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Thread: Model A top chop
          
   
   

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  1. #1
    BBB
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    Model A top chop

     



    Old guy, new to posting. I have a 31 coupe that is almost to a rolling chassis stage and am not sure about the sequence of procedures ( this is my first hot rod build ). Which should be done first, chop the top or fill the roof with the top from another car? Retired 5 years ago and been playing in the shop every chance I get, 24/7 wouldn't be bad but we know how that goes. I do end up spending a lot of time on the internet and have probably read the answer but things go in slow and out fast. Thanks in advance.
    Bob

  2. #2
    rspears's Avatar
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    Car Year, Make, Model: '33 HiBoy Coupe, '32 HiBoy Roadster
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    Welcome to CHR, BBB. Glad to have you here and hope you choose to stick around. I'll let someone else answer your question, as all I can add is what's shown on the dozen or so You Tube videos showing a Model A Coupe Top Chop.
    randyr likes this.
    Roger
    Enjoy the little things in life, and you may look back one day and realize that they were really the BIG things.

  3. #3
    techinspector1's Avatar
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    Why do you have to chop the top at all? How about being different and leaving it stock?

    .
    PLANET EARTH, INSANE ASYLUM FOR THE UNIVERSE.

  4. #4
    Henry Rifle's Avatar
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    Think carefully before attempting a chop. What type of welding gear do you have? Can you weld sheet metal effectively? Do you have decent sheet metal working experience? The reason I ask is that I chopped the top on a '30 A-bone sedan, and all three of those questions came into play. I got it done, but at least a hundred times I wished I'd never started. I also had some help from a good friend who ran a body shop. It takes a lot of planning and quite a bit of skill, and is too complex to describe here. I suggest you look at as many YouTube videos as you can, and buy THIS BOOK. Tex Smith's BOOK is available, but it is quite a bit more expensive. However, the expense of those books is nothing compared to the expense of fixing a messed-up top chop. I'm not trying to discourage you - just passing on my experience.

    THIS VIDEO shows a part of the job, but certainly not all.
    Last edited by Henry Rifle; 07-31-2015 at 11:31 AM.
    Jack

    Gone to Texas

  5. #5
    BBB
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    Hi tech,
    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I've seen some very pretty ladies that when put in a different light were actually not that pretty. I'm not saying the Model A is ugly, quite the opposite, I believe Ford did a great job progressing from the Model T in design for the next few decades. Looking at Carnut's site at both chopped and unchopped ( a lot of examples of both ) I think a hot rod with a little rubber rake looks better with a little less of a top.
    Bob

  6. #6
    shine's Avatar
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    i hope your young and short while it looks cool a chop top is not for everyone. blowing down the hwy looking out a 6 in windshield aint all it's made out to be . if possible find someone to ride with before you start cutting .

  7. #7
    34_40's Avatar
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    First welcome to the site. It's good having you here.

    Second, I'll echo what Shine says. take a ride in a car with a chop top... if you're close you can try mine.. it leaves a certain something to be desired. If that look is what you want/like.?.?

    Go for it! Just keep in mind that lowering the lid a lot makes stop lights hard to see. And some stop signs, sometimes pedestrians..
    techinspector1 and 36 sedan like this.

  8. #8
    shine's Avatar
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    everybody should run 400 miles in a top chop prostreet coupe.

  9. #9
    BBB
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    Hi Henry,
    Thanks for the precautionary words. I have a 120v Miller that I have had for 17 years. That does not mean I have been a welder for 17 years but in the last few my ability has increased a lot; that means I don't have to grind all my welds any more so as not to embarrass myself. I also have Miller Syncrowave 250 and am in my beginning learning curve but not confident enough to do the chop or insert with 18 gauge. Gas welding ability is poor. I have Tex's book and a few others ( very sad about his passing, he left a hole that I don't think can be filled ) I actually started this 18 years ago but had to retire it after the first year to devote more time to prepare for retirement. I finally dragged it out of the rafters about a year ago and been having a lot of fun and frustrations. I like tinkering, learning and staying busy so we will see where it goes
    Bob

  10. #10
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    If you are set on chopping your coupe, I would chop the top first and then fill the roof. May not make too much difference in a model A, as its mostly straight pillars etc. but if by chance you did have to lengthen the top it would be very difficult with a filled roof. I think all highboys should be chopped, but that's just me, however I'm not thrilled with the looks of filled roofs.

    Good luck

    Mick

  11. #11
    BBB
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    Hi,
    Well at 5'8" i qualify for short but 67 does not make young. I have ridden ( not driven ) in a chopped A and was not really put off. A little rubber rake is a whole lot different than pro street. I have an independent rear and not sparing any weight to help a little with ride quality since 103" is not a great start for a smooth ride.
    Bob
    36 sedan likes this.

  12. #12
    rspears's Avatar
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    I kinda liked this guy's description of the process, and his pictures along the way - Chop the Top

    Several more here - https://www.google.com/search?q=mode..._sm=0&ie=UTF-8
    36 sedan likes this.
    Roger
    Enjoy the little things in life, and you may look back one day and realize that they were really the BIG things.

  13. #13
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    That guys depiction makes it look pretty easy.
    .
    Education is expensive. Keep that in mind, and you'll never be terribly upset when a project goes awry.
    EG

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by BBB View Post
    Hi,
    Well at 5'8" i qualify for short but 67 does not make young. I have ridden ( not driven ) in a chopped A and was not really put off. A little rubber rake is a whole lot different than pro street. I have an independent rear and not sparing any weight to help a little with ride quality since 103" is not a great start for a smooth ride.
    Bob
    I'm in the upper age bracket also and my 36 sedan is chopped, personally I absolutely love it.

  15. #15
    Henry Rifle's Avatar
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    One thing I didn't see in the video I linked was cross-bracing of the body before cutting the top. The top is part of the structure of the car, and without bracing, you can end up with a mess.
    Jack

    Gone to Texas

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