Bulldog's Choptop Updates - Cut-Weld-Drive Forums

**hotrodheb** · July 14th, 2007, 09:45 PM

Well now that Cobey's ghia is back at his place for assembly, I was finally able to start working on Matt's choptop today. As you may or may not know, the work was originally started at another shop that was basically raping Matt on the prices, and doing IMO shoddy work. Well it is now at the Bay Area Volksrod Garage for the much needed personal attention!

So, Cobey came over to help out today, and we got a crap load of work done today. And due to prior commitments, it was only a 6 hour day.

We got the car up on stands and pulled the wheels off.

We pulled the motor out for access.

We mounted the decklid to check for alignment issues.

Then I tackled the passenger door...

I cut out the suicide hinges and moved them out where they should have been the first time.

Then I modified the upper hinge to have a dogleg to make room for windows that will actually roll down!

Moved the pocket out on the door as well

And here is how it sits now.

The pocket is still just tacked, but the rest is fully welded. I will also be adding some reinforcements inside the door as it is a little flexible right now!

Cobey · July 14th, 2007, 10:26 PM

It was a good day. I got to cut big holes in the door with the air powered dremel. :D

BiggJ22 · July 14th, 2007, 10:43 PM

Damn I wish I lived up with you guys to work on projects with ya. Looks like some good work so far!!

Cobey · July 14th, 2007, 10:51 PM

Time to move! LOL

BullDog · July 15th, 2007, 12:55 AM

Thanx! Great work guys! Didnt expect to see this until I was out there to bust ass as well. next weekend still good for you Rob?

Weekend of the 28th I am booked solid , but then I am there every weekend for the most part!

redfinger · July 15th, 2007, 02:21 AM

Wow!! ROb and Matt!! That looks greeat!!!!

If you guys get to working on it on a weekday let me know! Also I may be avilable this thurs night and friday if you guys are working on it as well!

Ashton

57Drag · July 15th, 2007, 03:20 AM

looks great girls.Keep on keeping on.

**hotrodheb** · July 15th, 2007, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BullDog

Thanx! Great work guys! Didnt expect to see this until I was out there to bust ass as well. next weekend still good for you Rob?

Weekend of the 28th I am booked solid , but then I am there every weekend for the most part!

Yep, next weekend is good! My wife already marked it on the calendar, and that is what really matters! LOL

I am hoping to have the metal work completed before I go on the cruise at the end of August and hopefully have a fair amount of bodywork done in time to haul it up to Bugorama!

BullDog · July 15th, 2007, 09:10 AM

OK... progress documented from September, 2005 at BugOrama to July, 2007 at Bay Area Volksrod Garage!
.
.
.
.
.
http://www.norcalaircooledgroup.com/...-progress.html
.
.
.
.
.
.

**hotrodheb** · July 15th, 2007, 07:39 PM

Got a little more welding on the passenger door and started on some reinforcements inside the door. Only had a short time to work on it tonight, so nothing photo worthy for today.

Cobey · July 15th, 2007, 09:55 PM

Sorry I couldn't come to help. I was a little.....uhm....booked. :D

**hotrodheb** · July 16th, 2007, 08:40 PM

Tonight I got a few hours of work in on the car. Did some more finish work on the passenger door. All it needs now is some grinding and it should be good to go. At least until I start to install the bear claw latches.

Here is the top hinge mount that I had to move out and the area where the old latch used to reside...

Filled in the latch...

Filled in the rest of the open space...

Filled the gap at the front of the top hinge...

And added a brace between the two hinges...

So now after a little grinding, I can start to do the same on the driver side door!

**grumpy** · July 16th, 2007, 08:45 PM

cook that metal!

looks great

RustRod · July 16th, 2007, 08:48 PM

Amazing work on those hinges. The finished product is gonna look beautiful. gimme more... gimme more... :-D

Jon · July 17th, 2007, 02:13 AM

My doors look just like yours.

My friend gave me some great adice about doing these, he said to add reinforcement first then mount the hinges to help eliminate the floppiness from when you actually cut away the inner skin. Made since, maybe next time if I decide to do it again.

57Drag · July 17th, 2007, 05:19 PM

Looks good,now get back to work

**hotrodheb** · July 18th, 2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 57Drag

Looks good,now get back to work

Okay!

Today I had to go into work at 5:30 this morning because we had to swap out a compressor on our large AC unit.

But when you go in that early, you get to leave early! I was home by 2:30 this afternoon, and my wife and kids would not be home until about 6pm. So it was prime time to work on the bug!

Started out by grinding all the welds on the passenger door and remounting in onto the hinges and got it all adjusted.

Then I started modifying the upper hinge like the other side. Luckily this set of hinges was actually installed in the correct location so I didn't have to move them!

This is how deep they sunk in the hinge pockets...

Which is fine until you want to install windows!

So I cut out the hinge pocket and added an offset to the hinge.

Then I put the door back on and lined it up and then tacked the pocket onto the door.

And finally I filled in the hole by the lower hinge pocket and filled the opening around the upper hinge pocket.

So now if I have time tomorrow I will grind down all of these welds and get the drivers door reinstalled and adjusted.

BullDog · July 18th, 2007, 09:56 PM

Wow Rob... I cant thank you enough. at this rate you'll be done before I get there this weekend! What time is good for you Saturday?

BiggJ22 · July 18th, 2007, 10:30 PM

Damn Rob you're the fuckin man!!!! How much did you say apartments are up there????

**grumpy** · July 19th, 2007, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiggJ22

Damn Rob you're the fuckin man!!!! How much did you say apartments are up there????

57Drag · July 19th, 2007, 02:23 PM

your work makes mine look like a 2 year old did It

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...g?t=1184883660

**hotrodheb** · July 19th, 2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BiggJ22

How much did you say apartments are up there????

If you have to ask, it's too much! LOL I think studio apartments start at about $750 a month!

Oh and thanks a bunch for the compliments guys!!!

Roadster Cliff · July 19th, 2007, 03:34 PM

Rob-
You are knocking me out with this fine work! Great job! I'll for sure be re-visiting this thread when I do my doors. It's great to have someone to rip off...uh, I mean someone to teach you the way to do something! You are one of the best.

Cliff

**jkien65** · July 19th, 2007, 03:54 PM

Rob, next year for steve meet, Im gonna have you drag the oval back down to cali and work your wizardry on it.

**hotrodheb** · July 21st, 2007, 09:12 PM

Well Matt came over for his first day of work at the Bay Area Volksrod Garage! Once again we got a lot done today.

I added a few more support peices to the drivers door

Matt started modifying the dashboard

Got the drivers door hung and lined up fairly well

More mods to the dash... we had to narrow it an inch and a half per side

tacked the center section into the car

Got the first half tacked in

And then the other side

By the way, this is a dash out of a 1946 Chevy truck

Then I got one of the old hinge cutouts filled in

This shot of the dash reminds me of a pic that Nick took of his custom dash install!

Oh and just for Carlene, here is a little visitor that we had today

Matt is coming over again tomorrow, so hopefully a lot more will be done then!!!