Featured Technical Hard chop: sitting on the chopping block

I marked the floor just in case I have to move the car for some reason. I can put it back exactly where it was so it stays level.
Yes. Many ways to chop a 3w. This one will be a rolling bones style chop. Angled chop with rear window leaned forward 3/4” and whole windshield laid back so I don’t add length to the roof.

 

Zero pie cuts. Just good old hammer and dolly work to blend the B-pillar. Maybe 15 minutes to move and align the body lines.

 

How I blended the B-pillars. Start by aligning the door opening edge.

 

Then hammer and dolly to blend them together. Then weld up that seam.

 

Or the alternative method I’ve seen done by others. Not sure if one technique is better than the other, but I saved a lot of welding and grinding to blend the B-pillar in.

 

GREAT SKILLS!

 

Looks good, thanx for showing your execution.
Tom

 

Your b pillar method works for me thus far.

Chris

 

I know there has to be a reason, but why paint the frame post at the floor yellow?

 

Like he said above...

 

The craftsmanship in this project is outstanding. And while I recall how chops were done, it is a definite learning opportunity watching this work in progress. Thank you!

 

Very nice, like the turnbuckles on the bracing. Looking forward to seeing the rear corners cut to fit. No cut between door hinges should allow the door fit to be fine.

 

Trimming the windshield surround.

 

Love the steady progress!

 

Fitting the windshield surround to the body.

 

Laid back an additional 11 degrees. No pie cut and filler piece. Overlap and trim to fit instead.

 

Still need to reshape the forehead. It’s off because I laid it down 11 degrees.

 

And then trim the bottom of the A-pillar structure 5/16” to zero. This will eliminate the pie shaped gap and lower the windshield closer to the cowl top. I will still have a 5/8 gap all the way across that will need work.

 

Neat concept. I like the idea of having a hard surface, for the windshield reference.

 

Great step-by-step photos so far. Thank you for taking the time to do the photos as you go. Keep the updates coming. Looks awesome.

 

bitch'n 3w!

 

I've never seen a rake chop in progress with such detailed photos to show the painstaking work that is involved... Masterful techniques that even most of us have never witnessed here on the HAMB before. Great work Tony!

What I'm not understanding is where the front of this frame is heading... Subscribed!

 

The front of the frame rails are done. It’s been bobbed and pinched.

Still tweaking the A-pillars to flow as smoothly as I can make them. I want to keep the stock length along the door tops.

Any pie cut here will open that distance and then the door tops will need to be lengthened.

 

I’m trying to make my chop as smart as I can to avoid extra work like this.

 

Man, do I understand that. Homework really pays off.

 

The corners will be easy. Just scribe and trim to fit. Here’s a rough idea of where I’m going with the corners

 

You're making this look easy! Ha ha!

Chris

 

Yes it does but only if you've never done it before.

 

That shot makes me rethink how I'll cut my Steelback, thanks! Bob