Ok, I have come to the conclusion that I love the lines of my 50 Jetback four door sedan more that a two door. Why...I don't know. Anyway, I've seen a very cool two door chop that turned a 2 door post into a hardtop. So, metal men, would it be possible to turn this four door into a four door hard top and chopped about 1 1/2 or so? Sounds to me like a really adventurous project. And, since I'm new at all of this...more like an extremely huge project. Am I in the Twilight Zone or could this be done? Thanks! Gary
Sure it can be done....if you have some solid basic skills and a good game plan before you start...I love doing crazy stuff like that...it'll blow some minds.
If you've never chopped a top before, this is NOT the car to learn on. Honestly, that's probably the most complicated chop on the most complicated roof that you could pick. Sure it can be done and look great, but it's going to require someone with a ton of experience. Chopping any 4 door is a challenge. Making any sedan into a hardtop is a challenge. Chopping any fastback and getting it to "flow" right is a challenge. Put them all together and you got one hell of a tough job ahead. Post a picture of your car and we can try a Photoshop chop on it to see how hard it would be and what it would look like. I think it'd be really cool but certainly not for the beginner.
Hey, Most possible! I'd suggest ya dredge the tech history, here on the HAMB for ideas under chops. Also, look at as many of these larger post-war GMs, that have been chopped. After all that work, you may not like the end result. Good luck with your chop. S****ey Devils C.C.
Squablow - I figured as much. Maybe I can find a few experienced HAMBER's in Maryland that may want to help for beer and hotdogs??? Ah well..just a thought. Gary
beer & dogs?? Man you're talkin' steak and jack kinda chop. If you were on the west coast, I might volunteer just to use your buick for a practice run for choppin my 49 pontiac four door fast back.
If you're really serious about this, here's a few things you should do. First, do a search for the Michigan HAMB chop. I think that's what they were calling it. It was a top chop on a 50ish Chevy fastback, very informative. Buy the book "How to Chop Tops" by Tex Smith. It's a great book with lots of pictures that will explain a lot of the work involved in chopping a top. Worth the $ 100 times over. Buy yourself a plastic model of your car and cut it up. When I did my first chop, that's what I did. I didn't fully understand how the roof got longer as it came down and all the pillar alignment issues until I did it on the small scale plastic version. Much more helpful than you'd think. Knowledge and careful planning are super important when doing a job like this. You might even consider buying an early 50's two door sedan body and doing a practice chop. If it turns out good, you'll be able to sell it for a profit. If it's an abortion or if it never gets done, then you'll be glad you didn't cut into your prized Buick. Also, keep in mind that even if you do all the work yourself, it's not going to be cheap. Getting gl*** cut is expensive, cutting your own gl*** is an option but every windshield or piece of sheet gl*** you break in the process will add up. You'll need to build new window tracks and modify regulators to make the side gl*** work. You'll need lots of different clamps and some square or round tubing to build braces to keep the roof and body from losing their shape when they're cut.
OK, so I must have been on drugs. Sounds like I need to start off just a little easier. Thanks for the details. I will definitely buy the book. Gary
Gary the gl*** doesn't have to be an issue, buy the Hardtop windshields and you can chop a couple inches to fit the new gl***. All the side gl*** is flat no problems there. four doors take a little more time fitting. the frames. Hard topping is a big big one because the gap between the doors don't get filled when the gl*** rolls straight up. the only EASY fix that I see is a removable piece like the late 30's ford phaetons. but that looks Hokey when the windows are up, but better than stationary windows
That's the one I was thinking of. They sank the trunklid inbetween the quarters and I think they moved the roof forward instead of making it longer. Genius if you ask me, worked great. The same could be done to a four door fastback with great results. The hardtopping thing would be tough to do. I wonder if you could have a slanted B-pillar on a four door? That might be different and cool. The door would look neat when it's open.
i may be wrong but, wouldn`t that make it hard to open the rear doors if they leaned forward at the front.
lots of issues here. first off... how much sheetmetal welding have you done? that's the most important part. if you have no experience cutting fitting and welding sheetmetal you may as well forget the whole thing. 4 door hardtop fastback.... have you ever looked at the substructure of the body of a hardtop versus a post car? it's way different. to do it to a four door would require a ****load of bracing to make it work. you going to suicide the rear doors? if not how are you going to brace the door post to keep it from bending when thr rear door is open? by hardtopping the car you lose all the structural strength that the center door post had don't even get me started on hardtop side gl***... you want side gl*** don't you? I'd drop the hardtop idea...
Well, can you say speaking before thinking.... The hardtop thing is a bad idea. I will stick with chopping with posts. But, you guys are right this one is for the pros. I have no experience welding sheet metal. Thanks for all of the comments and ideas! Gary
The Jalopy Journal
