[grouch]

I hadn't even thought about title problems over chopping the top. Guess I better check the state laws on that.

Thanks for the heads-up!

[Dave 39]

There'sa guy on the HAMB, ''flop'', who is chopping a 50 Pontiac coupe and has posted tons of pics that might help. Dave

[GaryD]

Thanks for the tip Dave. I hadn't been checking the HAMB for a while and missed that one. He's doing an awesome job on it. Now if I could only convince him he wants to help on mine... I'm only three hours away from him on the turnpike.

Gary D

[GaryD]

Originally Posted by grouch

I hadn't even thought about title problems over chopping the top...

Grouch: Do you guys have regular state inspections on your cars? That's where they get us. We have an annual state inspection the car has to pass. Things like suspension and engine changes can be overlooked and written off as normal repair updates. "Jeez, I can't get an overhaul kit for the old straight eight, so I stuck this here six cylinder Jag motor in". Once you hack the top though, you're in custom territory.

[grouch]

Originally Posted by GaryD

Do you guys have regular state inspections on your cars? That's where they get us. We have an annual state inspection the car has to pass.

Many years ago we had annual "safety inspections". They were a joke. People would cobble things together to survive the typical 2 minute inspection, get the sticker and be 'good' for another year. A lot didn't even bother with the cobbling; just shop for a service station where you could plop down $2 and put the sticker on the windshield.

It's most likely that as long as I don't go to extremes (not planning to), modifications won't be a factor.

[grouch]

Originally Posted by Dave 39

There'sa guy on the HAMB, ''flop'', who is chopping a 50 Pontiac coupe and has posted tons of pics that might help. Dave

Found it; thanks!

Heh, strangely enough, the title is:
50 Pontiac Coupe Chop!!! tons of pics

That's just an excellent set of photos -- the best, most complete I've seen yet.

[GaryD]

Originally Posted by grouch

just shop for a service station where you could plop down $2 and put the sticker on the windshield....

We always called them 'lick em stick em' shops
Problem was they didn't always last until the next year and you had to find another!

[lets cut it up]

Quote from NEW INTERIORS>>>>I'm trying to get Tim to post some more,This is the first chop me in him every did like this, But it work out great,I enjoyed being a part of it.



I have to load some of the recent pic of the 55 but here are a few of my early pic while doing the chop. I will have to take some close ups for the detail but the car is buried in the back of my shop at the moment so as soon as I un bury it i shoot some. But for these early pics you can see the sunk top and extended hood. The rear was also done the same way and a removable panel was fabbed up to fill the hole between the trunk and the rear glass. also new hinges had to be mad because I had to loose the originals because of the sunk top also. The pic that shows the interior shows how the dog leg dropped down but the dash stayed up . it had to be trimmed down to fit and is also a 57 unit. These are very early stages of the chop so most of this is just mock up.

[grouch]

Thanks for the pics!

Looks like it's coming along. With that wrap-around windshield, it would take a lot of work to lean it back the way I'm testing mine in the edited photo, and it would likely still need to be custom cut. On the other hand the '55 has a long top to begin with so you don't lose all that much by sinking it like you've got it. Mine would look lost in the middle of the Olds body if I did that. It would lose 5 - 6 inches in length for a 2 - 3 inch drop instead of chop. (Look at that 50 Pontiac on HAMB, the 8th page shows a before and after).

Are you channeling the '55? (Looking at the photo where you're adding sections to the driveline tunnel).

[NEW INTERIORS]

No it is on air bag's,the frame will sit on the ground. The car was a four door also,Tim made it a two door.He has some very nice tricks up his sleeve.

[lets cut it up]

Originally Posted by grouch

Thanks for the pics!

Looks like it's coming along. With that wrap-around windshield, it would take a lot of work to lean it back the way I'm testing mine in the edited photo, and it would likely still need to be custom cut. On the other hand the '55 has a long top to begin with so you don't lose all that much by sinking it like you've got it. Mine would look lost in the middle of the Olds body if I did that. It would lose 5 - 6 inches in length for a 2 - 3 inch drop instead of chop. (Look at that 50 Pontiac on HAMB, the 8th page shows a before and after).

Are you channeling the '55? (Looking at the photo where you're adding sections to the driveline tunnel).

The frame on the 55 is z-ed and that raised the engine so i had to move the tunnel. The car is on air bags so it lays frame.

Your car would NOT look right with a top drop. It needs to be chopped like you would do a 49-50 merc. That way you could lay the rear glass at a rake to compensate the top getting shorter when it comes down. Your glass would not be hard to cut like curved glass like i have. I suggest a traditional chop with tilted post like i stated in earlier posts/

[Job~Rated]

If anyone knows anything about chopping, it has to be a guy called 'lets cut it up'...

[grouch]

I've been 'cutting it up' in GIMP since before disassembling the thing and I still can't make up my mind which way I like it best. Today while eating lunch, I (photo)sectioned it 4" -- borrowing Nightfire's word, it was a hideousity. (attached)

Originally Posted by lets cut it up

Your car would NOT look right with a top drop. It needs to be chopped like you would do a 49-50 merc.

Yeah, the more I look at that '50 Pontiac, the more I'm convinced that's the way the Olds would look its best. Full rear window leaned forward; chopped windshield and side glass; move the rear vent backwards to maintain some of its size. A 2" section to go with a 2" chop might look good. I don't much care for the skirts, though. Never liked the typical taildragger look usually put on the Mercs, either, I like either low all around or rake it forward.

I'm going to rework the photo to imitate some of Flop's work on the Pontiac and alter the rear fenders.

I appreciate the feedback from everybody on this. It helps to get ideas as well as seeing actual chops.

[Job~Rated]

Now that's what I call a chop......