyman (proficient at bumping, welding, stretching, shrinking, metal finishing)? A chop job is a challenge for a pro and a disaster looking for a place to happen for an amature. If this is your first (or near first attempt at body work) wouldn't it make sense to keep the modifications on the mild side and not take a chance of ruiining your car. The reason I ask is the fact you are seeking advice that an experienced person would know the answer to. I know that in order to learn you have to get your feet wet, but on a job this complicated (and skill intensive) I'd suggest you have a person proficient at this work with you. Frank
Here's my thoughts What do you think? Tony that is a beautiful car, that's my next project after the chop is the tail lights. How deep did you sink them?
All in all i think the way you want to do it is about how i did mine....more or less. My tails are sunk just under 5". The stock backing plate for the original light's is now mounted from the inside of the trunk. I used Lee lenses, made a gasket to seal the lens to the inside of the tail light housing, then used the backing plate to hold the lens to the quarter.. Pretty simple really.. The housing are just sheet metal pieces with 5/16 fuel line as the radius.. Thanks, and good luck.. This car was my first chop, so it can be done.. Tony
If I had a camera here I'd take a picture, but I have been trying to work out the same issues with my 53. Owen's Salvage aka flat-top bob, sold me a rear section out of an older Ford. It looks awesome and I think the transplant will work out great. I've seen this done a couple of times on other cars, seems most people use something similar. I plan to take my top down quite a bit though, so I knew I had very few options when dealing with that damned curved gl***. I don't honestly see it as being that much more work in the end. A couple of people suggested recessing it, but I never was able to find much information on just how to do it, so I went with what I've seen work. There was a red 53 at the last show here in Paso, if you look you'll find pictures in one of the other threads, he had the same gl*** we do and a really mild chop. It looked like a big chop, but the car was extremely lowered so it is kinda decieving. Needless to say, the guy that owned the car had no idea how it was accomplished. Geoff
choprods,,, it's like that expression it all looks good on paper,(wouldnt it be nice if it was that easy) I checked out your website obviously your the man when it comes to chopping, I am curious if you think that the way that I plan to approach this looks like it is doable. I've seen so many pictures of 53 54's that have been chopped using a different rear window which i think is very cool but I would like to use the original shaped window and cut it down, what's your thoughts? thanks 60's there are some great pictures there. Those boys really filleted that car came out great in the end.
The method that you describe is exactly what I'm currently doing to my '52 Plymouth. I took 6" out of the front ant 7 outa the back though. Something you are going to have to consider is the fact that the roof gets smaller as it goes down... meaning you will have to tilt the pillars inward to re-align them. Also I recomend not cutting on the body line. It makes it really hard to realign, and you will prob have to either add or remove metal from this spot. I suggest you extend that cut into the pannel about 1.5 to 2". The rear window will either have to be recessed, or plexi. I'm going plexi for now, I might do a different rear window later on. Good luck its A LOT more work than you think!
Thanks for the reply nailhead, I am absolutely not going to cut it on that body line I am going to leave an inch or so sticking off,(I got a little scissors happy) I plan to buy an aftermarket rear window because they are laminated not tempered like the original and will be no problem for my gl*** guy to cut, no doubt it is alot of work I would never under estimate a job of this calibur but the good thing is it keeps me away from bars,, and fast women,,.
Here's some photos on the internet that I found of the type of chop I would like to do on my car. Looks like original back window but shortened.Anyone know who's car this is?
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