Just finished this chop yesterday and figure I make a post on the chop. This car was a project started by Chris Dunne (Hambandy`s Dad) a number of years back and it was put on the back burner. Chris is now only getting back at it and ask me to do the chop on it. Chris has a thing for chopped cars. The car is a 1963 Cadillac Coupe Deville. After looking at the car I found a few thing that I didn`t like about the stock roof line. One was that I didn`t like the long distance between the base of the back window and the back of the car. I find it reminds me of the way the Corvairs looked in which the back of the car was almost as long as the front. Second the roof line had a upward rise from the back to the front. After spend a few hours figuring out how much to cut and where to make the cuts I decided to take 3 inch out of the height of the car and move the rear window back 3 inch and lay it down. So here is what I started with.
I then cut the rear post out and remover the inner construction as well as the inner sail panel Then I cut the rear window out. Leaving all the inner construction around the back window. With this done off came the roof. I left the front part of the rear post as is and just bent it forward.
Cut the front post and made up a frame for the back of the roof to sit on. Had to pull the front post in a half inch on both sides to get the roof to line up. Did this by cutting the base of the post. Bent the post inward with ratchet strap. You can see where the back window use to sit. I decided to move the base of the back window back 3 inch, over lapping the rear deck. This made it easier to keep the rear panel from warping when welding it.
After I had everything figure out where it was going I start tacking it together. Then I reinstalled the inner construction on the rear post. Filled in the remaining roof with panels I made. I run them through the English wheel to get a crown on them. It may not seem like much but wheeling made a big different to the fit and finish.
On the front post I did something a little different from what I am use to seeing. I removed a portion of the front of the post to revel the inner construction .Doing this I could weld up the inner part and then cut a cap from the chopped out post and welded it in place.
Finished up welding up everything and making filler panels for around the back window and then grind everything up. So here is the finished job. Three inch lower and the back window is moved back three inch and laid down. Ready for the filler work.
My god you make that look easy. Fantastic lines man....it looks almost factory but so much sleaker. Cant wait to see the whole car together. How easy is it to get the windshield cut to fit? would love to see that process...... F
that's a tough car to chop and make look good, , , looks like you got it nailed though , , , , ,anxious to see a full profile shot.
That is ohmygod subtle....200% better than the factory offering and most of the people looking at it wouldn't even be able to figure it what's different. You get an A+
I knew it could be done and tasteful. Did you ever think of doing the bigger rear window from a 62 sedan? Lookin good
First, thanks for the kind words. The bigger window would be a bit different.If this is the window in question.I think by laying down the glass the problem you would run into is the center of the base of the glass would be higher then the two lower corners and it would not look right.
It would need some sectioning but just opening the rear window up to say an 1" away from the roofs lines and edges would be nice..I see what your saying though. The angle of the sides of the window would have to be cut, but that shouldnt be too hard to do at a good glass shop. I'm gonna follow what you did on my 64 but try and use the bigger rear window. How did you do your inner structure pieces by the decklid?
The new is much better you get much better flow in the lines with the new roof i'm choping too but a shoebox http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=410348&highlight=shoebox /Stefan
You can see by your photochop on what you will run into with the bigger back glass. You would have to cut a lot off the lower corners to make it work.The rear glass on these are tempered unlike the front glass which is laminated. tempered glass can`t be cut. Now you can try and use a front windshield and make it fit but then you would have to build your window opening from scratch.
I thought it could be cut, damn thats gonna put a pause to my plan then... Well I would be starting with a 62 roof for cutting out the channel anyways, but im hoping the rear window flows with the 64 top well after its chopped down a bit.
LOOKS GREAT !!!! What will you do about rear quarter windows? i guess they will now need to be longer also??
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