I've had my 50 ford 2 dr for a little over a year now. The flathead in it runs great. The three speed shifts smooth' and the overdrive works too. I think it's about time for the rook to come down about 4 1/2 inches. Can anybody tell me if tihs is a job for the pros or can someone with a shop, mecanical ability, and the will do it,pull this off .
WHY NOT?!!? Thats what I'd doing. I've been planning and planning for years and reading every bit I can. Photoshopping that bitch, measuring, gotta second roof coming to use that metal also. Hell if i fuck up the thing can always be a convertable or I can just chop off another roof and tack it on there. But im not in a huge rush to have it done.
I think this one is best left to the pros for the chop. Or someone who has done it before with good results. There are too many ways to get it wrong and several ways to do it right. Check this thread. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=250246 Most guys try to take too much an give the car a squashed look, I have to agree with what the other guys said. Study everything you can find about chopping a shoebox or any similar top. Some things I found out the hard way when chopping the 48. 1. Make sure that the doors are aligned perfectly before you start the chop. Meaning door gaps and everything else fit as close to perfect as they ever will. If the hinges need new pins or the latches need replaced, do it first. 2. brace the body with cross braces before you start so it doesn't flex when you cut the top off. There is lots of info on that but basically it means putting a brace across the door area and some x braces to keep the body from flexing or moving when you cut the top off. 3. If there was wreck damage to the car as in something tweaked a bit repair it first before you do the chop.
go to events take lots of pictures, ask lots of questions, ask more questions, look up every bit of info you can. "tex smith's how to build custom cars" is a good refrence. after all this measure, mark it with tape, measure again, then run from the shop in terror. not really , the terror doesn't really come until the top is off and you realize that it is now or never. seriously, if you are mechanically inclined, have a touch of artist in you and are determined it should be within your ability with the proper research and effort. i say go for it and good luck.
go here http://akathechopper.tripod.com/Index-2.html HOW TO INSTRUCTIONS: I also make and sell -"How To"- instruction sets ,that show you in every detail how to do the chop top of your vehicle yourself,if you are a self starter. These are totally specific to your vehicle and include: ALL the information you need to do the job correctly . Tool list and products useage Helpful Tips I have learned, that I will share with you. They are available online and can be purchased by credit card[thru PayPal]. price:$200.00 Included in this offer=I am available for ANY consultation until you are completely finished with your chop! References from many happy users provided! or he will do it for you for about $2500
well yeah these are basics. I plan on tackin my doors shut many places. Brace the hell out of everything. Brace the windows. remove everything inside of course. study the MAny different techniques of doing a chop to your year. There are many many different game plans for doing a chop on a particular. Im blowing up profile shots and cutting them out in paper to study the flow and give myself an idea of how much i want to cut. When I do start cutting, I will for sure take a little bit off at a time so taht I can step back and really study to see what amount looks best as I go. Also, bondo is not your friend. dont depend on that shit. text smith, yep. any articles in old Ass ROdZZZ and any other mags. websites. speak to others who have done it to your body style. I plan on taking another welding class before I even start on mine just to make sure I am an awesome welder.
i never chopped a top before in my life when i cut the 49 ford and to me it was easier than putting the merc grille opening in the 51. go hit the Rod and Custom web site and print out the tech artical on the shoebox chop they did. thats what i used for a reference and it was very helpful. just remember to take your time and always get a second opinion before welding it up. this happened to my buddy with a 39 ford sedan he was welding it up after chopping his wife walked outside to drop some trash in the can and as she was walking back to the house she said "that side is lower than the other one". just like that without stopping to look, and sure enough it was out by 3/4" on one post. my wife was my best friend when i did mine!!!
go ahead do it, i had never chopped a car before and i did mine. like everyone says do alot of research, i found that the chop they did on the mad fabricators video helped me because seeing someone do it helps . the rod and custom web site has a couple nice chops as well. it was alot of work but if could pull it off with just a very thin skim of filler anybody shouldbe able to.
research? how the hell do you think the first ones where done? , HA! i say wing it!, why not? hell, do it at a car show, you will have all the help you need then. and plenty of asshole comments to, i love those.
Buy Mad Fabricators 3 ( www.madfabricators.com ) and watch Bob Bleed chop a shoebox.This is one way to do it,there are other ways too.See the work involved and decide if its something you want to tackle.You can also see if there's any HAMBers in the area that might want to help,beer and pizza usually goes a long way.
No research, possibly ruin the car. Lead not bodyfiller. And your HAMB name is essentially "big block small block". Which makes no sense. I can practically see your pomp from here, and will go so far to say you have never chopped a car, or close, and havent a clue what you are talking about. Yep, bet I'm right.
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