chopping ???
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: COLORADO
chopping ???
I'm thinking of chopping the top on my 54, is there a book or articles out there that can take me step by step? I need something thats complete or real close because I have never tried anything that big. (patch panels are one thing this is something else) Thanks for any help!
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From: Anacortes, WA
Yup...Agreed. I have the same book. It is an excellent source. I referred to it a lot when chopping my 50 sedan. If I can ever find a decent used cab, I might chop the 49 F1, but I need about 2 inches of roof line front to back and side to side. Good luck. I think they look awesome when done right.
Ben
Ben
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
I've always wondered what would happen if in the chopping process you used a later model roof skin to reduce the height above the drip rail. I like the way they chopped the top on Foose's 56 (Fat Fender 56 did his the same way) cut the back panel below the window opening to retain stock rear window, cut front out of cowl to retain stock front windshield opening. Makes for a stealth chop and saves a lot of money getting new glass cut. Another thing I'd explore is if the 56 roof skin is longer than the 53-55 ?
If so it may be able to be grafted to the earlier cab to get the extra length you'll need after chopping. The most difficult part of the chop is widening the roof in both directions and getting it smooth again. You need to stretch out any welding shrinkage in the process. If you just fill over the oilcans, the first time you take the truck out in the sun the heat expansion will make it ripple and wave and may even pop the putty loose.
If so it may be able to be grafted to the earlier cab to get the extra length you'll need after chopping. The most difficult part of the chop is widening the roof in both directions and getting it smooth again. You need to stretch out any welding shrinkage in the process. If you just fill over the oilcans, the first time you take the truck out in the sun the heat expansion will make it ripple and wave and may even pop the putty loose.
Posting Guru
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From: Michigan
If you chop the top and don't lean the "A" pillers back you will end up splitting the roof into 4 pieces. The more you chop it the larger the filler pieces will be. Also you will need to figure out how large the rear window should be. We have a couple of chopped slant cabs in my area and I think the one that left the "A" pillers alone is the nicer of the two.
By the way Fooses 56 was sectioned not chopped which for a 56 it looks right (I don't like chopped 56's, but thats just the way I like things).
There are a couple of guys that have chopped a slantcab, hopefully they will be along soon and give better answers then we have. Have a good one.
Chuck
By the way Fooses 56 was sectioned not chopped which for a 56 it looks right (I don't like chopped 56's, but thats just the way I like things).
There are a couple of guys that have chopped a slantcab, hopefully they will be along soon and give better answers then we have. Have a good one.
Chuck
Last edited by merc546; Jun 21, 2007 at 08:40 AM.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Riverside, So Cal
Here are a couple of FTE'ers galleries that chopped their slant cabs. Some very nice work here:
Ferguson777: https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=23683
MT54: https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=16608
Ferguson777: https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=23683
MT54: https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=16608
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
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From: Durham NC
Fosses' 56 was wedge sectioned as well as chopped 2" in rear 3" in front. The took the chop out below the rear window and out of the cowl below the windshield so both front and rear glass remained the original size. That's a trademark of Foose, you know it's not stock, but not obvious as to what has been done.
Check out Fatfender56's "top cutz" gallery for pics of a similarly done chop in progress: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/m...fenders56.html
Anyone hear from Tim lately?
Check out Fatfender56's "top cutz" gallery for pics of a similarly done chop in progress: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/m...fenders56.html
Anyone hear from Tim lately?
Last edited by AXracer; Jun 21, 2007 at 11:46 AM.
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Postmaster
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From: Riverside, So Cal
Originally Posted by AXracer
....Anyone hear from Tim lately?
His ears must be burning now...
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Freshman User
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From: Anacortes, WA
Yeah in order to keep the pillars straight and not make it look ridiculous, yoou would have to break the roof into four sections. Which is why I need an extra cab to get the sheet metal I need.
Ben
Ben
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Durham NC
I think Tim and his pix would argue that his is chopped. Lowering the roof 2" is chopping in my book, doesn't matter if you take the piece out of the top middle or bottom of the posts the results are the same. Take a look at Tim's pic of the chopped doors before the top was dropped. Foose's top was done the exact same way, Tim and I conversed about how it was done in detail right after the show aired and I watched it several times to see how it was done. If you want to call removing metal above the beltline to lower the roofline sectioning that's fine with me, Then Foose's truck was sectioned twice: a wedge cut below the beltline and a wedge cut above.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Michigan
Wow somebody needs a nap. They didn't take anything from the posts. I know you have this need to be right all the time so in the best interest of this forum I will end my part of this discussion. The End.
Chuck
Chuck
FTE Legend
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From: northwestern Ontario
Seeing as you are concidering on buying a book, you might want to check out the DVD that Ron Covell did on a 56 Studebaker pickup, very similar to the slant cab that you have. This DVD explans in very great detail how to chop,section and how to pie cut the hood. I bought it and don't know if I'll ever get around to doing such a mod but I think it's a great learning tool.
John
John