Quote:
Originally Posted by Humphrey351
I've seen and read many articles about chopping the tops on cars. But one thing all the tech stuff I've read seems to lack is how do you cut the glass...side windows, windhsield, etc..
Most of the stuff I've read, they usually replace with Lexan, or already ordered their glass...but I am very curious, what is the prefered method of the Ford gurus here that have chopped their tops themselves?
I did once read where a guy was cutting down the glass by scoring a line where he needed it to cut, and then using lighter fluid (I think that was the flammable of choice) to burn through the lining that makes it safety glass...this just seems a bit dangerous to me (aside from the fire part, what effect does it have on the glass strengh afterwards...would the lamination of the layers in the safety glass be compromised)?
My friend said he though he once read where some old timers would use a sand blaster...they would just protect what they needed to save, and then blast away slowly at what they wanted to remove. Sounds to me like it would work...but would be very time intensive.
So what is the thoughts here....anyone have a tip they would like to pass on to the other do it yourselfers here? Not planning on chopping a top anytime soon...just wanting to expand my knowledge base.
Mike
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I collected a lot of the early Rod n Custom, CarCarft (it started out more oriented to custom cars, not the horsepower sister of Hot Rod that it turned into). Those were the old .25 cent magazines, came in a at about 1/3 the size of most magazines today. There was an art to finding matching glass or at least something that could be cut down so it would fit. If I remember correctly, many times they just found a rear window that would fit the curves better that many fronts.
I think they used every thing from grinders to diamon dust coated piano wire to make the complex cuts, I'm pretty sure the are better tools today.
In the case of the final fit, often they had to modify the cowl, roof line or "A" pillar (either laying it back or changing the angles so that everything lined up right. The point is pretty evident; if it was easy everyone would have been doing it - it isn't so their aren't a lof of the old school cars left. There aren't many of the old masters left either. Also, most of those customs weren't constructed as well as you would think. Lead, put on in the right quantity, covers a lot of compromises. I do agree that using lexan or other plastic as a substitue for glass is crappy, short cut. A few years back there was a Black '56 Ford "basket handle" Crown Victoria on the car show circuit. They contacted a company in Ohio, Michigan or somewhere up there, to make a replacement for their Moon roof in a Deep Smokey black/grey tint to match the Black on Black theme of the car. It took them several tries to get it done - but whoever did the job did it right, that is/was one of the sharpest, cleanest "56 Fords I have ever seen.
So, I know I haven't answered your question, but maybe it'll give you some ideas - if that is something you still think would be worth doing. You might also start buying some of the Rodder, rod and custom magazines - they may mention the name of a shop that is still into the old skills.
