Ok Big Mac and Carbs n Chrome stopped by today and while they were here they showed me how to post multiple pics. so lets try it out.. Here the top is still off and the A pillars are cut 3". . Now the top is set back down on to the A pillars. The alignment is very close. . The rear is adjusted until the profile looks right then the top (witch was cross braced just like body)is tacked in place with tubing between the inner structures.This moved the roof forward 3" and down in the back around3.75"
Now the body line around the back and part of the panel behind it are removed. . With the roof leveled squared centered and looking good. The B pillar is reinstalled. Then the body line is set in place for reference. . With the panel clamped in place I soon realized that the rear corner's should have stayed on the body and the cut should have followed the body line around the car. It also became clear that if I cut the body line in to pieces then reinstalled them I could avoid could avoid cutting slits in the C pillar/back of roof. .
I then cut the center out of the rear panel and set it in place. The roof was then cut and clamped in place. . With the bodyline tacked to the roof I cut a piece of sheet to go between the roof and trunk and clamped it in place. . After these panels were welded then I reinstalled the corners where they came from. . Then the other side. . Then I started piecing the quarter window and body line back in. .
with both quarter windows tacked it was time to start piecing the corners. Some relief cuts were made. . And then the corners are tacked up piece by piece. .
Nice work! Can't wait to see this at the end. Also I like the way you cut the front cross member to get it lower. Might do the same with my 37 pickup.
I knew the chop on a 5w was more complicated than a 3w, but that is quite the jig-saw puzzle! Glad you know what you're doing.......
Nice Kipp. When you says 3" in front and 3.75" in rear is it along the posts or did you measure it vertical?
Thanks everyone. The chop was very time consuming but I think it was the only way to get the results I was looking for. We will have finished pics of the chop soon.
After welding and a lot of grinding sanding and hammer n dolly work the corners are done. . And the other side. . A center view. The center panel needs a lot more hammer n dolly work and the right corner of the rear window needs a little adjusting but i'll come back to that.
On to the A pillars. A little adjusting to align better. Then some welding and finish work. With both sides finished we are ready to start on the door top's.
That's some nice metal work there, my 11 y/o is sitting beside me sayin' it's cool too (so i guess it must be). Scotty
Now on to the door tops. A little t******* and the front half is tacked in place. The 2 pcs lined up pretty good with only a little adjustment. I seen a 35 on a thread somewhere with rounded door tops that looked really good so I was considering rounding mine. After showing milkweed I wasn't going to go further till I figured them out. Whale looking at a set of extra 2door doors I had they are rounded in the jamb where coupe/4door doors are square in the jamb. So I grafted new tops on the rear half. These tops did not line up like I had hoped so the inner structure had to be removed adjusted and reinstalled. Here is the right mostly finished.