ready to chop need help on marking cuts

[dean79339]

I am ready to begin my chop. I am not sure on marking my cuts as there are angles on both the side of the rear panel and front pillars. Will the distance between my marks be greater on the side of the rear panel? (more than my desired chop) I know that it will be more on the front pillar because of the angle there. Should my cuts all be paralell to the floor or angled (square to each other) but equal on the front pillar. All I have looked at is the article posted on 73-87trucks.com in the garage section and it is not real clear.
They make it look easy but marking my cuts seems to be tricky.any tips or tricks here would help.

[boxrodz]

After reviewing the article, I would say that you're on the right track. For the rear panel and the rear post of the door, run the tape lines horizonally. Then as the imaginary horizonal lines reach the front post of the door and windshield, angle the tape line perpendiclar to the angle of the posts. The 'vertical' distance between all of the tape lines should be equal and will give you the final drop of the chop. Any sides (or posts) that are angled will measure out at a greater distance if you measure following the angle the of side (or post) instead of measuring strickly vertical. Maybe, it'll helps if you imagine the cut top dropping vertically down on the bottom cut. The distance of the 'vertical' drop must be the same. Of course, the roof and the top post of the doors will have to be cut to align themselves with the lower cut sections, hence the gaps. Once you get everything taped up, you could also measure the width of the upper line of each section with that of the lower line of each section to assure that both profiles will match once you make the cuts.

You may want to try to contact smashingchuck. He's chopped his truck a while back. He visit other truck forums, so you may have to do a search to find his contact information.

The pic is smashingchuck's truck.

[N2TRUX]

Welcome to the forum dean79339. We are glad to have new members here, and will help you when we can.

I mean no disrespect when I say this, but if you have to ask, you should not do it. Chopping a top requires a lot of fabricating skills, and knowledge of metal working. If you do not have that knowledge you stand a good chance of ruining a cab. Please research this thoroughly before you consider doing it...

[dean79339]

Thanks for the input. I have obtained an extre cab to attempt my mods on. I plan to also try suicide doors and customizing the dash. If I mess it up no loss, at least I'll have fun trying and maybe learn a few things in the process.

What one man can do so can another it may be difficult and take me longer but I believe I can do this.

Really like this forum, it's great to find people with the same interest in these trucks.

I'll post pictures when I get farther along.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by dean79339

Thanks for the input. I have obtained an extre cab to attempt my mods on. I plan to also try suicide doors...

Do these one at a time. Get the cab chopped and the doors chopped with the stock hinge setup. After you're happy with the fit, then go for the suicide setup.

[cliffsta]

JESUS everybody can find a cab except for me!!! What are you doing with your original cab?

Have fun buddy

[odie82]

ck out the chop and the bed on this one, took pic at a car show over the summer

[AesC10s]

Originally Posted by odie82

ck out the chop and the bed on this one, took pic at a car show over the summer

is it on a blazer frame?

[XXL]

Originally Posted by AesC10s

is it on a blazer frame?

No reason it should be. That thing's waaaay short.

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by boxrodz

You may want to try to contact smashingchuck. He's chopped his truck a while back. He visit other truck forums, so you may have to do a search to find his contact information.

The pic is smashingchuck's truck.

Hey, I lurk around here too... I didn't do the chop on my truck, but I could try to get you some measurements off of it if you think that might help you. Mine is chopped about 6".

[boxrodz]

Thanks, smashingchuck.
I didn't know you lurked here as well. I hope you didn't mind me throwing your name/truck out on here.

BTW, now that you mentioned it, I now remember you mentioning that the previous owner did the chop. I guess I just got confused with all the fab work you did on the suspension.

[smashingchuck]

Originally Posted by boxrodz

Thanks, smashingchuck.
I didn't know you lurked here as well. I hope you didn't mind me throwing your name/truck out on here.

BTW, now that you mentioned it, I now remember you mentioning that the previous owner did the chop. I guess I just got confused with all the fab work you did on the suspension.

nah... I don't care... I do need to take some updated pics so people don't have to look at that same one over and over again though. The chopped top is now about the onything I didn't have a hand in... everything has been chaged since I bought it.

[84 400]

yeah man throw up some new pics i am thinking of doing a similar style truck to yours. i am using an 85 that is a rusty bucket. i am notgonna chop it but i will be shaving the handles and locks, maybe drop it and i am gonna run some red ralliew. i know some might think it a waste of time and money to put so much into a rusty northern truck but i figure it will be fun to learn how to do this stuff and when all is sad and don i might have fixed the rusty panals

[dswancutt]

Originally Posted by cliffsta

JESUS everybody can find a cab except for me!!! What are you doing with your original cab?

Have fun buddy

Cliff, I thought you had a line on a 75 or so LWB? It fall through, or not as good as it first appeared.