Need Help ***Chopping the Top***

[FlatBrokeRacing]

On my 81 Stepper...

Remove the glass
Brace the cab to prevent distortion

Then I'm lost...

I want to cut about 4in out of the roof line and have no idea where to start measuring and cutting.


Can some of the veterans give me a hand with this ?

[Captkaos]

Picture aticle from an old truckin' mag...
http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/exterior/chop_top.htm

[Malo83]

Unless your a Master Metalsmith I wouldn't do it there is a lot more to it than just cut and weld. Find a Body shop that does Custom work and get some answers before proceeding.

[FlatBrokeRacing]

Thanks for the article Captkaos...

Malo83,
Nobody around here would even attempt it. I'm no Master Metalsmith, but I can get a cab from a bone yard and give it a shot.

At least I could say I tried.

Right.

[piecesparts]

Hints to think about.... I know a guy that chopped his 87 truck cab 4". He went through 4 windshileds, they all cracked in the upper corners, UNTIL he decided to glue the windhsiled in (like a newer truck is done--instead of using the rubber windshield seal).

Another hint--cut the glass FIRST, then make the cab fit the glass. That way you relieve a lot of the stress points on the windshield and the cab is not distorted and you are trying to fit the glass to the cab. Four inches is a lot of change.

Do you have a GOOD glass cutter available? How does he cut the glass---does he grind it down, or does he cut it with tools. The best is the ground down glass---I had mine done in Kansa City by a company that has done a lot of hot rod glass.

[killthewabbit]

You could talk to smashingchuck, he has a chopped top

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=272219

[FlatBrokeRacing]

Piecesparts,
That is good info to know about. Never heard of (or thought of) doing the glass first. Makes sence to me though.
I recently spoke to a glass guy locally, he said the last one he did he went through 6 before he had a good one to install.

Killthewabbit,
Thanks for the link. May see if SmashingChuck can offer any words of wisdom here. Thanks for posting that link.

[OJOE]

i have a friend in millbrook that has done a lot of chops, piles of work on our trucks. as the top comes down it gets bigger all the way around so the tpo has to be quartered. the top is only a small part of the work. you also have to cut and fit 2 doors. would be a good time to change to 1 peice windows. good luck. pm me if you need waynes # in millbrook

[Malo83]

Originally Posted by FlatBrokeRacing

Thanks for the article Captkaos...

Malo83,
Nobody around here would even attempt it. I'm no Master Metalsmith, but I can get a cab from a bone yard and give it a shot.

At least I could say I tried.

Right.

Good idea take lots of pics on your progress

[knightlife]

wow... that article is nice... I cant wait till I inherit the 85 dually crew cab... I gotz planz for dat! lol

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by FlatBrokeRacing

Piecesparts,
That is good info to know about. Never heard of (or thought of) doing the glass first. Makes sence to me though.
I recently spoke to a glass guy locally, he said the last one he did he went through 6 before he had a good one to install.

Killthewabbit,
Thanks for the link. May see if SmashingChuck can offer any words of wisdom here. Thanks for posting that link.

I purchased my 68 with the top chopped 3" and the guy that did the work, had the glass cut and then he made th etop fit the glass. The glass that was used for the pattern, got broken, so I took the truck to a place in Merriam, Ks and this shop has done work for people all over the country. They are rumored to be the best in special glass fitments. The guy cut ground down a new windshield and got it right the first time. he then did a custom modification on my back glass that required drilling holes in the glass and getting the piece tempered. The whole bill ran around $600.00, it could have been a alot more. Remember the glass shop owns no damaged windshields in this process---you buy them ALL.

The guy that chopped my top; quartered the cab roof and made the welds to the point that you cannot see the cuts. I am impressed with his abilities.

[FlatBrokeRacing]

Thanks for all the tips guys.

OJOE,
I might just take you up on that offer. I would feel much more comfortable with someone local doing it.

Thanks again everybody.

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by OJOE

would be a good time to change to 1 peice windows.

It would be a good time, but keep in mind the side glass is going to be custom made.

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by smashingchuck

It would be a good time, but keep in mind the side glass is going to be custom made.

There are companys out there that make the one piece glass kits, and the length is not the maojor concern here. The glass can be shortehed or just not rolled up all of the way. That is "IF" you keep the standard cab lines and not deform the shape of the door edges. A really good glass guy can make the new side glass pieces, if needed.

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

There are companys out there that make the one piece glass kits, and the length is not the maojor concern here. The glass can be shortehed or just not rolled up all of the way. That is "IF" you keep the standard cab lines and not deform the shape of the door edges. A really good glass guy can make the new side glass pieces, if needed.

but what you are forgetting here is the angle of the windshied is different and the top section of the door is now longer. A one piece glass kit to fit a a stock window opening isn't even close to being right. Also keep in mind that the side glass is curved - a shorter pillar equals a different shaped curve. The glass in the side windows of these trucks isn't like the flat glass in the pre war vehicles that you see chopped at the street rod shows. You cant just go down to the glass shop with a couple pieces of cardboard that are the same shape as your windows and have them cut them out. Although one piece windows are what would be ideal here, it isn't really an option. If you know someone who can make me some custom tempered one piece curved windows, please point me in the right direction. Hell, make 'em under $1000 and I'll be there tomorrow.

The best option, especially if you are on a budget, is this: remove the vent windows. Roll the window all the way up, and cut a piece of lexan (or glass it's up to you) that the shape of the remaining opening. Affix it permanently with weather stripping and windshield adhesive, and bolt the stock post/ slide back into place. IMO, this is a part time fix... but it works. I had it on my truck like that for 4-5 years when it was my daily driver. Now, I took that set up out and leave the windows down.... and get lots of compliments about my one piece windows.... that I don't have.

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by smashingchuck

but what you are forgetting here is the angle of the windshied is different and the top section of the door is now longer. A one piece glass kit to fit a a stock window opening isn't even close to being right. Also keep in mind that the side glass is curved - a shorter pillar equals a different shaped curve. The glass in the side windows of these trucks isn't like the flat glass in the pre war vehicles that you see chopped at the street rod shows. You cant just go down to the glass shop with a couple pieces of cardboard that are the same shape as your windows and have them cut them out. Although one piece windows are what would be ideal here, it isn't really an option. If you know someone who can make me some custom tempered one piece curved windows, please point me in the right direction. Hell, make 'em under $1000 and I'll be there tomorrow.

The best option, especially if you are on a budget, is this: remove the vent windows. Roll the window all the way up, and cut a piece of lexan (or glass it's up to you) that the shape of the remaining opening. Affix it permanently with weather stripping and windshield adhesive, and bolt the stock post/ slide back into place. IMO, this is a part time fix... but it works. I had it on my truck like that for 4-5 years when it was my daily driver. Now, I took that set up out and leave the windows down.... and get lots of compliments about my one piece windows.... that I don't have.

IF you are going to chop---then do it right---a sloppy job is evident from long distance. The thought is to lower, but keep the lines right. The guy that cut my 68's top, kept the roof lines and the front pillars in order--that is why you have to deal with the roof lines by quartering it. The side glass will be easy to deal with from that point. The idea of lexan is not bad, but I feel that you would learn to dislike your choice later.

[FlatBrokeRacing]

Thanks for the words of wisdom guys.
I am really doing a lot of studying on this. Most of the time, I go in half-cocked and screw something up. I waited a long time to get this truck from my brother so I will take my time and do this one right.

I still havent decided if I want to keep the vent windows or not. It mainly just depends on how the roof and body lines match up.


Keep posting all this knowledge, I'm paying attention...

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by smashingchuck

If you know someone who can make me some custom tempered one piece curved windows, please point me in the right direction. Hell, make 'em under $1000 and I'll be there tomorrow.

I have some connections. If you get a good template that you are SURE will work, I possibly can call in a favor...

[FlatBrokeRacing]

Thats what I call "Hookin Somebody Up"


I'm still thinking it over...

[streetmaster42]

I thought about doin this to my 76 GMC, which i believe you've gotta have a hole roof top from another pu to cut up, along with the tops of the doors. A local guy did his top on his 83 stepper, which i thought he could have used a pro. He dropped it down (6") wich was to much i thought because when he let me sit down inside, im 6 feet tall and my head was right up against the roof.

[piecesparts]

Anything past 3" is going to take the cab to angles that are hard to make look good.

[streetmaster42]

Yeah if i ever get mine all back together again, and ever do decide to chop it, itll only be chopped no more than 3" or 4"

[FlatBrokeRacing]

About a 4in chop is all I was thinking about.

Is there any way to recess the factory glass down in to the firewall area.?

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by FlatBrokeRacing

About a 4in chop is all I was thinking about.

Is there any way to recess the factory glass down in to the firewall area.?

it would be WAY more work than it would be worth... and a real pain in the ass. And it would look like poo.

[JohnnyG.]

get online on amazon or something like that and get the tex smith book on chopping tops. they do one of these and he tells you step by step. talks about cutting glass too. we did a 72 out at school (wyotech) and if you lean the front pillars back to match, you wont have to cut so much out of the glass. another thing with cutting glass is having someone that does sandblasting for a living cut the windshield for you. have heard of a lot of people doing this and this was how we cut glass out at school too. pm me if you need any sugestiong. i also work at a kustoms shop in cal.