arlight.. well just to throw out my idea for my truck...


now... should i keep it a flat bed? and anyone whos done a chop.... how much did that cost? or was it easy doing it yourself?

 

I like the picture, and I think the chop would look bitchin', especially once the vent window is gone.
As for the flat bed, I say ditch it. Find a stepside bed. That would look best, in my opinion.

In the picture, did you lower it too? if not, it already looks like a it's got a cool stance to match the possible chop.

 

Chop is really cool.I would also go with a stepside bed.

 

Flatbeds can give a different look, especially if you do wood stake sides.
Depends on who does the chop, the really good guys who do it right charge in the 2-3K range. If it isn't done right it can look chopped up rather than chopped IMHO. A bad chop can also make it difficult/impossible to get glass to fit. The doors are the most difficult part.

 

To further improve the look, maybe photoshop a set of the 1/2 ( F-1) front fenders on to the truck. The truck must be a 3/4 ton due to the large wheel openings. Cool picture , even for a flatbed. It is nice to have computers. Try to "paintbrush" a solid color for even more effect.

 

i hear ya... i do alot of idea on photoshop before i even touch a tool, it just helps to get my idea out and know what im really going for... i'll be sure to add photos as the work starts.... and yea i did lower it too, that thing is way off the ground.

 

These are ideas I picked up off previous threads and saved for future reference.

"If you MUST chop, and do not see the reasoning to hire the job to a pro that understands geometry, then by all means buy an ugly junker to do a practice chop job to cut your teeth on so to speak. The need for a 2nd cab is only required when you cant shape the filler strips, have no english wheel, or the chop needs door parts that are diff to replicate/form. Most first timers claim to use a 2nd cab, but it was to replace the one ruined due to lack of plan or skill. never done one but researched it seriously on my '53. There is a book on the market.. "How to chop a top" by Tex Smith thru Motorbooks... offered on Amazon.com. a google brought back about 20 hits on various models. I read the book several times and decided I liked the high dome... since mid 50 f-100s have compound curved roofs, the chop is more difficult than say a 30's model rod... as you lower the roof it gets wider and deeper so you have to quarter the roof section and add patch panels across side to side and front to back. The chop is easy... the building of a new roof is the hard part. You need some serious body working skills to do it right and then it's hard. Then you can always take too much and ruin the proportions of the truck totally... the radical chops (to me) look strange... and if you're over 6' very impractical unless you're sitting on the floorboards. The best ones (again, to me) are subtle with 1½" or out of the rear and maybe 2" in the front. Of course you know what that does to all your glass and chopping the windshield is much harder than the top... the best way is to sandblast or grind it off and it's a chore... some glass shops will attempt it at your liability... it breaks ?? you buy another. I've got a friend out west that went thru 5 windshields at 200 a pop before they got one in one piece. Side and rear glass aren't that bad cause they are flat...the door frames also have to stretch on the slant cabs so you need some donor parts... it's an expensive mod... but done right it's cool."

Whatever you do, don't repeat a common mistake and start a Rod Mod you can't finish, then try to sell in process to get your money out of it, unless you want to loose your shirt. And besides you would weaken the gene pool of original Iron by 1. Have fun truckin! David

 

yea i bought that book about a year go when i decided i wanna to do a chop on somthing... but im thinking this time i will let a pro do it instead and practice on an old junker. thanks a bunch!

 

Good idea! Never attempt your first chop on a good body. Try and see if the pro will let you hang around, be an unpaid helper so you can see how it's done. Take LOTS of pictures to document the process to help others as well as have for your scrapbook.

 

oh dont worry... there will be tons of photos of my truck... i also am going to sell my friend the 51 f1, so he will have somthing to work on... so for those living in dallas.... keep an eye out for us!