I know there are some the trucks on here that have been chopped. My truck is running now so before I put the front on and the windows in it I want to take 4 or 5 inches off the top and would appreciate some info on how you taped the top off for the chop. I want a mail slot back window and need to know how to go about marking it. I have and have read the Tex Smith top chop book. I marked my top starting at the doors.I measured on the body lines on the doors and marked them so that the top would come down and the lines would match up. But when I tape of to the back to the rear window the 5 inches comes out to low on the window to let the window come down to match up. What am I doing wrong? RUSTY

 

On the sides of the rear window, how much height do you have between where the corners start to curve? Obviously you need to take it out of the center and if you don't have the entire 4 or 5 inches that you want in the straight vertical section then you need to be taking identical amounts of the the curves.

Before you cut the top off, a few things;

1. measure the height of the front and rear glass in the center and measure the distance between the pinch areas of the sheet metal that the window seals go onto. you'll likely find the glass is about 1/4 inch larger than the hole. whatever it is, you'll know to make the new glass that much bigger than whatever you end up with. ( I hope you're able to understand what I'm trying to say.)

2. a LOT of people say, get your windsheilf cut first and then cut the roof down to fit it. If I were doing mine over agian, I probably would do that.

3. Make sure you take at least 1/2 inch more from the front than the back, possbily an inch more total.

Other thing to think about;

1. You will have to make a custom headliner because as you drop the roof, it gets wider and longer.

2. Can you get pieces from another set of doors to save making the pieces you'll need to put into the door frames and the window frames.

Chopping a top is well worth it (and not just for the bragging rights), but there's a lot of factors to consider......

 

What are you planning on chopping, your 50 F-1 or the 54 F-100. Ron Covell has a really good DVD called Chopping and sectioning. They're working on a 55 studabaker but it would pretty much give you all the information you need. It very interesting even if you're not planning to do a chop.
John

 

If I might chime in here , I would sugest you do this on a PLASTIC MODEL FIRST. Since Revell and A M T did these , well A M T did the 53 and Revell- Monogram did the 50 , mabye you might want to go through the steps first on a 15.00 model first . You would also benifit a whole lot by asking the same question on Model Cars Magazine Forum.com . I can ay with experence asI have been a helper to a couple of body men who did a 1956 Model as it was a chore ! Ed Shaver

 

Just as Ferguson said, do your homework first. And as Ed suggested, practice on something else. Take pictures of your markings and post them up so we can check them out and see the concept. We've done a couple and having some spare parts laying around is always handy, unless you are REALLY good at creating your own fill pieces.

 

heya Claude, when you're ready and if you need a hand, shoot me a pm. I'll see if I can break away for a garage day to chip in w/ my worthless opinion...
JML

 

I'll try to post the pics in the morning. I have it all marked off and have checked every thing at least a dozen times. I all so have another top and the tops of two other doors for the filler across the top and the tops off the doors.
vintage56; I plan on cutting the top in the morning if I can get out of the Sunday Honey-does.LOL. RUSTY