To chop or not to chop, That isn't the question.

[51Hg]

I'm going to chop, There's no doubt about that. But the question is how much? It's a 2 dr. 50 merc and I'm wondering how much to chop it. Should I go 3" & 5", 4" & 6", or 6" & 8"? If you got pics of chopped 49-51 mercs and you know how much they're chopped please post them. If you own a chopped 49-51 merc, can you post a dead on side pic of your ride so I can see your profile of the roofline, with inches taken out? Also do I slant the post or not because I can go either way, I have the extra sections of door tops to add to a straight post chop if needed. All I have to do now is brace it and lay out the cut lines but I was wondering cut how much? By the way this would be the first time chopping anything so wish me luck. Anyone whant to help?

[glassguy]

this is 6 and 8 how tall are ya?

[00 MACK]

Dont know what my measurements are,These pics are from 56.

[00 MACK]

Oh well I had to put a picture up from 3 years ago a couple days before the road agents show. Sorry about the door dip. That situation is all back to normal now. As you can mine has a piece added in the middle door area,thus the straight posts and longer quarter windows without that lean forward short 1/4th window look that Dave perfected. Its amazing what different personalities different chops give a car!

[30tudor]

Fedsled (father and son) and Old Beet recently did another Mercury chop and posted many photos and details while they were doing it on this board. Seems like it was just last month, anyway the three of them each have a Mercury of that vintage and all three are cut. They also posted pictures of their three cars parked together giving some pespective as they each have a different chop. I would suggest you search for that (those) posts and perhaps contact them for their thoughts. Have fun and post a few pics if possible.

[old beet]

Three inch chop......OLDBEET

[old beet]

TRI-POWER

[mikes51]

3 and 4 1/4 in the rear (vertical distance). The actual section taken out of the front pillar was 4" long.

[51Hg]

Glassguy: I'm 5'11". I don't think I'll worry too much about comfort It has to look good after the chop.

mikes51: What happened to your web-site?


oldbeet: Love your merc, any progress on the one you just help to chop? What about more pics of the chop that I could look at.

Anyone: got any more pics of chopped mercs?

[Slag Kustom]

on any merc to keep the good look of a long 1/4 window i would split the roof and add a section into it. most of the one piece drops you see always look fuked up when a large section is added between the trunk and rear window. plus on a larger chop of 6" or more most people lean the a pilars back giving the car the look of it sitting in the sun to long and melting.

[Nads]

I myself have the look of sitting in the sun too long and melting, or is that frying?

[old beet]

50Hq, go to pages 10-11, look for Thanksgiving Chop, Day2,Day3,Day4. Lots of pics of a 3 1/2 in chop with slanted post.............OLDBEET

[mikes51]

[ QUOTE ]
this is 6 and 8 how tall are ya?

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean how good are ya at slouching for hours at a time? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hq I changed my net connection, need to set up a site again.

This pic, I estimate the car on the right is about 4 1/2"

[glassguy]

well im only 5.8 and i cut down the brackets on the stock seat as much aspossible. and i have to slouch!! wich sucks on a long ride.. but its a small price to pay for bein as cool as i am

[Slag Kustom]

what ever you do to chop a top of a mercury do not do this!!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6882&item=45104336 52&rd=1

[mikes51]

Yikes! throw some bondo over that thing or something.

http://i8.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/fd/48/1c_1_b.JPG

[Barrows]

Somebody should save that flathead from a life in the junk yard, that top is fd up.

[51Hg]

Got any more pics of the one on the right or is that the only one? Now I know there are many ways of doing a chop so when you say 4 1/2" I guess you mean out of the "a" pilar or front post what about the middle "b" and "c" pilars? How much do you take out of them for a 4 1/2" chop?

[51Hg]

BTTT.....any sugestions?

[mikes51]

[ QUOTE ]
I guess you mean out of the "a" pilar or front post what about the middle "b" and "c" pilars? How much do you take out of them for a 4 1/2" chop?

[/ QUOTE ]

I suppose you could use 3d cad and calculate all that. What with angling posts in two axis and all. Most measure and cut the A and C pillars a certain distance, then the whole roof is tacked on near in place. The rest is cut/trim/ and fit as you go to get it all back in place. Sometimes you even break apart the tacks, and redo things to make the shape even better. Search for Tuck's chopped shoebox thread.

Fedsled/oldbeet's last post with pics is worth studying. That chop looked very well planned, in other words a minimum amount of cuts.

[FEDSLED]

Question,
when people say they cut 3.5" out of the front and 5"or 6" out of the rear, where are the rear dimensions taken from. when your talkin 3.5" vertical chop on the B-pillar you take around(give or take) 4" on the A-pillar diagonally. if you chopped the rear almost double that where would the rear window end up?. We used a 3.5" batton and clamped it along the sides and scribed the A&B-pillar, we then removed the same amount along the bottom of the rear section just above the drip rail. there are no rules or regulations when it comes to choppin, some like lots and some like a little. My father And I prefer to move the rear window ahead with the roof to retain the "coupe look" thats our opinion(wich don't mean shit cause it's an opinion). I think If they are chopped A lot and you don't move the rear window ahead they take on a fastback look, wich I do not prefer, but again thats my opinion and like I said it don't mean shit. I reccomend looking at a lot of cars and pick a style you like, slanted,straight,raked or whatever and twist it your way. but remember 3.5" is more than you think after all the rubber and trim is in.
FED