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Oct 10, 2009 | 08:13 PM

#31

havi

I'll have the Roast Duck

Joined: Jul 2002

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From: Northshore, MN

Thanks, Chuck, I thought the chop looked angled to me, but wasn't positive. photos ya know.

Oct 10, 2009 | 11:10 PM

#32

AXracer

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From: Durham NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtrmlow

WEll right down the middle there is a a + cut and it appears that it was streched about 3 inches in the middle. He did not dot that part correct becuase instead of flushing mounting the filler piece he layed it on top and then feathered it with fiberglass filler. Or maybe lead becuase i have already found traces of lead work.

I will get some pictures. Is there way to measure for glass? Be cause i cant find a single local person that can cut glass for chop tops.

Is the filler panel welded in or attached with FG?
Stretching the width of the roof does make the glass fitting issue a little easier.
You may want to read this post for a chronicle of one member's experience with fitting the glass into his 56 custom:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...indshield.html

He was doing a 56, a little more difficult than the slant cabs, but the reasons why the compound curved glass is difficult to fit if the chop isn't done with the precut glass already at hand, so the opening can be fitted to the glass are similar. Keith finally basically went that route, had the glass cut first then reworked the opening to fit the glass.
You might consider borrowing or scavaging a 53-55 windshield and setting it in place in your opening. If it overhangs the sides or the bottom edge bows away from the opening it's likely it is going to require some fancy metalwork to correct the fit once the glass is cut. Last time I checked there were some pretty big name builders in MI, you may want to do some research and make some phone calls to get glass shop recommendations.

Oct 11, 2009 | 09:32 AM

#33

xtrmlow

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ALright i went out and snapped some pictures

And this last picture show the angle at roughly 61degrees. But my truck is not level fron to back. As of right now the truck is sitting with the rear about 14 inches above ground at the bottom of the rollpan and the front roll pan would be touching ground.

A local guy stopped by my house several months ago and wanted to buy the truck. He said back in the day (80s) that this truck was running and driving with front glass.
Is it possible to have a front window made from acrylic?

Oct 11, 2009 | 03:59 PM

#34

AXracer

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From: Durham NC

Trust me, you would never want a plastic windshield! They distort so badly you'd get a headache evey time you drove it, and the first time you turned the wipers on it would scratch so badly...
Assuming the opening isn't wracked on the diagonal, you have a good chance that a glass windshield could be cut to fit since the top was widened and lengthened when chopped. I would be greatly concerned about the craftsmanship (spray foam to support across the cuts???, cracking of the windshield posts right at your angle gauge.) of the work, the guy obviously was NOT a welder. One day you might hit a hard bump and have the whole roof fly off! (not to mention the reoccuring paint cracking) That needs to be completely stripped and redone with flush fillers and soild welds at the windshield and rear horizontal seams. I wonder if the rest of the body work was done so shabby? Sorry, not trying to put you off your feed, just telling the realities of what's ahead.

Oct 11, 2009 | 07:01 PM

#35

xtrmlow

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Well it look like they welded those straps inside and then reskinned the whole roof somehow. The cracks are from bondo, I will know more once it gets stripped down.
The foam is un explainable. I can stab my knife thru it and hit metal all thru the whole back so im not sure if maybe there was a leak.
But the more I look at the chop the more I wanna do a roadster. So ill just keep learning and decide later once it stripped what I want.

I am on the lookout for some new partial front fenders tho. can i buy just the lower back portions? Or do I have to buy full fenders?

Oct 11, 2009 | 07:44 PM

#36

AXracer

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From: Durham NC

The fenders were originally one piece. They were cut to allow the entire front end sheet metal to be hinged to pivot forwards. If you don't cut them somewhere the wrap under part at the bottom rear would not clear the cowl. The front fenders are reproduced in steel and fiberglass. I'd suggest giving Mid Fifty: Mid Fifty F100 Parts a call and ask them to send you one of their print catalogs, or download the pdf from their web site and print it. There is a wealth of information and assembly drawings in it as well as most any part you might need. Sy and the girls (it's an all female run company) really know their stuff and are extremely willing to help, and every order comes with bonus Tootsie rolls in the box!

Oct 13, 2009 | 09:06 PM

#37

Michigan Rick

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Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 227

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From: Owosso Michigan

call me so I can look at your truck

x..................stop down to the House of Wheels. I'd like to look at your truck. I'm Rick and I've been there since dirt so if you've ever biked I prolly know you. Cappy(guy across the street from Integrity) told me about that truck a while back. Good to see you want to save it.

Michigan Rick

Oct 13, 2009 | 10:34 PM

#38

xtrmlow

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Michigan Rick

I know of cappy, but have never met him personally. I live just down the road from house of wheels. Near robins furniture on lynn st. I haven't tore into the truck yet, but hope to piece by piece really soon.
I am almost finished with my bagged s10. And then the ford is heading into the garage. Ill try to swing in there someday to say hi, i know once i get going on this I will definitely be knocking on your door