This idea came about on new years day while we sat around recovering & talking rubbish, it was decided it would be a good idea to chop Mad Dogs latest project. If i was up for it we would go at it like a pair of idiots & see what we could do in one day (bear in mind this is our first chop). The date was set, here's what we started with a fairly solid '51. A little bracing to keep things in place.... Measurements were taken from the body line & we decided 3" would be a good start,to help stop the masking tape coming while we made the cuts i rattle canned over the top & removed the tape. & the first cuts were made....
Making some good progress now.......no turning back We offered the top back up to see how things looked & to our surprised we could see no reason to split the top down the middle, a simple cut on the post top & bottom moving the lowers in a fraction & the tops out a little.
Length ways the top was cut & the rear was removed... Everything was cleaned up nice.... You can see a section of the inner skin we removed which will be replaced towards the end of the job. The rear window was also a really good fit.... Not so at the rear of the door shut, so we moved them forward & it worked out pretty good...
We sure did.....there's part two to come as we had another 8 hrs on it last thursday, just need to get the pics sorted out.
Thanks guys for the comments.....part two coming later today. Larry no donor top just using flat sheet for the filler strips & gutter section from the side to go in the top.
Looks like you guys are doing just what hot rodders do on a cold winters days! Looks great. Thanks for the email and update on the 29.
this post is perfect in all ways the timing was awsome i will be starting mine this week hopefully possibly going 5inches or 6
After the first days work was over both our minds were doing overtime thinking about the next step to take, & MD decided it would be good to cut the rear top section down the middle & line the rear window opening up exactly. Once it was done it became clear that it was a good move & enabled us to get the rear curvature in line with the front. The next step was to fit the gutters in place using material removed from the rear of the shut. (from point A to B) Then to start tacking the filler strips in working from the gutter inwards, with the rear section cut it was easy to keep the curvature in line with the front.
We also had a support inside to keep the sections from sagging while the filler strips were tacked in place. Both mig & tig were used for the tacks, mig proved to be better with less heat generated & less shrinkage.
Looks like the same truck I had back in the summer. The front axle had a great lump of round bar welded on. I thought about turning it into a RPU befor I moved it on.
Looks like the one don't it.....this one has no kids in it though I don't think its gettin any paint though!!
Gasty just tried phoning you!! Its about time we had a UK HAMB chop on that '59.... You know you want to!
John AKA (KoppaK)came around the other day, once I have straightened up the door shuts etc, we are going to try & drop the roof in, as I don't want to cut the glass, also need some suggestions for the back window as I personally think GM put way too much glass in the back??? fancy givin' us a hand??
32LIMEY That looks great!!! Are you going to do other stuff to the body than the chop? Man I so much miss a garage so I can do some more work on my Lady Luck..... Anybody in South Jersey who have some extra space let me know!! Klaus
Klaus the truck belongs to Mad Dog & i'm not sure what other plans he has other than drive the wheels off it! We were talking about you a few weeks back over at John Wicks place & looking at photo's of your car!! in Sweden i think.
Hey 32Limey, that chop just looks great,good job !!! Thanks for sharing the pics.Always great to see work in progress.
Gasty in the march 2001 R&C there is a tech on how to chop a 59 buick. They left the rear glass in tact but there is still some useful info there for ya. If you cant find a copy I could scan it for ya and email it.
A guy I know who has chopped a bunch of later model (curved glass) cars and pickups claims that a key way to save headaches is to get the glass cut first, then fit the steel around it. Seems it is easier than trying to get that curved glass cut perfectly on the first try without cracking it...... By the way, I don't think I mentioned that you guys ROCK. Bitch'n work, excellent snaps, and good commentary. Definitely Tech-o-Matic stuff.
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