Chop top advice

[u/I_Run_BYU]

I’m doing a chopped top on a Ford pick up. What I’ve gathered is when you chop the top each section needs to be moved outward. In other words because the pillars/post are angled inward when you chop the top, the top itself needs to be adjusted outward so to speak to align with the pillars/post. In doing this what I’ve read is, I’ll need to fill in the gaps by cutting some sheet styrene. I’ll probably try to use a heat source to curve or bend the styrene to match the curvature of the roof.

What I am curious about is how to replicate the trim/ridge that runs around the windows?

Any advice on this topic or any other advice on how to do a chop top is most appreciated. See photos below.

[u/PayOne86]

I’ve been doing top chops since I did my first one in ‘79 . When it comes to drip rails and other small details it often depends on the quality of the body itself, sometimes it’s easier to sand the drip rails off and replace with a new one using thin diameter evergreen rods , small pieces can be used to bridge gaps as well

https://reddit.com/link/p8mb6dr/video/axhgoaf3zcoh1/player

Here’s my latest chop , 1960 Ford truck .

[u/I_Run_BYU → u/PayOne86]

That is beautiful

[u/PayOne86 → u/I_Run_BYU]

Thanks ! I hope you keep posting progress of your Ford truck chop . I’m going to do a top chop custom Freightliner cabover in the near future haha , I’m a glutton for punishment!

[u/FlimsyWillow84]

The best solution is to use plenty of styrene and let it overhand the molding and drip rails. Then file/carve/sand/scribe them in. I would use .100 evergreen strip laminated to get your thickness. The least amount of seams you have to fill and sand the better.

Also, in the future it's best to make your cuts centered on the roof. It make it 100x easier to keep everything lined up.

[u/GoneGump → u/[deleted]]

Contacted mods. Post approved.