Do you remember one of our early conversations about chopping the top and not leaning the A and B post in to adjust for the narrower distance above the glass?
Yes and I am still sorting that out. The pickup you showed as an example was pretty easy as the A pillars are big and meaty. The ones on the Chevy are kinda thin and spindly. I know it can be done, I just have to make the right cuts. I have 3 roofs to work with. Something you said has stuck with me... "...the radius is your friend..."
I did my 50 Olds that way. That was a dang long time ago. Wish I had photographed it. Wish I knew where it ended up! By the way, I'm excited to see this coming together. You've done well.
I cant help but love to see how something cleans up after you cut that rusty edge off it, making it sanitary and whole again, ready to accept new metal I know, Im weird but have a feeling I may not be alone Lookin good!
I couldn't help but think about the A posts on this project. I hear ya about them being light weight. That really isn't an issue. In looking at this photo I believe you can just remove the actual pinch weld lip and leave all the rest of the post drip rail and all on the Cowell your going to use. On the new roof panel just remove the drip rail and with a cut off disc cut it vertical on the inside and outside removing it from the door jamb section. Take the amount off the new part your Chopping it and slide it down inside the outer post. This of course after you brace all 4 of them so not to loose there angle or inside outside measurements. You may need to use a small section of the very bottom of new post section to get bottom corner right for the glass.
Cutting cars apart on a gorgeous November Sunday afternoon is a great way to spend the day. The obligatory "roof on the ground" picture but this roof isnt going back on this car.
Been harvesting parts from the 2 door donor. I need to repair the rusted out cowl braces so the doors are supported properly. When I cut the roof off it became very apparent that these braces are important! I need to decide the best place to cut the donor cowl brace to splice it into the cowl brace that's rusted out.
The next step after repairing the cowl braces is going to be bolting the floor pan and cowl down with the rubber mounting pads at the correct locations, and then start rebuilding the inner rockers on both sides. I purchased a body mounting hardware set when I bought the mounting rubber so I will put all new fasteners in.With the huge stack of fender washers supplied, I'm thinking these might be for shimming where needed. Also, there are only (8) eight 3/8" nuts and 16 bolts of varying lengths. I will find where these go along the way I suppose. The carriage bolts are easy to locate where they go, as the originals have tabs in the floorboards to hold them in place. Lesson learned here is I should have documented what bolt went where when I pulled the body off this car a couple years ago. The donor car will be helpful in figuring all that out. I'm making this up as I go so all this might change! *shrug*
Doing some repair work on the firewall/cowl mounts tonight. Lots of grinding and sanding trying to make it look halfway decent. I'm going to get the passenger side decent looking then pull the steering column so I can get at the drivers side. So far so good.
I like to think it all started from those blows to the head we all took when we were young, but no matter what started it, it's so much more satisfying when you're done with something that somebody else said couldn't be done lol.
It's a sickness. I found this and am desperately trying to get in touch with the guy. This would cut my bodywork time in half, having a complete uncut roof to work with. Then I'll have more than enough cars and parts to build a Ute along with a chopped Sedan Delivery! Wait!! One project at a time....
Hope the inside is piled full of parts with the back Glass wrapped in foam rubber to protect it. Now where do you start once home?
Well the first step is to let the adrenaline rush subside. As silly as it sounds, I am pumped about this find. My mind is moving in too many directions to even begin to think on how to proceed.
You can barely make out the lettering in the "patina". This was a Tom's Toasted Peanuts car at one time. I think it's a bit too far gone to get it to pop back out with CLR or something like that. What a shame!
So the gentleman that I bought the car from was gracious enough to load it up on HIS trailer and bring it to my house and drop it off. We made a good deal and both of us walked away happy and smiling. Thanks Ernest!
You're getting qute a collection! Congrats on getting something someone didn't previously molest to um... molest! I'm un-screwing up a previous owners hacks on my 51 today as well. I'll smell some grinder dust in your honor.
Mike from the pickers show revealed this was one of his “secrets” to bring the color out on signs etc.
Do cars rust that badly in Texas? In my experience, you get the car to the point that you have it now, then find body #2 and it is so good that you abandon the first one.
The Jalopy Journal
