Projects An Amateur Chops a Brookville Coupe & More

We've all been watching Flop's threads on how a master metalworker chops a 32 three window coupe, this thread will show how an amateur learns how to chop a top for the first time. I've always liked the looks of a chopped 32 Ford coupe. Thanks to people like Flop and others on the HAMB and the internet, I was able to gather enough information to feel confident that I could get it done. I found this site http://rideinsteel.com/update1.html that shows how they chopped a Brookville coupe. I used this as my guide. Let's get started.
New coupe body, hot off the presses from Brookville

This is going to be a 2 1/2" chop which is conservative, but it will be easier for me to put everything back together and lined up. Also here in Pennsylvania they allow a minimum of 7" windshield height, and this will give me about 7 1/4". I'll be stretching the roof to line the A pillars up rather than leaning the posts.
Here are the cut lines for the rear window. I measured carefully and found where the horizontal dimension of the window opening at the upper and lower cuts would match.

This is the outer skin piece that will be removed from the A pillar to give access to the inner structure to be cut. This was bigger than the 2 1/2" needed for the chop. With the larger piece removed I will be able to fully weld the inner structure after cutting.

Here is the the sale panel area that will be removed and reinstalled after the top is chopped.

Well that's a start, I'll be cutting some metal next starting with the rear window chop.
I'll post more photos tomorrow. Stay tuned.

 

Hold my beer and watch this.

Just foolin, looks like you got a plan, Ive never done one, post as much detail as you can

 

I'll likely never have the chance to use the knowledge...at least on a '32 specifically...but I think I wanna watch this real close anyway. Looking forward to it.

 

+1 on what Rickybop said. I've always been interested in chops and how/where the cuts are made; half the time I can't figure why some cuts are done like they are but I learn a little more each time.

 

Glued to this one


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

That's not a chop....that's a scalping.....gonna be sweet

 

Check out waldenspeedshop.com He's on part 16 of how to chop a top on a 3 window coupe. While much of what he's showing does not apply to your chop I think you will still find it interesting.

 

More then one way to skin a cat always great to see new ideas

 

I'll hold the pucker while you cut!

 

I'm for sure watching this! Good luck with it.

 

Looks like you are going at your first chop in a first rate manner.

 

watching intensely , with beer in hand .
Vic

 

Good luck. Looking forward to this.

 

You hold my beer! And you put this cork in my ass!!! Good luck with it, it's only metal.

 

If that was me, never having done a chop, when I started cutting into that beautiful $20K Brookville body, my asshole would be so tight you couldn't drive a red hot spike in it.

 

Tagging along here!

Chris

 

Before I get started with more progress pictures I got to let everyone know that I finished the chop earlier this year. What I'm showing is a condensed version of a 10 month project. I'll be posting a lot of photos and showing details that needed to be addressed to get to an acceptable finish. There is to much to put into one nights post, so I will be updating with more progress pics every night for the rest of this week.
Thanks for the link to the Walden videos Krylon, I don't think the videos were available back when I was working on my car. I'll still watch them and probably see things that would have helped.
Ok more progress pics.
I started with the rear window chop. I cut the spot welds holding the rear center section to the sail panels. I cut the window opening at the lower line. It was easier to cut the upper line with the piece off the car.

The time to take good measurements and proper planning paid off. The window opening lined up perfectly. Very little metal work was needed to true up the body lines. I clamped the pieces in place and tacked them together. I won't fully weld anything until most of the top is fit and tacked and looking good.


Here is the sail panel area cut out. No turning back now.

 

If your gunna cut one cut a nice one!

 

That's exactly how I felt when I started this project. I would go out to the shop and circle the car like a shark with a die grinder and cutoff wheel for weeks until I got up the nerve to finally make the first cut. After the rear window fit so nice I stopped being nervous and just moved ahead one step at a time.

 

I sold a beautiful '36 3/W just because I wanted it chopped and didn't have the heart or "your size balls" to do it. Get her done before your balls shrivel up.........................................

 

Nice work. I chopped a chopped coupe once.... Just saying.

 

It appears you have a well lit and nicely appointed shop to
work in. I would think that would instill a good degree of
confidence as well. The chop looks well planned and executed
to the point shown. Good job!

 

The chop is already done?
You mean...no more sitting on the edge of our seats?
No more puckered sphincters?
Still cool. Still watching.

 

Trying to find the courage to do the same to my Brookville. Nice planning, nice cuts. Looks professional to me.

 

Drinking beer and watching intensely,,,,subscribed.

 

looking great so far
Vic

 

The first cut is the hardest. What helped me the most was seeing examples of other 32 Fords being chopped. The Ride In Steel website link I posted earlier really helped me understand the steps needed to chop a top. Be sure to look up all of Flops threads here on the HAMB, he has lots of great info to share. I printed all the photos from his posts and used them for reference all through this project.
Just remember, that car ain't gonna chop itself. Good luck.

 

Abro 73 ? Is that the official HAMB watching beer of Sweden.
Thanks for subscribing.

 

Ok let's do some more cutting. This is the area on the A pillar that needs to be removed to get to the inner structure.

Here is the inner structure and where I'll be making the 2 1/2" cuts.

Here are the cut lines at the door hinge area.

The big moment. Off with it's head!

The 2 1/2" have been cut out, and the top clamped back in place. Looks ok to me. From this point I worked mainly on lining up the A pillars, the windshield opening, the front door edge and the inner structure. The back of the roof section was dealt with after the cut for the roof stretch was made.

 

This is getting interesting. I'd say that we can use some of the info on any chop we do on a somewhat similar body to get a better chop.