Hey guys ... Need some help here I have to cut a Plymouth fury in half long ways and I'm looking for the best way to do it... Now I'm sure you're wondering why well it's because I need to turn it into a wall ornament for a bar my father and I are opening.
Anyway I need it to be almost functional to the point where the doors front and rear open and people can sit in the car... We will be using the driver side I'm partial to taking the body off the frame and cutting it then and then welding a frame from tubing just to support the body against the wall instead of cutting the whole car body and frame together
Any ideas
I have done this sort of thing before and I highly recommend you brace it as well before you cut it. As far as cutting, another method would be using a sawzall. Also, one thing you can think about is not worrying about making these long cuts perfect by running a moulding of some sort (like a threshold moulding available at the hardware store) along the edge, OR sink the edge into the wall by sliding it up against the wall when you are done cutting, then run a line along the edge with a pen then cut along that line removing the drywall behind it and replace it with something thinner or nothing at all depending on what you can put on the inside of the "car". Or simply just run a wood moulding or something on the wall along that line so that it fits up with that edge you cut covered. Painting a mural on the inside of with a view out the "windows". I just thought of that, cool.
Anyway you could still cut with accuracy and not worry about this idea of cutting the wall or something. But if you cut it and it looks good, you may not need to do this. I have never done this exact project but this stuff is coming to my head.
But running a saw across the middle of the hood trunk and roof that I have done and you do need t add bracing first. I cut up a 60 Dodge once for a stereo and adding those braces thru the hood would have been nice.
Interesting project...I'd use a sawz all with a long blade...You should cut the floors first and work your way up ,doing the roof last.otherwise the blade will bind making it almost impossable to cut.Think of how you would cut a log laying down ,from the bottom ,right.
HUH? how do you cut a log from the bottom up? I am a little city boy and don't know crap about cutting logs so what am I missing? I am thinking you would want to cut the roof first as it would be supported by the framing and not bind. Where as if you are cutting the floor, who cares if it binds some and the cut looks like crap.
I just recently cut up a Rambler parts car with the sawzall and it went pretty easy!
I'd pull the body off the frame. Remove the doors, hood, trunk. Brace the body in a few spots with some tubing. If you're going to scrap the other half, turn it on it's side, cut through the floor, turn it back on it's base, cut the rest. Cut long, trim away to what is needed. Cut the hood and trunk on a table or saw horses.
I can't see how a half a car is going to provide much seating, it's also going to take up a lot of space. It will look cool though.
yeah,you can rent a sawzall at home depot for about 10.00 a day, for a more accurate cut use masking tape as a guide,its quickand ez,,,
Once the flor has been cut through leave the rest and cut from the roof down,,this way as the roof is cut the gap will open insted of closing up and binding the blade...if you find the blade keeps binding you can use wood wedges or cedar door shims (also at HD) to keep the gap open
I have already removed much of the things that would be on my way frame with engine and trans ( it's just a front subframe) rear end fuel tank seats inside and I will def brace it I have the car sitting on top of some logs So I can start anywhere I want to start cutting But I believe cutting the floor is best u guys are right I wanna keep everything consistent so I will prob cut it while it is completely assembled and just go right down the middle
I agree with Brian. I'd cut from the top down, as the body might buckle when the bottom is cut in half, and then you'll have to fix it before you use it. If you cut the top, hood, and trunk lid first, then all the good body parts will remain good. The undercarriage doesn't matter if it gets a little deformed or not perfect, as it wont show.
Sawzall is the way to go, get extra blades, use blades specificaly for metal. Tape guide, brace, then have fun hacking the hell out of it. Don't be suprised when you snap or dull a blade, they are a disposable cost of the job. Done this many times to make trunk couches, etc.just have fun, your cutting a car apart, channel your inner ******* and get to it son!
Get the Milwaukie "Torch" blades and you'll get through the cut with almost no bent or broken blades! They're a bit more money, but much heavier material that wont go away as fast as cheaper blades.
The lenox blades are also very good,either one will do a great job.what you dont want to do is get a cheapo blade ,they'll just pee you off and turn a fun little job into a PITA..
Something else you might get while your at Home depot is a few sticks of 3/4" electrcal conduit ,they're cheap and make great braces just cut to length and smash the ends flat then use a big drill screw (3/8 head) to fasten it to the body
I wouldnt cut it right down the middle first cut. Especially the top panels. I would leave at least a few inches, so you can make a final clean cut after its already cut, if you get my gist.
I'm with Ponch on that one ,Its much easier to make a second cut when your just cutting a little strip and you'll have total access from all angles , you can make a very accurate finish cut. 1 1/2 - 2" masking tape works great just lay it out with one side dead on center and cut the other side first..
Good save Ponch ,Forgot to mention that...
You can get a decent sawz-all (reciprocating saw) for under $50. With the right blade you can use it on anything, even to cut firewood, so why rent one? You'll need plenty blades -- I cut up a whole wreck like the wagon in my avatar, I think I used 8-10 blades. The big unbraced panels (like the roof) will be the hardest to cut. You can use an abrasive blade on a HD skillsaw too. Abrasive blades are a bit expensive and don't last long -- take you time if you go that route and don't force the blade through, that REALLY eats them up!
I've seen a car cut and hung on a wall similar to what you're doing, but it was cut roughly along the fender/hood line down the side of the car. There was maybe a couple inches of hood tacked in, just enough that the whole side of the car could be used. The doors would open and close, but not enough room to climb in! No "frame" -- wheels were bolted directly to the wall. Something like that would be a better bar ornament (I saw it in some car museum somewhere...).
I did a Ford Ranger with a $39 Skil brand Saws All. used a mix of Lenox, lenox gold and kobalt blades. Used a dozen blades or so but I wrecked several when I ran into inner structure/ too short of a blade.
A jig saw will also work, and your cut can be easier/ more precise for cuts thru things like the roof.
Still haven't cut it I decided to do the metal repairs first I will be getting to cutting very soon now as we found a location and will be building the place out soon...
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