stepdown chop tops, anyone?

hornet53

I've found that by setting my 7 MP camera to 0.3 MP, I don't have to resize it very much. Usually cropping out what doesn't need to be there gets it down to where it needs to be.



Just have to remember to reset your camera to the right size before the next Hudson Meet!

[Deleted User]

Hudson308 wrote:

Sounds interesting! Can you share pictures? New Hudson stepdown widshield panes are available stateside (in clear or tinted!) as well, if a guy wanted to go that route to have the glass cut.

Thanks for the advice about the photo resizer,with a little mucking around I think we may have a winner. Hope these can help they are probably the best to show the lip around the screen before the glass was glued in and also the finished product. As I said earlier the 'A' pillars were raked back so this would change the profile but I found the VW Kombi to be close enough. At the time I started this I did not know of any laminated Hudson screens available in Australia other than the one piece ones referred to in an earlier response. I believe that two piece are now available through a kind soul in South Aust who has had mould made. This may be an easier alternative than the VW screens.

bent metal

Awesome pictures, and great discriptions of how you did it! Thanks, and keep them coming! I'd like to see more. Also can you tell us more about how you are doing the mock-up card board pieces that I see on your dash there? I've never seen that method before.

[Deleted User]

Here's a photo of a guy in California's chopped 53 in progress. He chopped his similar to the way I did mine, brought the lid down, and moved the rear window area forward.

[Deleted User]

bent metal wrote:

Awesome pictures, and great discriptions of how you did it! Thanks, and keep them coming! I'd like to see more. Also can you tell us more about how you are doing the mock-up card board pieces that I see on your dash there? I've never seen that method before.

The picture you refer to was when I was mocking up the dash and instrument cluster. The original dash was removed and a steel frame was constructed from 1/4' and 5/16' rod to the desired shape and curve. The frame is removable and forms a 'skeleton' for the dash. I then fixed a product called tamanto to that frame with epoxy and then fibreglassed it to create the dash, the same was done for the console. I'm not sure of the product brand name in the US but it is used in boat building for 'sandwich foam' construction boats. It's available in different thicknesses and in its thinest form is quite flexible. The parts you refer to were ultimately not used but a similar one was made for the centre of the dash under which the stereo head unit lives.



MANY THANKS TO HUDSON 308 FOR TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO POST THE PICTURES OF THE ROOF CHOP. I COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS.

bent metal

Hudsoncustom, who did that work and where in California is he? I'd like to see it if it's not too far away. That sheet metal looks like a new stamping it's so nice! Great craftsmanship!

[Deleted User]

bent metal wrote:

Hudsoncustom, who did that work and where in California is he? I'd like to see it if it's not too far away. That sheet metal looks like a new stamping it's so nice! Great craftsmanship!

I second that, would love to know who did this! Very, very nice.

[Deleted User]

His name is Dave. He goes by "studhud" on the HAMB. I don't know him personally, just exchanged a few emails and such over the years.



I do know that car was rear ended a couple of years ago if you can believe it. he sure does nice work.

[Deleted User]

that big back window must complicate the chopping, but hell it just looks so right. job well done

Unknown

Thanks for the compliment on the metal work.Ive lurked around here for a while i just dont post a whole lot. The car is mine I've owned it for about 10 years. The chop was recently completed, its not even really finished right now I am starting to section the car should be a simple job well sorta!

Thanks Dave

oh by the way I am in Auburn california If you guys want to check it out in person send me a PM.

hudsoncustom wrote:

Here's a photo of a guy in California's chopped 53 in progress. He chopped his similar to the way I did mine, brought the lid down, and moved the rear window area forward.

Unknown

vonhitch, great looking job!! hope you will post a couple of pics of the section job . Ive wondered what a chop and section would look like .

Unknown

QUOTE=bent metal;89619]Can anyone comment on my earlier comment about the windshield? The reason I said the front windshield is a problem is because I had a glass guy tell me that it's very difficult to cut down a front windshield without having it shatter. That been said, I've been looking through past posts and I saw where the "panty Dropper" said he had some guy in his area cut his windshield down some two and a half inches with no problems mentioned.....So was I just talking to a bad "glass guy", or is it difficult to cut down the front glass?[/QUOTE]



Hey Bent metal in answer to your original question about cutting the glass its not that hard to do. There is some risks but if you have new or really good glass and a diamond cutter with lots of water its just time consuming. I used a diamond cutter mounted on a cordless drill with a small flow of water from a garden hose. Hey i know I could have been electricuted bla bla. It took an hour and a half or so to cut then I took it to a glass guy and had the edge ground although it didnt really need it. The key to cutting a roof is to make the metal fit the glass. Dont try making glass way 2 expensive.

Thanks Dave

[Deleted User]

Glad to see you signed up here Dave. I regret not being able to meet you in Sacramento...



So you're sectioning the car now huh? I hope you take plenty of pics!

bent metal

Section that car?!?! I'm not sure if I could do that. It already looks perfect!

IMO :cool:



But I can't wait to see pictures!:D

Unknown

hudsoncustom wrote:

Glad to see you signed up here Dave. I regret not being able to meet you in Sacramento...



So you're sectioning the car now huh? I hope you take plenty of pics!

I haven't even started the cut yet but I got it figured out. The section will go through the middle of the car but the quarters and doors will look the same. I will re hang the doors and quarters with the stock profile but will reduce the height of the rockers panels. The door bottoms will be moved up the distance of the section and hang over the frame a bit. The rockers to me are too tall, the trim and ribs formed on them are also too busy so new rockers will be fabricated to clean it up. the section will be very mild. Less is more so to speak! The car should be farther along and back on the road in may. I will post some pics of the work when I get it farther along.

Thanks Dave

bent metal

Can't wait to see how you do it! Also, please keep in mind that thier are a lot of people who would love to buy your old rockers. Since your going to make new ones. Please make your posts detailed with photos! This is going to be great!:D:D

[Deleted User]

vonhitch wrote:

I haven't even started the cut yet but I got it figured out. The section will go through the middle of the car but the quarters and doors will look the same. I will re hang the doors and quarters with the stock profile but will reduce the height of the rockers panels. The door bottoms will be moved up the distance of the section and hang over the frame a bit. The rockers to me are too tall, the trim and ribs formed on them are also too busy so new rockers will be fabricated to clean it up. the section will be very mild. Less is more so to speak! The car should be farther along and back on the road in may. I will post some pics of the work when I get it farther along.

Thanks Dave

I think that'll look fantastic. I'm with you 100%.



I also thought the rockers were a bit too busy with the trim, and the ribs, so I made new ones also on my rig. (actually, I've only done the drivers side so far, I got waylaid) ha ha.

Unknown

bent metal wrote:

Can't wait to see how you do it! Also, please keep in mind that thier are a lot of people who would love to buy your old rockers. Since your going to make new ones. Please make your posts detailed with photos! This is going to be great!:D:D

Bent metal trust me I throw nothing away. I do have a 52 brougham as well I'll sell them at some point with that car (I decided not to keep it) or will offer them up here. I'm not the most computer savy person but will try to do a post when Im doing the car so I pass on some ideas for others.

Thanks Dave

lsfirth

Does anyone know what the rear window is out of??? Damn....that thing is sent from heaven isn't it!!!!