Chopped top 69 on eBay

[Cyco Path]

I remember thinking a chopped top would be cool, back years ago. But now that I see one it doesn't do anything for me at all. What do you guys think?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1843620206

[Randy70C-10]

Too much chop. A 2 or 3 inch chop would have looked cool.

[XXL]

Hey, it looks like somebody chopped in a new background to our
Photoshop exercise a few days ago...

Kenneth

[XXL]

BTW, I was planning a top chop for quite some time, but have decided to hold off for now since it's too darned expensive to have done... but my plan was to go 3" BUT (and I think this is the key to it not looking so boxy) I was also going to rake the windshield back a bit. I was planning on getting rid of the stock glass and going with a late model (88-98) Chevy glue-in glass. I saw this done a few years ago, but didn't get any photos of if and now I can't find the guy. Oh well.

Kenneth

[Gordo]

Looks to me like the roof has a rake. I'm in the middle of a chop myself, I'm droppin 4" and if you measure the same amount down each post and cut, as opposed to measuring laterally you"ll end up with that rake. Cutting 6" down the windshield post ain't the same as 6" down the back because of the slope of the front post. I made my marks on the rear posts and transfered them to the front posts with a level, so your cutting more metal out of the front.

[kxmotox247]

Randy is right...
Way too much chop. A 3 inch chop is right on.
A general rule of thumb for achieving adequate porportions when chopping tops is this:
Of the total height of the vehicle (not including the space from the rocker to the ground), 2/3 body:1/3 window and roof.

[SWINGSAX68]

Man....I'm not for choppin, but sometimes its done right....then sometimes you find a white 69 on ebay that just over did it....
that is horendous....to much chop....HOW THE HELL WOULD YOU FIT IN THAT THING????? TOOK OUT THE FLOOR PANS?????TRANSMISSION SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU???TRANSMISSION IS THE CENTER CONSOLE????
sorry guys....

[ebfabman]

I love statements like this............


Vehicle Condition

EXCELLENT CONDITION. READY FOR PAINT. NEEDS VALVE GUIDES.

[CE20934]

Beautiful paint job under the hood too.

[Smooth68]

XXL - I've been kicking around the same ideas with my top. I really want to shave the drip rails and at the same time rake the winshield back and take the top down 1 or 2 inches. Either way I'm gonna do the glue in windows. The back will be pretty easy since I'm gonna be making a new piece, but the front could be a little more trickier.

[Low69CST]

I haven't seen too many frame off restorations with the sides in primer. Also, who puts in a straight 6 that needs valve guides. Looks like he has a bunch of parts sitting in the way and is trying to get rid of them. wasn't too impressed with the wood dash either.

[Dropt72Shortbed]

waaaay too much chop

i say 2-3" looks good

[Super Chevy]

Agree on the too much drop thing,makes it look FUGLY

[chevyman 68 C/10]

Gordo is right about the rake,makes it look bad. I have a 68 with a 5 inch chop but it is even across the top lke it started out,and doesn't look half that low. Mine is a fleet side and i think that helps some also.
I am a puter idiot so I can't post pics, wish I could.

[70 Jimmy]

If your going to chop one of these trucks, don't lean the windshield back. I've seen a Longhorn that looks good this way because of the long bed but the shorter the bed the worse it looks. It's alot more work but it looks way better. Leaning the windshield makes it look like you took a shortcut. If your going to take shortcuts, why bother.

[XXL]

Originally posted by 70 Jimmy
If your going to chop one of these trucks, don't lean the windshield back. I've seen a Longhorn that looks good this way because of the long bed but the shorter the bed the worse it looks. It's alot more work but it looks way better. Leaning the windshield makes it look like you took a shortcut. If your going to take shortcuts, why bother.

I think you may have missed the point of the raked front glass. It is not only intended NOT to be a shortcut, but it takes considerably more work to do. The point (one of them anyway) is to keep the spacial relationship between vertical and horizontal views of the upper cab in synch. When you chop the top straight down, it looks more stubby than when you chop the top AND reduce the front-to-rear dimension.

Some of you might recall a couple of years back, in Truckin' Magazine, there was a red 67 short fleetside that had been dropped, chopped, hood channeled, and on and on. It won several awards (I can't remember which). Anyway, in addition to the roof chop, the front windshield was raked slightly. This guy also took his roof chop out of the metal above and below the front glass only so the front glass was still plenty tall.

Also, a year or so ago there was a big-time yellow dually-ish custom (I say dually-ish because the dual wheels were tucked under the stock width bed). It had a FULLY detailed everything, frame was boxed, etc. It had a later-model dash and rounded-off door frames. I believe it also had a raked front glass.

And, last but not least... the great thing about this board is that I can have a different opinion than the next person :-) And, properly done (including a rake if desired), a chopped top can look pretty good. Another 2 cents from me.

Kenneth

[Smooth68]

... the great thing about this board is that I can have a different opinion than the next person :-) And, properly done (including a rake if desired), a chopped top can look pretty good

I say VERY good - I wouldn't have any other way. And if shaving the driprails is in the works, laying the windshield back only makes sense. Plus with the sleek look of the 67-68 front ends, the laid back look will definately enhance the lines of the truck. I was hooked from the from the start when the Trader Tims truck was done back in '92-'93. Best one ever in my book!

[70 Jimmy]

I'll agree to disagree on the looks. It actually looks way out of place to me. However, on the less work... NO WAY! You have to cut and fill in the roof because it will not be large enough. Think about it. If you cut the pillars, it's obvious that the roof is not long enough to reach. It's easier by far just to lay the pillars back and cut to fit and be done with it. Anyway, you should do it your way no matter how much work it takes. If it takes twice the work to make it look good to you, do it and have fun with it.

[XXL]

Originally posted by 70 Jimmy
I'll agree to disagree on the looks. It actually looks way out of place to me. However, on the less work... NO WAY! You have to cut and fill in the roof because it will not be large enough. Think about it. If you cut the pillars, it's obvious that the roof is not long enough to reach. It's easier by far just to lay the pillars back and cut to fit and be done with it. Anyway, you should do it your way no matter how much work it takes. If it takes twice the work to make it look good to you, do it and have fun with it.

On a 3" drop, it is not possible to lay the pillars back without also sectioning the roof... unless you want the windshield in your face. Hence my comment that it is MORE work. Section roof AND work pillars.

Kenneth

[crazy longhorn]

Cool discussion! I love chopped top trucks,& own 1 myself......the chopped longhorn with the laid back sheild! she is chopped 3 3/4" at the rear,with the top tilted foward(to make the drip rail,& the door line look paralell). at the front, the top is 4" shorter than stock height,& the pillars are laid back approx 9 degrees. on the thought of it looks easier to lay the pillars back..........well thats what i thought, till i did it! There is a lot of work involved getting the innner/outer skin to line up properly,& also a lot of work on the pinch weld,to get the glass to fit! all in all, i think it makes a nicer looking job, & there are no cuts or filler on the top of my top. Also, doing a chop like this, the pillars are also tilted in(both front& rear),& this leave more room in the doors to move the glass foward , as in a 1 pc door glass,& only 1 splice in the rubber seals for the front & rear glass. most of yu guys have seen it, but here is a link to pics.... http://community.webshots.com/user/hotrodhorn

[Randy70C-10]

Yeah, Your truck is cool. Why did you change your user name?

[Randy70C-10]

Here ya go:

[Randy70C-10]

[crazy longhorn]

thanks randy! i lost the password about the time the board changed ,& couldnt get back in,so just started a new name......Al

[Randy70C-10]

Email Josh, maybe he can re-set it for you.