Thread: Chop it...How much?

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Gherkin,

Check my gallery and see how ya like that one. I'm pretty sure it's a 4" chop, but it was about 20 years ago. I cut it below the door hinge, so maybe you can rough scale it for sure. I'm 6' tall, and it was no problem for me to see anything . . . unless I pulled up too close to an overhead traffic signal.

Mirrors worked fine, seats fit fine. Next time, I might leave the rear window a little larger. Legroom was fine - even with a big block and a BIG setback in the firewall (Bitchin' BB firewall.) The windows were easy, since all of them are plain flat glass.

I cut the top by laying a 4" pattern all around and cutting it with my trusty Black and Decker saber saw. I took the doors to a shop and had them cut on a bandsaw. Hammer welded it all back with an O/A torch. Didn't have a MIG at the time. It took a lot of hammering and shrinking, but it came out great. The rear quarters were the biggest problem, since there's a taper. However, I cut vertical slits and welded them back up to bring the top in to fit the bottom. It's one of the easer chops - but it's no walk in the park.

I filled the rear seams too. That gave a much smoother look.