Well, I started and I ain't showin any photos just yet. But if you see me on the street walking with a MIG in my hand, take it away from me and beat me with it! So, I cut the top 3 1/2" and did a pretty god job. Then I got ****y and tried to MIG it back together...holy **** am I BAD! I C-clamped the **** out of the rear side roof panel and started welding away. Found that I had too much metal on the bottom section so I made a few vertical slices in the lower section to lose some metal and.... fugged it up. It can be fixed but need someone in the know. I COULD run a HEALTHY slab of BONDO and it would work (look ok) but then I won't be able to sleep at nite knowing all that 1/2"+ plastic is stuck to the side of my truck plus I will need an air shock on that side to level the truck due to the weight. I found out why you shouldn't run a continuous weld bead but should tack (short weld...very short weld) two pieces together. I knew this but didn't do it. Maybe it was because I got up at 4:30 a.m. worked til 6:30p.m. had three gl***es of wine and started welding at 8:30 p.m. Naw.....I just got antsy and jumped into it without much thought. So, my shop's a mess and I'm depressed. Anyone know of a very descriptive article of a 3 window (no side corners) Chevy P.U. that does not have the roof sectioned but does have the front pillars leaned back? I'll pay dearly for it....I've already paid something by doing what I did...so I figure I'll just pay smore'.
Sorry to hear that. It takes a MAN to admit you F---ed up Sounds like it's roadster time. Lets see some pics. It's only metal it can always be fixed. -stick
Boyd Who has an excellent web page that he posted recently, search his user name and you should find it. It inspired me to chop my top.
Hah! No disrespect pal, but you're adventure sounds alot like my attempt at putting in my own firewall. You could surf on those waves! Anyhow, hit the boneyards with a 18V sawzall. Get yourself a new roof and try again. What the hell! You had the br*** to try it the first time, at least you know where you "Fugged-up". BTW did you brace or not?
as ive been told... its just metal. body work looks tedius, the end result being the deciding factor in wether or not you have a cool car or a POS. you could always whack the top off completely or find a roof section and have another go at it... not the end of the world, haha as an aside, i grew up in pacifica (***uming you are in the bay area) on lerida way.
Take a little time here, but there is'nt (almost) anything that can't be fixed metal wise. Post some pics or as others suggested get yourself another top and start over.
I did the same thing on a bronco 2 that I converted into a pick up.lol I feel your pain..I got really pissed at myself and painted the damn thing with a roller and some industrial paint that slowly ate away at the roller so the whole truck became "the wolly mamoth". Damn-it I'm stupid..
I really wanted a wicked whack anyway so I may just go and shave smore' off! I'm meeting with a metal master tonight to look over the situation. However, I told him I'M gonna' fix it...just tell me where and how to move. If he doesn't need resuscitation after he hits his head on the floor from laughing. plan9 - yep my best friend lives on Lerida! And what's a POS?????
Hey man...it happens to us at one point or another. We have the guts to try it and learn. Then, years later when it has all been a good time we can tell these stories and laugh. Beleive me, you will be able to. I can. My first chop was on a '56 F100. Should be easy, right? Vertical A posts and reasonably vertical B posts. Well I decided that I should cut the roof down the center to get everything to line up. But...before I figured out that I'd have to reconstruct that intricate bunch of sheet metal at the front drip rail/windshield over hang I hacked away. Tacked it back on and it looked sorta cool. Ut-oh. The windshield didn't have the same angle as the current A post configuration. Damn. WhaddaIdonow? About a week after my nasty bout of self admonishment and whimpering and sulking, I ran into a majick metal man that I had met when I was working for Eddie Paul. This guy dragged me over to his place and after some cussing and a couple of beers had me all put back together and on the road to a nice looking chop. We actually welded that nasty cut back together. I should have gotten another top because they were very available. That might be better for you if you need one. But...I did use about a gallon of Bondo to get the roof to look right again. Most folks didn't even notice that I had had such a nightmarish metal drama going on underneath that plastic. I had the truck for another 18 years after that. It sat a bit lower as a result but, hey, low is good, right?
I cannot enlarge the photos so it's hard to tell had bad it is. However, it is a major whack! I had two guys over yesterday, one verbally abusing me while he was showing me how it should be done on the other side I didn't weld yet. The other guy was very positive and said it can be fixed and showed me how to use my MIG with ME doing it. Two great guys with two different approaches and I learned a TON. The most important is be finicky and TAKE YOUR TIME. Welding sheetmetal is tedious and you need patience! I tried to post some pics...first time...hope it comes out. Can you tell which is my job vs, the others?
Here's a pic of 'Johnnylonghairs' truck. Wicked chop, and looks to me that those A pillars have been leaned. He may be able to give you some info on the chop..of maybe even 'Clark'.. This does look killer in person!
****, I did it! My first photos ever!!!!!!! Ok, now that I did it, how do I slant the posts? Both of the guys I had over said to lengthen the roof to meet the posts and not slant them. I like the look of slanted posts. I'll send a photo.....
Props for being able to admit that you screwed up, it takes anybody to say "I did it, I did it!!!", but it takes a real man to admit that they screwed up. It looks like the chop was going perfectly well until you got to the welding part. My advice: Roadster tyme!!! Lil' window pickem'ups with carson tops look nasty, that's what I'd do if the chop got screwed up, but that's just me. Well, props again for admitting your follies. Take care... Troy.
Sorry, i wish i could help ya out on that..but i really don't know. Send him a pm and ask him the details on it..i'm sure he'll help you out if he can. As far as goofing that one up..no big deal. just a little more work. It's only metal, and metal can be fixed.. Plus, thats how we learn thing's..when you get done with it, not only will it look good, but you'll know how to do the next one..
I have a 51 also and have thought about a chop.The jobs that I have looked at that are done right have had the top quartered. That seems to look better on this body style than leaning the posts back. But thats whats great about this hobby. your the only one that has to like it.
Street Trucks magazine has a how-to on chopping a 47-53 chevy in their October '05 issue. They did not section the roof and laid the post back. Temecula Rods and Customs did the chop.
Thanks for the kind words, gasman! For anyone who wants to see how I did the chop, there's a link to some pics at the bottom of my main web page: http://www.nucleus.com/~agingles I didn't have to quarter the top, just added one piece between the front and back. I don't particularly like the windshield posts laid back. I took 3" out of this one. Here's what it turned out like...
DONE DEAL! Since I took 3 1/2" out, the laid back posts would be even more exaggerated! I mave have access to another roof which I will cut longer and only have ONE seam in the roof?!?!?!?!?! Thoughts? What french headlights are yours from? The info on this forum is worth some serious appreciation, thanks, beers, cheers, etc.
We took 5" out of the front and 4" at the rear and leaned the pillars back real hard. Any other questions just give me a shout, glad to help out.
A second top section would work quite well. I had one when I did my chop, but it wasn't in very good condition. I just took a slice from it to use as my filler strip. As gasman correctly answered, the frenched headlight rings are '52-54 Ford.
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