TECH chopping a 54 chevy and using the factory back glass!!

[daddyo54]

I'll start off by saying that 100 different guys can chop the same kind of car 100 different ways.There is no right or wrong way to chop a car as long as the end result flows well with the rest of the car and is pleasing to the eye.In this post I'm going to deal with the back glass situation on these cars since the front is more of a straight forward deal.I wanted to retain the factory back glass because I like the wraparound and everyone told me you couldn't do it.I also wanted to keep all bodywork above the beltline because the paint on the rest of the car is decent.
The first thing I did was to weld in braces both across the window frame and from top to bottom before I removed the rear glass.I did this before removing the glass so the frame would not lose it's shape.I then made the first cut to start the chop. I cut right above the brace that runs above the window to leave room for a hammer and dolly. http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/ee3fd52a.jpg
I decided to chop the car 3 inches so I remove the section from the window suround so the top could lay down.
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/310e1a77.jpg
Then I cut down the front, clamped it down,and rolled it outside so I ( and my dachsund !) could check the profile.
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/54chop_045.jpg
The profile was very important to me because these cars have a hump above the back glass that I wanted to get rid of.
My next step was cutting around the back of the package tray and right above the beltline to let the window lay forward.I cut all the way around the package tray and cut the beltline around to the trunk hinge pockets.By doing this I had enough metal to keep the glass located but still pivot forward.
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/54chop_050.jpg
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/54chop_049.jpg
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/54chop_054.jpg
Once the frame was moving forward more pieces were trimed to allow for the proper forward rake.
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/54chop_048.jpg
Now I could start fitting filler pieces for the outside and inner structure pieces and welding everything up.

http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/54chop_067.jpg
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/54chop_070.jpg
Doing the back glass this way allowed me to get the flow I wanted coming off the top and I was able to butt weld the roof and window surround at the same place I made the first cut!!! Again this is just my way of doing this yours might be better but you weren't here to help so I fucked it up the way I wanted to !! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/2004_017.jpg
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/2004_020.jpg

[Hot Rod Ron]

Very cool and good shots for the how too. Its funny how one set of eyes can't see it and another can, then when its done it makes perfect sense. AAHHH the joy of our hobby. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Dat Dirty Rat]

I love that car! Nice job on the chop..I like them w/the stock windows. It takes alot of time to do and you really have to know what the hell you are doing to use the stock window in my opinion...The other issue is the glass..wich we all know is a mutha!

Kool post!

Dirty

[daddyo54]

Thanks everybody. I guess I should have mentioned that the rear glass is tempered so you can't cut it hence all the work!!The front glass was relativly easy I think I'll do a tech post tomorrow night on that.

[Tman]

As a fellow Rockstar I lust after your car and a chop like that! Thanks!

[Chopped50Ford]

Nicely done, that car is bad ass. learning techniques as these make the jobs so much easier!!!

Thanks. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[The37Kid]

Thank you for the info and great photos! I'm reading everything I can before I cut my '54. Is there a "standard" chop that makes for an easy windshield cut?

[Taildraggin]

looks great.
Thanks for sharing

[choprods]

Excellent Tech for a problem many can't figure out!.......[me at times] http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Can you detail how ya seal off the "corner" where glass is [below] old belt line?Thanks for this Tech article.

[daddyo54]

Choprods the corners are not quite finished as of yet.When I get back on it i'll post some pics.

[daddyo54]

37 kid I used a carpenters square to find the three inch vertical chop insted of taking three out of the a pillars.If you take three inches out of the length of the post you will not have a three inch vertical chop. It makes it easier to figure out the b pillars and back.I made my cuts in the a pillar so that I would have enough metal to pull them in to line up.I push out the top of the pillar and pulled in the bottom a little and it lined right up. If a person were to go lower with the chop you will have more trouble lining up the posts. I not saying that it can't be done it just makes for more work.By only moving the bottom of the a pillar slightly the bottom shape of the windshield does not change so you have to cut the top of the glass only.
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/54chop_036.jpg
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/54chop_039.jpg
This is how close the a pilars were after dropping it down three inches.
http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/54chop_042.jpg

[Stevie G]

You know...I'm getting ready to chop a 122 (Volvo) and this is perfect!!
Great article.

[daddyo54]

What does a 122 volvo look like? I guess i've never seen one.

[Radshit]

A 122 is like this .....Isn't it?

[KCsledz]

Great post on chopping the top. The back window looks like a bugger to seal the glass back into!

[daddyo54]

I think that volvo will look kool chopped!

[cool57]

http://img74.photobucket.com/albums/v224/daddyo54/54chop_070.jpg It looks like the bottom edge of the glass is now "sunken" below the beltline, is it? Or is that 'cuz it's an "in progress" pic?

[Stevie G]

[ QUOTE ]
I think that volvo will look kool chopped!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, when you see an intro post for JONAZ, there should be some pics before it get's started and then we'll post progress pics. I have an eleven year old (Yes....11)Nephew who has been bitten by the hot rod bug. He loves hangin with Uncle Steve and helps out when he can. The 122 is like a 3/4 scale 54 Chevy so this post is really going to help. Viva La HAMB!!

[daddyo54]

The corners are now below the beltline cool57.I'm in the progress of building filler pieces to go down in there.The bottoms of the glass will be ureathaned in then I will split the gasket and basicly glue it to the glass and fake it across that area.Once the beltline trim is back on it will look like it is the bottom of the window.I've seen a local custom builder do it this way for many years.

[RocketDaemon]

there is quite a few chopped 122's around here (go figure http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif )
they can be made quite cool
but somehow they never really get the attention around here like old american iron, i belive the 122's are more valued over there...

good looking car though...

actually they made a prototype with a v8 that was bigger like 4" wider

i belive the prototype name was Volvo Bredde (bredde is kinda a formed word meaning wide (like widey)

[RocketDaemon]

i belive the body was made by taking 2 x2door 122's
and cutting them in half each like 2" wider on each oposite site and then welding them together making the car like 4" wider, could have been more could have been less cant find any information right now... any one can fill up?


well ops, kinda dont want to make this an volvo thread

real nice tech article there with the chevy.. looks really nice...

[Skate Fink]

....nice chop, great photos, clear, simple explanation.........well done!! Thanks.......

[cool57]

[ QUOTE ]
The corners are now below the beltline cool57.I'm in the progress of building filler pieces to go down in there.The bottoms of the glass will be ureathaned in then I will split the gasket and basicly glue it to the glass and fake it across that area.Once the beltline trim is back on it will look like it is the bottom of the window.I've seen a local custom builder do it this way for many years.

[/ QUOTE ]So you slip the bottom of the glass into the pocket then lay it forward to install, right?

[daddyo54]

Thanks everyone for all the comments.The window frame never changes cool57.The glass fits right back into it like stock just the corners go behind the beltline.

[robby rockett]

do you still have the pics of this project?
all the links are dead so im assumin theyre not on photobucket anymore.

[55 dude]

what pic's? nothing showed up on my computer. wtf!

[cwatson1953]

i'm not able to see the pics either...

[skyrodder]

maybe becasue this thread is a few years old.....

[cwatson1953]

maybe becasue this thread is a few years old.....

ahh....didn't realize that. thanks.

[Big Tony]

Dude that fiddy fo makes the blood flow in my body go one direction. Sweet smooth lines ... the whole thing is just kewl. Good tech peice to ... well done

[THE235KID]

Dig It!

[Nads]

Oh shit, the pics are gone, sure coulda used the info, gonna whack one this weekend.