Technical Is there a perfect chop (height) for a roadster windshield?

Hi all,

I'm about to chop my Model A windshield and I'm wondering if there's a sweat spot or a thread on how much to chop a roadster windshield?

Thanks!

 

Probably wouldn't hurt to put a seat in the car that you can live with, set the car on the desired rake, then sit in the car and figure out how much you can lose without any part of your head sticking above the windshield frame. Unless you like taking out bugs with your forehead.

 

I'm going to say that your head should not be above the top of the windshield.
That's important for protection from bugs etc and also when you decide to put a top on.
A roadster is nice open but the top is nice at times too.

 

Take a side view pic, print it out, then cut the paper and see how it looks. Then do as suggested above, check it against your seating position.
Doing it on a pic first will help you see if it looks right or not where you want the height set.

 

2"

 

Depends on the style of the car,...... 2" - 4"

 

Thanks guys. Some useful information.

I'm actually running sans screen at the moment so I"m not too worried about bugs etc. To be honest is more about a screen that'll suit the car vs practicality. Silly to some I know. Here's some pics of the car.

 

I chopped mine down about 2 3/4"-3" i threw together a thin seat and I really like it.. Its easy to see out of..

Using the stock style top I'm 5' 10" and have a lot of head room..

Mine is the grey one.. Green one is is 2" I believe.. It's just boughten windshield post and frame from Brookville




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I've been vacillating back and forth about chop - no chop on my roadster.

I really like the look of the chop but I do not want my head to then become the windshield.
I'm also cheap and do not want to get into the expense of a new top for the chopped windshield.
So maybe have two windshields.......a chop with my top off and the stock windshield when the top goes on and up!

If I do decide to, 2" seems like the magic number for me.

 

If your first concern is the esthetic - how it will look - then figure that out first and then place seat, steering, and pedals accordingly. Deciding what "looks best" is, of course, subjective but here's my $.02:
Look at a 5-window coupe and figure out how much chop would make the side quarter window square. I think that gets the best look on a 5-window. Chopping a roadster the same amout would do it for me.

 

Not chopped--just laid back. A 2 inch chop would have been to much.

 

Model A windshield chop is more critical than a '32. Seat comfort and height must be determined and then the windshield cut for visibility. I chopped my '32 3" and it looks right to me. My head isn't above the frame and even with the top lowered I still have room. Caution when designing your top and bows, don't have any wood above your head you'll eventually come in contact with it an wish you didn't. Good luck!!

 

Not so much any worry about your head above the windshield, but do it so your eyes are below the top of the w/s frame. It is a pain to stretch up or slump down to get around a w/s frame right in your line of site. Wind will blow up and over the windshield missing your head unless it is a really really low w/s. Ever ride a motorcycle with wind shield? I always look over them, not through them.

Dave

 

The size of a Dollar bill.

 

My wife saved her money and for Christmas bought herself this windshield for her '32. The girl's got good eyes for details.
Perfect in my eyes too.


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My "old" roadster ( sold) stock height and 4" chopped WS. I loved the way the lowered one looked, but the seat needed to be dropped too.
I mocked up the chopped one with 3/4" aluminum angle iron to see how it looked

 

2 1/2" with about 2" off the seat bottom.

 

This is great. Thanks guys!

I think I'm with you

 

Biggest thing for me is making sure you're not looking at the top windshield frame when you are trying to look down the road. Function first, looks second if you actually drive your car instead of trailering it to events. Nothing like pulling into a Hotel hundreds of miles from home with a sore neck and back from scrunching down to see under the windshield frame. As for bugs, they usually get thrown up a bit as they pass in the windstream over your windshield. Most of them will clear your head.

 

Love the visor you incorporated. Very unique.


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Donut-not exactly trad. but very clean and unobtrusive. Well done!

 

2-1/2" chop, leaned back til it looked right. Seat's a lot lower than stock so I look through it fine.

 

On my 32 Roadster, the windshield was chopped 3 inches. Looks good and worked out great. Had the seat lowered, and my vision was in the center of the windshield.

 

When your hat blows off, you've chopped a little too much.

 

4 inches and laid back a fe w degrees Seat is on the floor.

 

2" chop with seat frame 2" off the floor for adjusters

 

4 inches

 

Might have missed it's post,
But a deluxe '30 '31 roadster's windshield is chopped over an inch compared to a standard roadster's W/S from the factory...
Got a pair of deluxe stantions today at the Topsham, Me. swap meet... $75 pr.... and a couple of new 16" inner tubes for a fin each...
Neat how a frugal tiquer cut and threaded a mirror's shaft and screwed it into the stantion ...

 

Mine is 3 inch chop with package tray removed and seat all the way back , I think what gives it a wicked look is the posts leaned back along with the chop.

 

might need to check legality , depending where you live .