Chopped 52 Convertible

[wayfarerstranger]

Do You Think They Reinforced Anything Before Cutting The Top Off ?? It Looks Ok ... I`ve Seen Several Old Cars With The Tops Cut Off & They Didn`t Reinforce Anything And They Seemed To Be Fine ?? Any In Put On Chopping Off Tops ? Thanx Chance

[mackster]

I have seen a few chopped (custom convertible) and I have never heard of them re-inforcing it. I thought it was a must, but the owner of the last one told me is that this older cars were sturdy enough with the need of being re-inforced. I will still suggest it though. . .just in case. . .

[JerseyHarold]

This car started life a a '52 Cambridge Club Coupe and has appeared on eBay at least a dozen times with no takers.

Factory-bult convertibles came with reinforced frames for a reason. There is one photo in the listing that shows the trunk lid area with lots of paint chips around the edges...probably due to body flex. That wouldn't happen with a stronger chassis.

[Frank Elder]

I don't mind a homemade roadster, but lose the wood caps...ruins the whole look. Bend some sheetmetal if you don't want to use your windows.

[Joel Torres]

i have chopped a couple of cars for friends and yes they need reinforcement they will flex under road conditions the body mounts are on rubber so the body can flex under stress chopping with out making it stronger you can end up with doors not lining up and stuff go up a driveway the wrong way and you willl see gaps where there was none

[BobT-47P15]

I don't much like the wood around the edge either.

If the guy had been a real woodworker with imagination and talent, he

could've made the only Plym woodie convert like that in the world.

It probably should have been reinforced, but that's extra work.

And which way would you strengthen it......cut an X member from

another convert, or invent your own? Or some other method??

Back in 46-48 some company made this dress-up woodie kit for Chevys. It was evidently installed by

a dealer. Pretty cool.

[RFleetwood]

real conv. also had dash welded in place to streagnthen the body. as well as what looks almost like a torque box along the inside of the rockers instead of the just flat panels for rocker backings. Im rebuilding these on my 50 conv right now.

[wayfarerstranger]

Like BOB said just how and where on the frame would you weld a brace & what would you use for a brace ? large square tubing ?? about in the middle of the frame where the door closes? and under the drive shaft ?? just some thoughts ?? i believe the dash on my 49 WAYFARER CONV. is not welded in ,,, also i`ve seen CHIP FOOSE DO THIS TO mid 50`s CHEVY & a mid 60`s T-BIRD without bracing ? seems like with these heavy frames it wouldn`t flex ? i can see a unibody going nuts ,,,, maybe for an old beater just to have fun with it is ok but i wouldn`t cut a real valuable car ..

[RFleetwood]

I think the frame would be less of any issue. its the body that needs reinforced.

the conv. also dont have thick rubber body mounts like the sedans.

my real conv also has extra bracing from the door post to the floor this keeps the door post from flexing. the "torque box" i described runs from the firewall all the way to the rear quarter panel. its approx 4x4 in size and is thicker sheet metal something like 16 ga

[Young Ed]

The conv frame has an X that runs under the pass part of the car. The driveshaft runs through a hole in it.

[BobT-47P15]

I have a friend from high school days who made a 1961 Olds two door

into a convertible. He added the well and top hardware from a real

convert parts car. I think it has some type issues for flexing or some

such......but haven't talked to the fellow for quite a while now.

[Plymouthy Adams]

even the smallest of weight convertibles are made with extra consideration to the fact the roof will not be there to give strength or support...my LBC is a full unibody welded to a X frame...and I guarantee you that if you replace the rockers without consideration to this fact..you will have a very misaligned door...

[Don Coatney]

Misaligned doors is the biggest issue in making a convertable. The flex in a car with no solid roof is considerably greater. Remove the roof and the doors will soon not open coprrectly nor will they close as they should.

[Young Ed]

That happened to my Dads 51 convert from rust. The whole back third sagged slightly and the doors wouldnt shut correctly.

[BobT-47P15]

Here's another home made vert.........

http://www.texasmusclecars.com/webtemplate.aspx?iid=182639

[JerseyHarold]

That one looks like it started out as a business coupe. I read somewhere that Plymouth made a one-off '51 business coupe convertible for a Chrysler executive that year.

[wayfarerstranger]

TONIGHT on STREET CUSTOMS TV SHOW THEY WILL BE TURNING A CHALLENGER INTO A CONVERTIBLE . IT`S ON AT 10 HERE IN NASHVILLE ON THE TLC NETWORK , I`LL CHECK IT OUT ...

[49DODGEBOY]

I picked up a 53 New Yorker last month that the PO had made into a vert.

This is a big car, the doors and trunk lid are perfect and I see no extra bracing. Could just be this model and I take no credit for the work, but looks very solid to me everywhere. chopped windshield and all.

ps, I picked this up as a long term project and unforunately just had to take a pretty large paycut, (damn economy) so I,m gonna unload it soon. Anyone interested let me know.

[BobT-47P15]

I think they made a decent looking grille.

Those may be 54 Buick headlights.

Ya......it's got a Cobra....

[49DODGEBOY]

I think they made a decent looking grille.

Those may be 54 Buick headlights.

I agree, look pretty good too,

[BobT-47P15]

Since most cars have the speedometer right in front of the driver, I'd

think this arrangement with the kinda small speedo in the middle would

drive ya a little nutty.

(However, I think some new cars have speedos in other places.)