Ichoptop, the saga

[Ichoptop]

Found this place from the HAMB. I had a few bugs in the early-mid 80s before I started on old american cars. After seeing the so-cal look stuff on the HAMB I thought it would be cool to pop in here.
Anyhow, 32 years old, building cars since I was 14, President of the Road Devils Colorado chapter, I drive a 1953 Ford Customline sled. Pics can bee seen on our webpage, www.roaddevils.com.

[Ichoptop]

SO I have been around here a few months while searching for a bug in my area. I have looked at alot of crap, alot of rust, and alot of cars I couldn't afford. Finally my search came to an end when I found a 69 (good number) for sale. The starting price was a bit high for me but after some hard play negotiations and a look over by Bluespec and Ian I dropped my cash on the counter and got a title and keys. I drove her home late that night (no plates) and parked her in the driveway. I had forgotten how fun they are to drive, like a big go-cart really. The stock motor has a serious oil leak but runs well enough to move it around while working on it and to get it out of the way of the sled.

[Ichoptop]

Memorial Day. Got up pretty early and headed to the garage. Sat in the bug for a few minutes looking around and playing with buttons. Audiovox cassette player has to go, windshield wipers and fluid system has to go, heater ductwork yup gotta go. I flipped the stereo in the garage on and started interior and trunk disassembly of all items not absolutly necessary. Everything that came out in one piece was put in boxes to be sold off somttime in the future. By the end of the day my hands were raw and the only thing left inside were the front seats and battery.

[Ichoptop]

been way to busy with other stuff to work on the bug but last night I pulled the front and rear bumpers off. They will finds thier new home in the dumpster at work. The brackets were still good so I threw them into a box of stuff I can sell. I pulled everything off the decklid and threw it all in the same box. I found some really nice paint under it all. It is almost to nice to chop up......yeah right.

[Ichoptop]

took friday off work.......renewed my tattoo license with the state (bastards) and started cleaning the interior of the bug more. SPent the late hours reading through an old how-to chop a bug article. I didnt agree with all thier measuerments but layed it out according to thier plans and eyed it over a few times before clicking off the lights.
Saturday morning, out comes the sawzall. I finshed popping the glass out of the car. Removed outside door handles, trim, windshield washer nozzle, side mirror, antenna etc. etc. Fired up the compressor and lubes the air tools. hit all the holes with the random DA and flipped the welder on. 30 minutes later I did a quick grind down of all the holes and pulled out the sawzall, 3" die grinder with cutoffwheels and the heaft 6" cutoff. By late saturday night I had the A and B pillars with the front section of the roof tacked back in. The back half of the roof is laying in the garage which I will finish cutting this week. Next weekend hopefully I can get the car club over to get everything stiched back together.

If Anyone has any filler pieces for the roof let me know. I need 1 from each side in front of the b-pillare about 16" long by 4" wide and two from the front and back about 18"long and 6" wide.

I didnt bother to take any pix. Chopping a roof is a 3 man job and I did the whole thing alone.

[Ichoptop]

the bug is tucked away behind a fence on the back of the garage. The city keeps a close eye on my driveway for cars. I have had a few runins with them in the past so I have to keep her tucked away when not in the garage.
Anyhow: the rear section of the roof is on the bench in the garage. Last night I cut the rear window radiuses out and split the roof in half. Well I was at it I threw a few more tack welds into the inside of the window radiuses bacuse it looked as though the original spot welds had spread a bit. Friday night I will get her back into the garage and get the roof re-stiched in. I found some 16 ga. sheet I had laying around that I might use as patches or I might use the pieces I will cut out of the roof to make a sunroof opening.

Things I have learned so far:
1. Cut the sunroof opening out before cutting any of th eroof pieces out. It will help trying to stich everything back up.
2. Got with your gut when making the cuts. The how to articles only tell you half the story.
3. though working alone is my preference it sure would help to have a few buddies around with some extra hands.
4. You can never have to many clamps.

[Ichoptop]

Fathers Day. Mt wife woke me up Fathersday morning and told me I was the best father to our four dogs and I could do whatever I wanted for the day. After a quick shower I was in the garage where I spent the next 12 hours. 12 Hours of lining up, clamping, checking, adjusting, checking and spot welding. By sundown I was sore, hot, tired, and in a great mood.

[Ichoptop]

2nd pic

[Ichoptop]

3rd

[Ichoptop]

welding madman

[Ichoptop]

last one for today

[Ichoptop]

Another freakin long weekend. Picked up my extra roof and started on it after mowing the lawn saturday morning. Cut the rear patch panel out of the extra and tacked it in. Finished the outside of the c-pillars and ground them smooth.

[Ichoptop]

There is a bit of a bind on the passengers side in the rear causeing the sheetmetal to ballon out a little. I will remedy it with a long thin slice and a reweld when I get a chance. Put a patch piece in the drivers side above the door. Didnt like it so I chopped it back out. Redid both pieces on the drivers side before I got the idea to replace the entire section of the salvage roof including the b-pillar. Sometimes I am a dumbass. Finished up the front roof above the windshield as well. tunrned out ok but still needs some hammer and dolley work.

[Ichoptop]

other side

[Ichoptop]

front

[Ichoptop]

money shot