39 chevy cab chop

When I chopped my '40 GMC, half the incentive to do it was the belt line being rusted out where the factory spot welded the top panel to the lower back panel with a piece of water retaining rust causing tar papar between the lapping panels.

Hard to tell from the pics but if you plan on painting the cab with real paint I highly recommend replacing the belt line steel first, if there's even one rust bubble it's an indication it's eaten away from inside.

The panels are spot welded every few inches through holes punched in the tar paper, which will burn ot if/whenyou weld near it.

I just cut immediately above the spot weld line and that's where I chopped the 3 1/2" out of my chop.

Here's a pic of the seam location and template I made to check that my new belt line contour came back close enough for mud.
I gas welded it.

(This was done 18 years ago in a one car apartment garage before I knew anything about MIG... I'd still gas weld it though, leaves it soft and workable
Hasn't cracked yet and it's been my daily since then.)

 

I just looked it up on their website. No luck. Maybe discontinued

 

I also did not find them online or my local HF store. But I just got back from my local Harbor Freight. They had 4 sets in the back when I called with the part number that DrJ provided. I purchased all 4 sets (32 clamps total) for $20.00. SCORE...!!! Much cheaper than I could have ever made them... Thanks DrJ for the part#.

 

D' Nada

I was shocked they were so cheap. I bought the local store out at the time too.

 

Craftsmanship. Thanks for posting all the photos. They answer many how-to questions.

 

I've been thinking about chopping my 41, and your pics just might push me over. I really like the way you kept the rear window. I'll need to see how much room I have after I build the seat. I'm a pretty tall guy. Keith

 

Good job, I enjoy the in progress pics

 

Great pics and how to. This helps everyone. I just wish I had the balls to start a project like this.

 

nice job ! I always try to leave the back window as big as possible.

 

Nice job, you made it look easy, I took 2 inches through the middle and 2 inches under the window on mine. It took out the straight sides of the window but still left enough to see out of.