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Customs 52 Buick 4 door chop

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by BigOl'Buick, May 8, 2017.

  1. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    So, A little over a year ago, I was driving the ol buck nasty home late at night. A few blocks away from home I heard a loud grindy crunchy sound after going over a rough section of road. A common occurrence here in Vegas (thank you Las Vegas Paving). Next thing I know, the temp gauge is pegged and she's steaming like an old locomotive. I limped her home (drove normally), popped the hood, and to my dismay, the fan and the radiator got married.
    The next day, I pulled the radiator to assess the damages. Near as I could tell, the chassis flexed enough to send the fan into the aftermarket, oversized, brand new radiator. I wasn't surprised, considering she was riding on cut springs and 65 yr old dry rotted bump stops for suspension. This, on top of all other issues I had been neglecting for 3 years just so I could drive it, made me realize it was time for an overhaul of the drivetrain. yay.
    Sorry, this is long winded, I'll get to the point. While she was sick in the barn, ideas of the chop started to form. I did lots of searching, reading, you tubing, etc. I couldn't find a damn thing on anyone else who chopped my car before, lots of 2 doors, no 4 tho. Yes, I know. "why waste your time on a 4 door". Because Im not building a cookie cutter car that you see 20 of at all the shows. I found a lot of nay sayers, especially when it came to keeping the stock 3 piece rear window (impossible?).. All in all, mostly negative about chopping a buick 4 door in general, which only fueled the fire more. And so it began. To sum it all up. Radiator blew, so I chopped the top.
    I'm about a year in now, took several months off out of disgust, and am now back at it full force. With little to no funds, an arsenal of harbor freight tools, and zero experience chopping a roof, she's coming along nicely and I'm planning to have her on the road by summers end. Fingers crossed.
    I thought I'd post this to help anyone who's on the fence of which way to go make a decision. It's a lot of work and frustration, but i don't regret taking the blade to her. I'll get some pics going and see where this goes.
     
    koolkemp and ChefMike like this.
  2. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    IMAG0135.jpg
    Here she is before the chop was even dreamed of.. If I posted this right.
     
    chryslerfan55 and spurgeonforge like this.
  3. VTjunk
    Joined: Jul 5, 2013
    Posts: 287

    VTjunk
    Member

    Progress pics?
     
  4. Ebbsspeed
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 6,250

    Ebbsspeed
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Watching this one.
     

  5. itsonsucka
    Joined: Apr 26, 2017
    Posts: 30

    itsonsucka

    Yes nice they said that about my 2006 Chrysler 300 in 2007 too. I didn't do it myself but am going to try my hand at a 62 ford galaxie and suicide the doors . I be watching and listen to updates cause winter it happens

    Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk
     
  6. ChefMike
    Joined: Dec 16, 2011
    Posts: 647

    ChefMike
    Member

    please post some photos of the chop !
     
  7. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    20151115_112950.jpg 20151126_142607.jpg
    The tear down, I don't think I landed on chopping it yet at this point. 20160402_175106.jpg 20160428_142501.jpg 20160428_165031.jpg 20160429_150203.jpg 20160429_151254.jpg
    This was all April of last year. I tried finding scrap steel on different job sites, finally broke down and spent $ on new.
    I'm posting these waiting for my kids at the dentist, so I'm kinda slow, bare with me.
     
    williebill likes this.
  8. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    Nice! Got a pic of the 300?
    The galaxy will be sweet
     
  9. Are you going to use flux core wire to put it together with, too?
     
  10. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    Yes. I only have a high and low setting on the little guy. As i put the roof back together, i noticed it burned a little too hot. I was going to put a rheostat on it, but instead, ran it thru a couple long extension cords. That seemed to do the trick.
     
  11. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    20160501_172550.jpg
    This... This whole section proved to be a real pain in the ass. I'm adamant on keeping the stock rear glass uncut. I know, I create my own problems
     
  12. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    20160504_153929.jpg 20160504_162402.jpg
    I read different ideas on how to suspend the roof. I ended up using bike hanging hooks and tie down straps. Good ol harbor freight! Since this entire operation is being performed solo, the straps worked out perfect. IMAG0006.jpg
    It was about this point I decided the top of the b pillars were going away. Along with all side glass. Kinda cheating, but I like the idea of smooth shaved door sills. No window pinch on the soft part of your arm when you're trying to look cool.
     
    williebill likes this.
  13. itsonsucka
    Joined: Apr 26, 2017
    Posts: 30

    itsonsucka

    How much did you shrink the rear of the roof to lay that window down

    Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk
     
  14. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    IMAG0020.jpg IMAG0119.jpg
    Around July last year is where I lost ambition. Did little bits here n there.
     

    Attached Files:

    williebill likes this.
  15. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    Total drop on the roof was a little over 5". Removed about 4" of roof metal
     
  16. itsonsucka
    Joined: Apr 26, 2017
    Posts: 30

    itsonsucka

    Not much taper in that Buick? It's looking fantastic and all original glass your keep ? Just cause they said no lol

    Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk
     
  17. shadams
    Joined: Mar 16, 2011
    Posts: 1,492

    shadams
    Member

    Sweet....keep the pics coming....
     
  18. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    Hahaa, yeah, just in the back tho. Windshields getting cut. Not sure how I'm going to go about that yet.
     
  19. itsonsucka
    Joined: Apr 26, 2017
    Posts: 30

    itsonsucka

    Lexicon? Do you have a curved wind screen? It shouldn't be hard to find a good glass cutting fella to keep the original but I don't think it will be cheap. I got a wrap wind screen I would never be able to get a new one

    Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk
     
  20. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    Its curved. I was gonna practice on the original to see if i can do it. Its cracked already so who cares. I've read about sandblasting. Might try that. Whatevers cheapest, im poor people. Hahaa
     
  21. itsonsucka
    Joined: Apr 26, 2017
    Posts: 30

    itsonsucka

    I hear ya man I built my alternator bracket from threaded and steel I picked up on construction sites I was working at not pretty but works

    Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk
     
  22. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    The Suburban in the background provided the material for the section between the trunk and window. I cut that roof off completely, like a 4 door k5. F it, steel is steel.
     
  23. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    IMG_20170404_161547.jpg IMG_20170429_163136.jpg IMG_20170429_163212.jpg
    So a month ago I got back at it full force.. Decided to ditch the front suspension all together. Came across a 1990's chevy 1/2 ton front end on Craigslist for 100 bucks. I didn't think it would work out, but I figured for 100 why not at least look. Showed up with my tape measure and sawzall, measured it all out. Damn near an exact fit. So chop chop, and stuffed it in the back of the ol burb. I really wished I still had the Suburban i hacked the roof off of that day..
     
  24. Toqwik
    Joined: Feb 1, 2003
    Posts: 1,310

    Toqwik
    Member

    Love it! Just goes to show you all you have to have is the desire to do it. All the fancy tools are great to have but innovation will get you there. Keep at it.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  25. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    IMG_20170429_184459.jpg IMG_20170501_150144.jpg IMG_20170501_161704.jpg IMG_20170501_161728.jpg
    As anticipated, the stock ride height on a chevy pickup is a little high. Im not gonna lie, I kinda like it. Disc brakes, power steering, working suspension.. I'm not gonna know what to do
     
  26. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    IMG_20170505_145437.jpg IMG_20170505_173917.jpg IMG_20170507_170259.jpg IMG_20170507_191615.jpg IMG_20170507_193437.jpg
    Those little butt clamps are the business. I wish I had those when I did the roof.. Live and learn. Harbor Freight, 8 of em for $8. They sure are getting some free publicity from me, they oughta send me some coupons! Wait.. They do.. Anyway, how she sits as of last night. I'll post future progress as its made. I'm really fired up on it now and would like to have her on the road in a few months. Hopefully this helps someone out with ideas. Don't let the nay sayers get you down. This is my first attempt at a chop, I've done some welding before, but by no means consider myself a fabricator. I'm learning a lot as I go. Most importantly, if you're not feeling it or not in the mood, do not touch it. Do not rush it. If its not working, walk away and come back to it later. I'm bouncing back and forth between other things on it so as not to burn out.. I'm doing everything by myself and that may be best, im stubborn and argumentative. If someone said I have no choice but to keep the rear glass, there would be a baseball bat through it. Well, back to work!
     
  27. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    Side note.. The strips of sheet metal Im filling with came from this things roof. IMAG0548.jpg
    Hahaha
     
  28. henry29
    Joined: Sep 5, 2007
    Posts: 2,872

    henry29
    Member

    Looks good, are you keeping it a 4 door?
     
  29. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    Absolutely. 4 doors and longbeds, I run against the grain.
     
  30. BigOl'Buick
    Joined: Jun 21, 2013
    Posts: 44

    BigOl'Buick
    Member
    from Vegas

    Yeah. I was being a little girl about it at first, wanting an English wheel, nicer welder, etc. I pulled my head out of my ass and realized that's not in my reach. I want it done, so I'm getting it done with what I have.
     
    itsonsucka, shadams and low budget like this.

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