Re: my radical 60 build
 

Keep up the good work Jon. "Git-R-Done"

Re: my radical 60 build
 

I had thought of putting the center of the 62-6 hood on there, and maybe just extending the bottom lip of the hood to meet the grille...
the front pan will get extended all the way across to match that 59 bumper as well.
I also have an idea for changing up the headlight rings for kind of a frenched look.
...saw a NOS 61 plymouth headlight ring (1) sell for $204.00 on ebay, so there is no way I am finding/keeping te original ones!
actually, I got a bit of sticker shock looking for 61 plymouth parts that I needed: $94 for a set of park light housings and lenses, and $180.00 for a pair of the chrome trim that runs around the edge of the fender!
Crazy money.. and then I see 3 or 4 grilles sell in the $20.00-$30.00 range! the part I don't need...

Re: my radical 60 build
 

I am on the lookout for plymouth parts Jon. I will see what I can dig up down here for you.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

well, I am getting started.......
here is a teaser shot of the upcoming chop.


I am taking lots of pics of this process, so hopefully if anybody else wants to chop an early truck they can see how to do it.

All I have been able to find so far is pics of "done" chops, but not the process.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

I really need to get up there and see this

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Man this is a really crazy build. Lookin really good keep the pics coming

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Here are a Couple Link's that may have some info that you Could use for your Chop, Keep posting your Progress...................

Rick

http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/...hop/index.html

http://www.cadvision.com/blanchas/54...roof_chop.html

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=274759

Re: my radical 60 build
 

One of the pickup magazines did an article on a '60-'66 top chop a few years ago.....I just can't remember which one.....I know it's here somewhere :rolleyes:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Hey Jon,
I finally got ONE of those springs out for ya.... work has been hell and baby prep has been eating a lot of my time too. As long as KD keeps quiet that's the story I'm sticking with anyway.

60 is looking awesome. I'm out of the zoo all next week 8/7-8/11 for work but I'll pop that other spring by the 15th. Also got some heavy boxes in for the burb you might wanna see.

I'll try to catch you sun 8/14.

Josh

Re: my radical 60 build
 

any new updates?

Re: my radical 60 build
 

slow going this month...
I have the top chut down 3 inches, and I have figured out where the cuts need to go to widen the roof , and retain the steel headliner.
the roof needs to be widened 3/4 of an inch to get the pillars to line up, and the windshield to fit.
I am taking lots of pics as I go, and hopefully when I am done , we will have a coherent how-to for chopping this year truck.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Man that thing is freaky looking. Its not my cup of tea, but then again a buddy down the road told me to sell my 65 and pick up a 70 so I know its all an acquired taste.

I say keep going man this is really cool doing it differently. The wife asked me what it was and I told her UH, I don't know. hahaha

I did see an article some where on the net talking about doing a 60's chop, but for the life of me I can't remember, but I will give it a looksee if it helps out at all.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

thats a great story, I know nothing about that big box from PB in the garage...

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Any more progress? Just keeping you on your toes. :lol:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

I've been procrastinating.... but I did set a goal to have the roof welded up by the time you visit for christmas,alan!

I did find, and get (they were 3 hrs away) 2 more 61 plymouth front fenders. The ones that I used were pretty shot, there was rust, dents, and old (rough) bodywork done to them. The pair I just got are not rusty, and will save me a ton of work around the headlights where the others were shot.
I also scored a pair of 61 ply. parklight lenses, which are not hard to find, just hard to find not $80+ a pair!
I also got the chrome trim I was missing on the left front fender, some 62 buick headlight rings (more custom work) some 57 buick roadmaster armrests (even more custom work) and 2 more red 62 buick taillight lenses-these will replace the clear backuplight lenses-
I also scored 2 deluxe 60-63 instrument clusters, one with an air guage!

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Man this is cool!

Re: my radical 60 build
 

That's a wild build! Hat's off for taking your vision and running with it. Looking forward to seeing it come together.

Maybe you could keep the theme going and modify some old Plymouth valve covers for your SB chev?

Re: my radical 60 build
 

haha they would say: CHELYMOLET

Re: my radical 60 build
 

alright Jon, where are the updates :sumo:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

yeah.. about that... its been about 5 months with no progress. soon, soon I will get back on it.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Again....


I hear crickets!

Get busy, Jon! :D

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Can't wait to see you get this one finished. Definitely a different approach!! :metal:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Re: my radical 60 build
 

!!

Re: my radical 60 build
 

You're a bigger tease than my high school girlfriend. Come on, man!

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Jon, did you have to sandblast the rust off of your tools. :lol:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

:lol:
its been a long winter!
I am getting quite a bit done now after about a 5 month break, and have been taking pics, I just want to post them all at once when the chop is done, so we will have a how-to put together in case anyone else wants dto do a chop on a knee-knocker.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Joe, are you going soft (get your mind out of the gutter) on us?

I guess I'll have to do it for you.

:wop:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Oh sorry, I forgot..

Attachment 459087
Attachment 459087
Attachment 459087
Attachment 459087
Attachment 459087

Re: my radical 60 build
 

Looks like some more evidence of a chop and possibly a custom dash. I'm liking it!

Re: my radical 60 build
 

:metal:

Re: my radical 60 build
 

here is where it starts, laying down the tape and measurements.
I used 2 pieces of 1.5 inch masking tape to get the 3 inch cut.
since I am going to be using a different, better roof I have some extra measurements put down, so I could see exactly where to lay the tape in the same spot on the other roof.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

you can see where I will trim for the big back window.
and more shots of getting all the measurements figured out BEFORE I cut!
since the top of the orange door was wiped out by a giant mirror I will be using the post off another door that was junk on the bottom

Re: my radical 60 build
 

getting the cuts lined up for the doors
you can see the new profile of the side window, and also notice to the rear of the post that it does not line up, there is about a 1/2 inch difference because of the post moving at an angle, but the roof moving straight down.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

door frames are cut, and it is point of no return, the top is off!
you can see the angle iron that I welded inside the cab to make sure nothing moved after the top was cut off.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

a good shot of the cross section of the roof and door pillar.
the last shot shows the roof with the skin off. I will reuse the inner headliner panel on the new roof.
I was going to use the roof skin too, but as you can see mice got in to the header panel and rusted everything up.
I will have to use the skin off another truck....

Re: my radical 60 build
 

the pieces I will reuse off the old roof (in the first shot you can see the bottom of the roof skin is surface rusted, when I went after it with a makita equiped with a wire brush, I blew holes all through the rust area.)

the last two shots show how the roof will need to be widened. the posts are lined up on the passenger side, and on the driver side they end up being about 3/4 of an inch off.

Re: my radical 60 build
 

more of it being too narrow, and the new profile!