Unchopping a chopped 57 Ford Ranchero windshield

I just realized Scott submitted this for Tech week... I'd better get back to posting progress

 

This gives you an overall visual of the changes... primered cowl and bare metal roof section are grafted Retractparts (if you look close you can see the back lip of the retract flip top was left for reinforcement)

 

The front post shot shows the boxed in area behind the new channel that ties the Ranchero roof into the Retract cowl... the second shot is a detail from the same shot

 

OK... now the weird science... window opening and vent windows... as experienced builders have posted - the vents are troublesome at best... I transferred the opening of inner molding of the unchopped door... then placed the the same board in the new door and transferred that opening... I'm sure this is not what you would expect!

the bottom is logical that it would remain the same since it isn't modified... when the top was chopped originally the A pillar was laid back... the other standard practice would be add a section to the roof which effectively we did by adding the Retract panel... so, the top also remains very close to the original length... but, the when the crown was flattened because of the differant A pillar angles... the resulting angle matched up... go figure (not complaining)

 

If the last post made no sense... just look at the differance between the 300 and 500 vent windows...

 

Look forward to watching the progress.. definitely neat!

 

At least you have Zooey Deschanel helping you do this!

As for the vents, would it be too much work to cut and bend channel for a new vent frame, then add the original vent hardware to it?

I might be doing that in my chopped 48 Dodge sedan... still undecided if I want vents though.

 

Reworking the channel and vent looks pretty basic... since the angles are the same... the vertical post/channel will be shortened 2 3/8" with the same amount being taken out of the vent... the lower vent surround will stay attached to the channel but the upper will have to be drilled out, cut, and reattached... any angle changes would have multiplied the fun factor

 

This has thread has quickly turned into one of my favorites ! Excellent pics , commentary and workmanship!!

 

We didn't get the vent windo gl*** removed or purchase material to weld stainless so this is as far as we can go until next week

 

I thought this was a neat shot... the donor door is setting against the Ranchero so it is a few inches closer to the camera but you still get the idea of the visual impact of removing 2 3/8"

 

This shows the vent channel... I'll have to order vent the vent rubber and take the vent window to a gl*** shop to have it removed... but since the channel was two basic cuts we are ***uming the vent will be the same...

 

Looks amazing!

 

Do not put the saws away...

I MIGHT HAVE VOTED IN A WAY TO HELP SOME ONE I HAVE NEVER MET

 

When do we get to the evening gown and bathing suit shots, I mean demos..... I mean, car looking great!

 

Heck... ya only saw one so far... twins no less... can't get to fancy until there is some paint to buff out...

 

This comparision photo shows the modified vent and the stock one from the other side... the rubber had to be removed to weld the vent channel sections back together so the channel on the modified one will be covered in the final ***embly

 

The door from the original chop shows the differance in the A pillars... again the blasted door is closer to the camera so it will look bigger but you can still see the post changes

 

Its official - this post is a "Baileigh Tech Week" selection... Scott is a youg metal man with limited tools so I hope his workmanship is worthy of your vote... check out the whole list... a lot of neat ideas being shared...

 

After looking through the pixs I've posted I noticed that most have been from the p***enger side since I like getting away from the project to get a better perspective... so I thought I'd post the other side too... we replaced the p***enger door because although the same collision to the cowl area did minor repairable damage to the door it seemed wise to not take any chances on anything being out of square compared to factory sheet metal... the driver door was retained because I didn't have a nicer replacement and there wasn't a real need to... however, it was easier to start with a fresh front post than deal with the previous modifications...

 

Absolutely.

 

A close-up of the post doesn't show it... but, it is three sections and two relief cut just in the area in front post vent area... the only remaining concern is if we may have to add a rounder radius in the top corner which we won't know until we place new vent rubber on the modified vent frame...

 

We want to see more of both the Ranchero & Bettie!

BTW- If my spark-knocking memory serves me right, didn't you say that she's half of a set of TWINS???

How many votes do we have to gather to see the Betties in bikinis? LOL.

 

What an outstanding thread.

 

either this guy works really fast, or his ***istant only has one outfit. im thinking since its spring today, the car needs to be rolled outside and his ***istant needs more season appropriate clothes.

 

Trust me... none of my projects ever go fast... I'm a working stiff that has more ideas floating around than budget or time will allow... Scott who is working with me on the metal work is a full time student so our time dedicated to this project is limited...

As for the identical twins (you have only seen one)... but, I like Larry "Mr. Singlefinger" safari-wagon's suggestion... I always liked the ol' magazine "parts with appeal" approach... who knows; maybe more Tech Week votes for Scott may warrent another photo session... I was kinda waiting for reflections in mile deep black paint...

 

Few folks will ever appreciate how much work went into making this modification