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40 Ford Chop

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Jalopy13, Feb 7, 2010.

  1. Jalopy13
    Joined: Mar 22, 2009
    Posts: 47

    Jalopy13
    Member
    from Dayton,Oh

    Hey guys, Im wanting to chop my 40, I do bodywork for a living so im not soo much afraid of the cutting and welding, but it is my first chop, can someone post some pics or maybe tell me the correct steps to take to do it right!

    Thanks.
     
    EVL401 likes this.
  2. is it a coupe, sedan or tudor? a guy called Eddie Paul did a 39 or 40 sedan in osr a couple of years back.
    have you done a search? im sure yourll find something here.
     
  3. If it's a 40 Coupe - DON"T DO IT!
    It is one of the hardest cars to chop and get the proportions right. For every 40 coupe chopped right there are thousands that are really f'd up.
    Personally I wouldn't so one even if I had chopped 100 cars, but that is just my opinion (and if you do a search, most on here as well)
    certainly you don't want to take a chance screwing up a 40 with your first chop.
    JMHO
     
  4. jonathan
    Joined: Feb 12, 2007
    Posts: 389

    jonathan
    Member
    from Phoenix,AZ

    Cutting and welding really has nothing to do with chopping a top properly. It's all in the planning. Lots of different angles as the top comes down to take into consideration. And then there is no "correct" way to chop a car, because there are different chops for different looks and it depends on tools at hand. What look are you going for? What body style? The best advice is to look for a finished car you like and think looks right, then try to emulate it.
     

  5. 40streetrod
    Joined: Nov 11, 2007
    Posts: 477

    40streetrod
    Member
    from nj

    do a search
    HAMB member Zibo started a thread on chopping a 40 Ford.
    that would be a good place for you to start
     
  6. 40streetrod
    Joined: Nov 11, 2007
    Posts: 477

    40streetrod
    Member
    from nj

    well here's mine. going to start the new chassis for it in a few weeks.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. duste01
    Joined: Nov 5, 2006
    Posts: 1,213

    duste01
    Member

    most would say dont do it
     
  8. 41woodie
    Joined: Mar 3, 2004
    Posts: 1,141

    41woodie
    Member

    Not only no, hell no.
     
  9. DrJ
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 9,419

    DrJ
    Member

    If all you're going to do is chop the top and leave the rest relatively stock, don't do it. It'll just look odd.
    The main 40 Ford styling glitch for me is the "top hat room" above the back seat area, if it had a back seat..
    The best looking chops on them are on radical customs like The Matador. It was chopped I think 4" and had even more taken out above the doors flattening the top some. It was also sectioned and modified front to rear. My all time favorite Custom!
    http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/beautiful_custom_cars/1/el_matador_40_ford/

    I really like what SAM Foose did with this Ford that I believe was called Magnum 40.
    It's got a stock A pillar but leaned back a lot and the top laid down so the hump is gone. It's also got the wider two door sedan doors and the B pillar moved back to accommodate.
    There's a how to on this car near the middle of Tex Smith's how to chop tops book.
    http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_...m_cars/sam_foose_build_cars/40_ford_coupe_by/

    Thanks Rikster for the fine picture site!
     
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2010
  10. 40Standard
    Joined: Jul 30, 2005
    Posts: 5,963

    40Standard
    Member
    from Indy

    I don't like the look of a chopped 40 Ford
     
  11. racinman
    Joined: Dec 30, 2008
    Posts: 951

    racinman
    Member Emeritus

    it is like chopping an egg... leave it & Love it
     
  12. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 9,397

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska
    1. Central Nebraska H.A.M.B.

    Terry Roberts, Toledo Ohio, has one of the most bitchin chopped 40 coupes in the country. You need to go to the right guy. Gary Roberts, also in Toledo, Terrys twin brother is the master of the top chop in OHIO. If you are determined to do this go to the man!
     
  13. el Scotto
    Joined: Mar 3, 2004
    Posts: 4,698

    el Scotto
    Member
    from Tracy, CA

    I agree with the rest of the guys, chopped 1940 Ford Coupes look bad. One of the few cars that look perfect without a haircut...
     
  14. Don't do it. One of the most beautifully proportioned designs of all time. Leave well enough alone. Speaking of the '40 Coupe here. I have seen a Tudor sedan done with a very subtle ( I would guess 1 1/2" chop ) that looked great.
     
  15. P.M. Zibo.....his looked good....
     
  16. I generally like chopped tops -but a '40 Ford? Unless its a radical custom (Matador, etc.) my vote would be to leave it be. The '40 is such a good design - hard to improve it!
     
  17. JAWS
    Joined: Jul 22, 2005
    Posts: 1,846

    JAWS
    Member

    I too am new to this and am in the finishing stages of my first chop. It is a 46 chevy coupe. All I can say is study every chopped car like yours and similar styles, decide what you really want it to look like,
     
  18. CharlieLed
    Joined: Feb 21, 2003
    Posts: 2,463

    CharlieLed
    Member

    I agree with most of the comments so far, the 40 Ford coupe is fine just the way it rolled out of the factory. That said, IF I were to do a chop, this is the car that I would use as a model (don't look at the door handles, etc), the lines of the roof look as good as you're going to get on this body...
     

    Attached Files:

  19. mj40's
    Joined: Dec 11, 2008
    Posts: 3,303

    mj40's
    Member


    I 100% agree. Never seen one yet that looked good, In my opinion!
     
    Last edited: May 11, 2012
  20. If it's a coupe, no way would i chop it. 2 doors look not bad if it's not cut to much. The 39 2 door in pic below is cut 2 inches, leaned w/shield post back abit. Basicly same body style as the 40 2 dr.
     

    Attached Files:

    EVL401 likes this.
  21. Oilcan Harry
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 906

    Oilcan Harry
    Member
    from INDY

    I've never seen a chopped 40 Ford that I liked. The factory got that one right!
     
  22. Southfork
    Joined: Dec 15, 2001
    Posts: 1,465

    Southfork
    Member

    I've seen a lot of 'attempted' chopped 40s in the magazines over the years, and none looked right. That's a real waste of good tin.
     
  23. hot-rod roadster
    Joined: Aug 30, 2005
    Posts: 3,108

    hot-rod roadster
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Omaha Ne.

    Well said, just can't see chopping a 40 coupe. Gary
     
  24. zibo
    Joined: Mar 17, 2002
    Posts: 2,361

    zibo
    Member
    from dago ca

    Figured I'd throw my 2 cents in...
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    There are a couple things i'd do a little differently but not much.

    Most chopper's cut out the rear quarter panels and make them more flowing/flat,
    but I like the roundness of the stock body lines, just not the height.

    There's a huge potential in destroying you're car though.
    So if you don't study and plan it'll end up a carson top.

    TP
     
  25. I am with the "Don't do it" crowd. None of the 40' Ford body styles look better chopped. Sure, there are a very few exceptions people have done well with, but I still wouldn't take one of those over an original roof line coupe, sedan, or p/u.
     
  26. Please no - it's one of the nicest stock bodied Fords ever.
     
    Kustom Fabricator likes this.
  27. deucegasser
    Joined: Jul 16, 2006
    Posts: 288

    deucegasser
    Member

    Street Rodder had a good article on cuttin'a sedan. I gave it a go and it was pretty easy. I'd be hard pressed to cut a coupe though.
     

    Attached Files:

  28. [​IMG]

    Stolen from a previous thread. Copy this one and you'll be just fine!
     
  29. "Whitey Ford" 62 Uni
    Joined: Mar 5, 2008
    Posts: 560

    "Whitey Ford" 62 Uni
    Member
    from Tampa, FL

    oh....oh...ohh.......and Im done. I need a cigarette now....thats bad ass....
     
  30. dcmann
    Joined: Mar 4, 2008
    Posts: 4

    dcmann
    Member

    For pictures of a "HOT ROD" '40 coupe raked, Big & Little WSW's with a mild cut...see http:www.davepropst.com/Album/AlbumZ/AlbumZ.htm
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2010

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