| Hot Rods & Hot Rod Artwork |
| Chop'in a 51 MERC |
| Here's our project a 51 merc that we will be chopping 4". The PKG thought it would be kool to let you watch as it happened. First step was to take out all the interior including the dash, remove the glass and then get rid of the paint in the areas we will be cutting. Since this is a 4" chop we will have to strecth the roof 2" for windshied post line up. next bracing was put in to keep the car from warping when cut. the rear window must be braced good so that it does not loose shape as we will be leaning it foward for the chop. Below are pics of the progress so far as we have removed the roof and started choping and replacing the rear quarter glass area. Stay tuned for regular updates until done. |
| The first row of pics show the interior and rear window bracing. This is one of the most critical parts of a successful chop as it keeps the vehical in alignment after its support is cut away. Paint was removed areas to be cut. Next we marked the cut lines, remember measure twice (in this case 4 or 5 times) cut once |
| Here we begin the cutting as we remove the top half of the door post. Then a cut is made 2" above the rear quater glass down to the package tray. The arrows point to a cut made along a body line under the rear glass area, along with a cut along the inside package tray, this will allow us to lean the rear glass foward. Next we remove 4" from the rear quater glass area ( NOTE: we cut around the drip rail and will cut it to fit before reattaching later). |
| We have offically reached the point of no return as we seperate the roof from rest of the car. No matter how many you chop this always looks scary. Now we start the reattachement process. The first thing is the rear quater glass as this sets the alignment for everything, the angle of the rear glass and the slope of the roof. With a 4" chop its hard to keep some roundness to the rear of the quater glass, but it is critical for the final look of the car. |
| Here we have started making relife cuts in the roof skin as it will have to widen out to make the proper transition in its lower profile. Now the reattachment begins, first are the winshield post. Relife cuts are made in the cowl and corners of the upper window frames. The strap is used to pull the post in for alignment. The roof skin is supported from underneath and the fitting of the rear begins. Note the gap over the door where we streched the roof this will be filled later, a temporary support is put in for now. We use a port-a power to keep proper crown as we move along the relife cuts and fiil in with strips of metal. Last photo shows roof tacked in position, Lookin good. |
| A strip a metal is used to fill the gap along the rear window created when we streched the roof foward. Now its starting to look like a Merc agian with a lower KOOL profile. everything is tacked in place. Next we make relife cuts in the bottom of the door frames to startt reattaching the upper door frames. We use a 4lb sledge to tap the foward door in and back slightly to match the A post and then tap the rear frame post inward to match the B post. |
| The upper rear frame piece is lined up with the B post and tacked. The front frame piece is matched with the door closed and tacked. A piece of angle is used as a straight edge to align the upper frame pieces, then the salvage piece cut from the front of the door frame is measured and trimed to fit the void created by stretching the roof. This is tacked in place. The door is closed, then gap and door frame to A & B post angle is checked. Some adjustments will probably be needed (this is why we tack everything first) once we are satisfied we start welding, constantly rechecking fit as it is easy for this area to draw and pull during welding. Well there she is a complete Merc agian, now we need to do all our grinding and shrinking and filler work. Stay tuned for pics after primer. |
| Well here it is on its way to the paint shop. Body work done and primer in place. An update on the rest of the modifacitions. We frenched the headlights with Ford rings, shaved the handles, added custom bubble skirts, and installed a 59 chevy dash. The rear quater panels were extended 2 3/4 inches and dual 59 Caddy tail lights in each side. The leading edge of the hood was extended 7/8 of an inch and peaked. Stay tuned for updated pics of the paint she will be KOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!! |
| Here she is all done up and ready to go. The PKG finished her off in Dimond white pearl with 2 coats of Murano pearl and then topped off with 2 heavy coats of Ice pearl. Flames are done in huge red Bass Boat flake. Red lucite knobs on the dash, 59 caddy lenses out back , Desoto Grill and wide whites and Radiars and this Merc is one KOOOOOOL!!!! ride. |