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Projects chop top

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by rustymetal, Oct 1, 2012.

  1. rustymetal
    Joined: Feb 18, 2003
    Posts: 557

    rustymetal
    Member

    what would be a fair price to give ,for a 2 inch chop on a 36 ford truck cab ?
    no rust repair and have another roof and doors.
     
  2. birdman42
    Joined: Jan 18, 2012
    Posts: 400

    birdman42
    Member

    $800 to $1500 here in southeast Mo.
     
  3. rustymetal
    Joined: Feb 18, 2003
    Posts: 557

    rustymetal
    Member

    come on is that the price
     
  4. southern thunder
    Joined: Mar 14, 2012
    Posts: 226

    southern thunder
    Member

    a friend of mine here in Ga. charges $500.00 per inch. theres a lot of work involved in a chop. he has a 49 f-1 in his shop now, doing a 3 " chop.
     

  5. Seriously? By the inch? So, a 1" chop is $500, with all trim and body chopped 1", but a 6 inch chop is $3000? Weirdest pricing I ever heard of.
     
  6. gasheat
    Joined: Nov 7, 2005
    Posts: 714

    gasheat
    Member
    from Dallas

    They must have found an easier way to do it.
     
  7. rcavaliers
    Joined: Feb 20, 2010
    Posts: 155

    rcavaliers
    Member
    from downey

    my budget would be for a 1/4 chop. $125 is all i could spare
     
  8. LMAO. With pricing $500 a inch, I would bet guys have asked.
     
  9. Cerberus
    Joined: May 24, 2010
    Posts: 1,392

    Cerberus
    Member

    It's the "rule of thumb" pricing principle.
     

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  10. redeyewelder
    Joined: Sep 26, 2011
    Posts: 120

    redeyewelder
    Member
    from ten

    i wouldnt think of choppin any thing those years for less than 2,500$....and mercs or fleets or any sleds start at 5000- 9000$ .... idk how they could do a good job at that price....i would be scared at that price!!!!
     
  11. I would think that chopping a top correctly is going to cost you at least a grand nowadays. HRP
     
  12. redeyewelder
    Joined: Sep 26, 2011
    Posts: 120

    redeyewelder
    Member
    from ten

    so is that finnished metal work and all...or just the layout, chop and weld....
     
  13. motoandy
    Joined: Sep 19, 2007
    Posts: 3,334

    motoandy
    Member
    from MB, SC

    Glad I don't own a T with that per inch rule
     
  14. redeyewelder
    Joined: Sep 26, 2011
    Posts: 120

    redeyewelder
    Member
    from ten

    i in no way think im the last stop on chops,,,but just workin at a body shop, having a sawall , welder and knowing how to wipe bondo doesn't qualitfy someone to chop a car... check on how many theyve done!!!!!!
     
  15. cayager
    Joined: Feb 10, 2012
    Posts: 293

    cayager
    Member

    about 5 years ago i got $1500 to chop a top on a 31 model A tudor sedan. if you own the tools and more important have the skills you should get paid. any good shop would get $70 - $100 an hour . it doesnt take long to eat up alot of hours. good layout, good fitup and good welding and grinding take time.
     
  16. LOW LID DUDE
    Joined: Aug 16, 2007
    Posts: 1,223

    LOW LID DUDE
    Member
    from Colorado

    I saw a guy do it for a case of beer.Only problem was he drank the beer while doing it and cut on the wrong side of the tape on one side and was off 3/4 inch on the other.He didn't support the body and the body got welded crooked all over. He thought it looked pretty good until he sobered up . Man that was some funny shit. The owner brought it to me to fix. Sometimes you are better off not trying to get the cheapest deal in town ,that case of beer could cost you a lot more in the end.LOL
     
  17. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,263

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    $3500, more if you want it metal finished.
     
  18. deto
    Joined: Jun 26, 2010
    Posts: 2,620

    deto
    Member

    Cheap chops are akin to cheap tattoos and plastic surgery...


    Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
     
  19. it's almost impossible to estimate anything on old cars. you never know whats under the paint. a set price is a industry joke, I know some very good shops that never estimate any build over $50,000 knowing very well that after the start up the owners will get caught in the F*** it! lets go for it.
    I get hit all the time for a "Ball Park I won't hold you to it" and when the job is finished the only price they remember is the lowest number in the Ball park
     
  20. slddnmatt
    Joined: Mar 30, 2006
    Posts: 3,685

    slddnmatt
    Member

    Noname is all to right. I've been in conversations about prices on chops and people don't understand why I won't give quotes. I had one guy arguing with me that he could give a set price on how much it would cost to change a water pump or something, him being a mechanic. Told him good for you, have one of them guys do it then....that quote price is the only number they ever remember, even though you tell them 100 times you work hourly..
     
  21. pitman
    Joined: May 14, 2006
    Posts: 5,148

    pitman

    How complete is the job to be quoted?
    Faired and in primer?
    Flawless or looks good at 60 mph?
    The 2nd post is a fair estimate depending on your expectations.
     
  22. chaos10meter
    Joined: Feb 21, 2007
    Posts: 2,191

    chaos10meter
    Member
    from PA.

    Around here it's $ 1,000.00 an inch just the chop, no glass cutting , no trim cutting
     
  23. Rich Wright
    Joined: Jan 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,922

    Rich Wright

    Time and material.... The only "accurate" estimate for chopping a top.

    When people ask me about prices for custom for specialized body work I just recommend they learn how to do it themselves....

    I'm reminded of a typical response I've heard many times when giving the infamous Ball Park quote for paintwork....usually said with increased volume and a chocking sound.... "Are you shittin' me??? It's just paint"
     
  24. Special Ed
    Joined: Nov 1, 2007
    Posts: 7,967

    Special Ed
    Member

    "How complete is the job to be quoted?"

    That's really the $64,000. question, isn't it? Glass cut and re-installed? Primered? Painted? New headliner installed? Rust? Etcetera, etcetera.... Way too many variables involved.
     
  25. Rich Wright
    Joined: Jan 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,922

    Rich Wright

    ... Way too many variables involved

    Which is why Time and Materials is the only accurate estimate. Sheet metal work is hard enough, especially if there is damage or corrosion to deal with, but all the other things that have to be dealt with can really sneak up on you.
    Like cutting garnish moldings that are destined to be chromed:eek:
     
  26. i don't know how you could price it by the inch. every car is different. the 36 truck cab in question or a model a or a model t for instance would be much less labor intensive than a mid century merc or a 54 chevy or somthing of that nature.

    what ever you do, don't just go with the best price. that will cost you your car in most cases. there is thread after thread here on fixing botched chops. look at some of those before you go with the cheapest price.

    there is a lot to know about chopping to do it correctly. getting the roof lower is pretty easy. getting it low and making sure all the windows fit correctly and the doors to shut and seal properly is somthing all together.

    somtimes saving money is a bad idea. usually it will cost you much more.
     
  27. What he said! I have done a few and it depends on how far you want it finished. Just cut and welded is one thing. Glass, finished body work, all trim peices finished? It can mount up.
     
  28. slammed
    Joined: Jun 10, 2004
    Posts: 8,150

    slammed
    Member

    Take a number of pix, detailed write up of what you need. Then PM CHOPRODS aka Kenny Baker. Then begin your journey south!
     
  29. HUSSEY
    Joined: Feb 16, 2010
    Posts: 628

    HUSSEY
    Member

    I've never chopped a top but charging by the inch doesn't make much sense.

    I think you go hit 100 hours real easy chopping a top. 50 - 80 dollars an hour gets you to 5 - 8k $ real easy.
     
  30. HUSSEY
    Joined: Feb 16, 2010
    Posts: 628

    HUSSEY
    Member

    I've never chopped a top but charging by the inch doesn't make much sense.

    I think you could hit 100 hours real easy chopping a top. 50 - 80 dollars an hour gets you to 5 - 8k $ real easy.
     

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