Chop

Ranchgoat12 · Veteran Member

Chop

Ranchgoat12 · Veteran Member

Oh yeah, I am speaking about 1949 -1952 models.

Cheviac · Guru

I googled it once and watched a couple of videos, VERY Labour Intensive with that long slope. I'm guessing very expensive.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

My guess is $20K and up.

Ranchgoat12 · Veteran Member

Wow, that seems pretty steep. I don't mean the body work, just the metal work.

timbuk · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

watch a few youtube videos take it from there halfass customs has some stuff

otus · Addicted!

One good thing is the metal involved. Such a treat to work with although it is heavy. This would be very involved considering overall size as well as roof design. A large chop like this requires at least two guys imo. Hammer welding is the way to go here using butt joint techniques. I've seen guys cheat and "rake" the roof instead of doing a full 1/4 cut job. I've also seen guys try a rake the windshield only to have glass fitment issues later on....when you don't need that!....Don't forget that glass fitment and door chops are required...one piece door glass or vent window chops as well....Hundreds....yup hundreds of hours involved to do a proper hammer welded quality piece. When I was in (trade) school one of my classmates had a 1953 chevy business man's coupe body hanging on their body shop wall....I was in awe ..He and his Dad had chopped,channeled and sectioned this shell...all welding done with torches and hammer welded...two of them... incredible. I think of it often!

Ranchgoat12 · Veteran Member

Otus, that '53 sounds very cool!!!

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

From my limited experience, most people who had the skill to do a chop like that are either dead or long retired. Anyone remaining is busy and expensive.

Ranchgoat12 · Veteran Member

Seventy2plus2 that may be a very accurate statement. It could well be that almost nobody chops (or gets their car chopped) anymore. I don't seem to see any around. Seems like there aren't even many, if any, at the "Draggins Rod and Custom" car show, which is the big car show in Saskatoon.
Tens of thousands of dollars is not an option. I will post any info I dig up, if there is any to dig up.

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

There is some info out there on chopping a Chevy of similar vintage, which should essentially be the same in concept.

Here's a thread on HAMB that I didn't read through, but skimming through it, looks like it contains some good info:

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/tech-chopping-a-1950-chevy-fleetline.78310/

Here's a step by step of one done on a model car (which might be a good way to familarize yourself with the concept and visualize a finished product):

http://cs.scaleautomag.com/sca/modeling_subjects/f/30/t/122345.aspx

Here's an article on chopping a 4-door (with fastback roofline, so similar concept):

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/0903rc-1950-chevy-chopped-top/

A video:

Here's a video if you have 4 hours to kill (I didn't watch it...):

Ranchgoat12 · Veteran Member

Thanks MC

MC · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Hope it helps you make your decision!

DDBesse · Member

Hey Doug,

My name is Doug also, and I am in Saskatoon. My 1950 Pontiac looks eerily similar to the one in your bio pic. Am I talking to me? Lol! I do that sort of metal work and am not up for that level of challenge quite yet. I like the stock look... mine almost looks chopped already with the big sun visor on. Just my opinion. There was a shop somewhere out by Grasswood Esso that does chops I think, but don't know the name. Good luck.

mr57 · Veteran Member

Sprry for so late to the parade on this one. Brent Hoitink, Halfasst Kustoms in Manitoba on Youtube did an EXCELLENT chop on one of these a few years back, a blue and white four door. Go see if you can find the video, or maybe contact him for more info.