Thread: 1940 Chevy Master 8.5 Business Coupe' Rat Rod

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Anything rounded is a tough chop,,, with not much experience on chopping it may not be something you want to tackle on your own... But if you want to do it, here's some tips.

1. Make a template for every cut you make, that way the cuts remain the same from side to side and fitting is much easier.

2. To fit rounded panels, you will need either some donor panels from a similar car or access to an English wheel to make them. Compound curves and radii are tough to do with a sandbag and plastic mallett... But with a lot of determination and time they can be done.

3. Plan your work on the computer first, either using Photo shop or the like. Or as an alternative make some 8X10 prints (plain paper copies out of your printer work fine) and cut and fit the roof lines back together with a scissors and tape before you do it on the tin with a sawzall and a welder..... Play with some various cuts and combinations to get the desired results.

4. Chopping anything requires that you keep all body pieces in proportion.... When done correctly a chopped car will not look chopped.... When done incorrectly it ends up looking like some Mad Max POS....

5. If you are not a very accomplished metal crafter, enlist the aide of someone who is..... Metal working and pingin' and dingin' a chopped top correctly is not for the faint of heart, inexperienced, or the get it done in a hurry types.

6. Have fun.!!!!!

7. As a final alternative, send me a plane ticket and a bunch of travel and expense money!!!!!!!

welcome ole i spent a little time in Hannove while i was stationed at Gelhousan, germany 1967 to 1969. Gelhousen(sp)i'm sure. didn't see many hot rods then. all VW's. run over a few with my 5T wrecker. don't do chopped tops, so i can't help you there. don't let these guys jump on your bones to bad.

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

6. Have fun.!!!!!

7. As a final alternative, send me a plane ticket and a bunch of travel and expense money!!!!!!!

Dave, thank you for your detailed explanation. I had a look at your photo album, it looks like you know very good what to do!
I would love to pay you a plane ticket and have some fun and some beer in my workshop with you. But the problem is like everywhere in the world the same, the money!

Meanwhile I found a great pictured story on the web at streetrodder.com, which explains how to chop a 37'coupe'! Wow, it looks damned difficult Ill better forget that chopping thing....


I guess it is better to choice for a Fulton outside sunvisor or something else that drops the roof optical!

Originally Posted by lt1s10

welcome ole i spent a little time in Hannove while i was stationed at Gelhousan, germany 1967 to 1969. Gelhousen(sp)i'm sure. didn't see many hot rods then. all VW's. run over a few with my 5T wrecker. don't do chopped tops, so i can't help you there. don't let these guys jump on your bones to bad.

Mike, you did right to stay for a short time in Hannover, guess you didn't miss anything
I grown up in Hameln, there where also stationed some American troops. I remember when I was a boy there was a soldier with a real rot Buick Wildcat. It was rusty and a real tail dragger and the guy hang at the steering, left arm hang out of the window. I assumed if someone opens the door he fall out
I loved it to watch him cruising around. I guess exact this man infected me with the US car virus.