Register now to get rid of these ads!

Projects Mercury TopChop blues.

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Kenneth31coupe, Mar 12, 2015.

  1. plywude
    Joined: Nov 3, 2008
    Posts: 699

    plywude
    Member Emeritus
    from manteca ca

    Excellent work,think about making the fender skirts flush to smooth out the side profile ...
     
  2. Thanks Frenz
    Thankyou.The plan is to extend the skirts downwards similar to what Sam Barris did and thats all.I kind a like the bubble look, gives an earlier look to it.
     
  3. LKR
    Joined: Mar 22, 2012
    Posts: 58

    LKR
    Member
    from Australia

    Very nice!
     
  4. draider
    Joined: Jul 12, 2004
    Posts: 461

    draider
    Member
    from Texas

    Fantastic craftsmanship, and that profile is breathtaking.
     
  5. FortMoe
    Joined: Jun 2, 2015
    Posts: 40

    FortMoe
    Member

    Beautiful work! It's one of the nicest Merc' profiles I've seen.
     
  6. atomickustom
    Joined: Aug 30, 2005
    Posts: 3,409

    atomickustom
    Member

    Looks fantastic so far. I'm glad you moved the rear window - it was really bothering me and the improvement is great.
     
  7. cmarcus
    Joined: May 23, 2012
    Posts: 953

    cmarcus
    Member

    Love this, absolutely beautiful!
     
  8. Time for a small update again. Have welded, grinded and smoothed the roof and catwalk area. Started on driver side quarter window and have the corners done. The radius on the front corners are the same as the lower front corner on the door window opening. Gonna use this radius on all corners except for the rear of quarter window. First mock up I had the same radius there too but I didn´t liked how it looked. Thought the window looked too long and too pointy

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    contesly, dlandberg, Squablow and 3 others like this.
  9. Crazyolman
    Joined: May 24, 2014
    Posts: 188

    Crazyolman

    I was having a problem seeing what was wrong with the 1/4 window before but now by comparing both pictures I can see how much better it looks now. You have a good eye for detail and are willing to spend the time to make it right.
     
  10. Here are driverside tacked up with all corners done.Still needs to be welded.When I make such Z-shaped corners I start with a steelstrip braked to an L. I then shape it with the stretcher tool to the right radius and then put it on a bit of plate which will become the inner flange.I weld the two parts together before I cut out the inner flange, by doing that the curved piece will maintain its radius without warping. When cooled down I grind the welds and then cut out the flange.There are surely other ways to do it in but this way works for me.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    jocktherock and 1952B3b23 like this.
  11. TheFrenZ
    Joined: Dec 3, 2004
    Posts: 1,906

    TheFrenZ
    Member
    from Germany

    I really enjoy this thread.Thanks much for the updates Kenneth.Greatly appreciated.It's getting better and better.
     
  12. Beautiful work! And thank you for going the extra mile and really showing us step by step!
     
  13. Thanks Tom.Hope it pushes you in the right direction;)


    Much appriciated. Thanks


    Got driverside done. Welded,grinded and sanded.
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Finnrodder
    Joined: Oct 18, 2009
    Posts: 2,970

    Finnrodder
    Member
    from Finland

  15. slddnmatt
    Joined: Mar 30, 2006
    Posts: 3,685

    slddnmatt
    Member

    good eye on the window radius's, everything looks proportionate. very nice.
     
  16. dlandberg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2012
    Posts: 364

    dlandberg
    Member
    from Sweden

    Looking real good!
     
  17. Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 4,670

    Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Member

    You're not only a talented metal worker but also have a great eye. Shape and flow are perfect.
    Thanks for sharing detailed photos of the process.
     
  18. I´m not even sure what you did to make this particular chop look so damn good. It flows beautifully.
     
  19. 2Loose
    Joined: Nov 9, 2005
    Posts: 405

    2Loose
    Member

    Have thoroughly enjoyed watching this. Thanks for posting. Been keeping my eyes out for a Merc I could do something like this to for years, found two near my home here on Maui, but they were sitting out in the open near the beach, and were so rotten from the salt air that they were barely there, so I had to pass on them. Maybe some day.
    Willy
     
  20. cretin
    Joined: Oct 10, 2006
    Posts: 3,066

    cretin
    Member

    That chop looks fantastic. Nice work.
    What kind of dies did you use in the Pullmax to shape the roof sections?
     
  21. 55willys
    Joined: Dec 7, 2012
    Posts: 1,711

    55willys
    Member

    Thanks for posting the pictures, nice flow
     

  22. Thanks a lot

    I don´t have any clue my self:).Thanks for the nice feedback

    For the first version I used a set of doming dies to shape the panels but for the second version I rolled the panels in an english wheel.
    P1010410_1600x1200.JPG

    Thank you
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2015
  23. Well, keeps struggling with this and have outside done now. Next is to get the inside puzzled together.Did the package tray first.When cutting it out for the chop I wasn´t all sure of how it would fit when putting it back and in worst case I thought I would have to make a new peice but when holding the cut out part up in place it wasn´t too far from fitting.Needed to be straightened a little so I stretched the cut side untill it got the wanted shape and then lowered it about 1/2″. The part that connects the tray and window frame needed to be fabricated.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  24. Olson
    Joined: Aug 11, 2005
    Posts: 851

    Olson
    Member

    That looks fantastic. One thing I think sets a well-chopped Merc apart from the others is retaining the character line beneath the rear window - when done gracefully it brings the car to another level that in my humble opinion can't be achieved with a full-flow tulip panel. You have just a hint of it there, and it flows perfectly. Very well done.
     
  25. CadMad
    Joined: Oct 20, 2012
    Posts: 876

    CadMad
    Member

    One of the most important lessons that I learned from Kenneth was that part of the custom process is doing it, and then standing back and looking at it from all angles. Sometimes you can get it spot on first try. But if your eye tells otherwise then there is no shame to redo it. In fact it is probably the most important step to "get it right". That focus to do whatever it takes to get it right is what sets Kenneth's work at the highest level.
    [perhaps it is also fair to add that Rik is possibly not too far away saying "can you add 15mm" here or there?)
    Someone is getting a very special car.
     
  26. oj
    Joined: Jul 27, 2008
    Posts: 6,454

    oj
    Member

    Very nice work. One thing I would do is prime the front portion of the roof to match the color or the rear portion, that will help the visuals. I appreciate your dedication to getting the flow right but that block of black paint pulls the eye.
     
  27. Thanks a lot Olson. Much appriciated

    Quentin.For me that´s a big part of the build. Pop a beer sit down and watch the flow from every angle. Don´t rush, instead let things sink in and even take a second and maybe a third look. There´s too much time and money spent when building a car to not do my very best.And I hope Rik don´t says it need another 15mm somewhere:D
    Thanks Oj. Too early for primer yet . Still needs some leading on the pillars.In that case it would be better to sand down the black and have the whole roof bare metall.I see your point.
     
  28. cgc1958
    Joined: Aug 22, 2011
    Posts: 302

    cgc1958
    Member Emeritus
    1. 1957-59 Ranchero's

    Looking good!
     
  29. Thanks Tracy

    Here´s a small Saturday update. Worked on the right hand rear corner of quarterwindow today. Put the bracing that lays on top of the rear window opening together aswell.I like to make things to look like original as it did before the chop.The bracing that runs on top of the rear window opening needs to be lengthened a bit so it can be connected with the inner structure that runs on top of quarterwindows.

    This is how it looks before.

    [​IMG]


    Heres the cutout part of the top bracing.Lengthened it about 30mm.

    [​IMG]
    Made a new inner corner too and lenthened it so the brace that goes between window and packege tray could be connected.

    [​IMG]

    Installed.

    [​IMG]
     
  30. TheFrenZ
    Joined: Dec 3, 2004
    Posts: 1,906

    TheFrenZ
    Member
    from Germany

    Great attention to detail.You are my kind of guy :)
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.