how to chop a 49 merc 2dr.

[kimber45]

Hello, I'm new to the site and to the craft. I would like to know if anyone has info. on resource material on how to chop a top. Specifically a 49 merc. I have Tex Smith's book but would like to have more research material. Any tips would be greatly appreciated thanks.:)

[BarryA]

Hi Kimber (??)

My first tip would be - practice on something else!! I don't know about where you are, but a 2-door 49 Merc is a pretty scarce item around here. I wouldn't want to tackle that as my first project.
You can have all the info, but it doesn't always translate to the hands on application. I don't know what your skill levels are, but it is quite a complex job you are comtemplating.
Get some welding time under your belt if you don't already have. Learn all you can about HAZ - practice planishing welds etc. Doing this on scrap on the workbench is a whole lot easier tahn on the car, and lets you build some confidence.
Take your time planning the job, to allow you to try to think of everything that is going to crop up, and how each thing affects the other (and there is plenty to think about) and then practice doing beforehand all the things that you are not 100% confident of.
Barry

[KustomsRus]

kimber45 (insert real name here) it's more friendly. Chopping a '49 Merc is a very complex job and there are many ways to do the rear window area and B pillar. Tommy Steadman of Tennessee made a video how to. Dick Dean from California had a how to article in a mag.

Have you have chopped a car before? If not I wouldn't tackle the Merc yet. Take the time to collect all the info you can. I recently moved and car stuff is still boxed up but I do have the video and magazine articles I mentioned. Will try to locate them.

[rodwerkz]

I agree.. Screw around and practice on something else first. "turret top" cars are tricky and the pillars on your merc are especially tricky. It's much tougher than a cut and lower job. there is a lot of metal that will need to be added and alot of metal that will need to be reshaped.

If you are thinking of doing it as a first attempt do alot of research first. In case your not already on it i'd post on www.jalopyjournal.com/forum (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum). You might even be able to find someone in your area whose undertaken a complex chop such as this and will provide you some help or at least some oversight.

Good luck...

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Last year at the International MetalMeet a couple guys (names slip my feeble mind) were 'fixing' a very bad Merc chop. I went up and introduced myself and asked what they were doing. "Fixing this fu--ed up chop", they said. "Yeah it's pretty bad, someone didn't know what they were doing." I replied like I actually knew what I was talking about. "I sure didn't", they guy responded. We had a good laugh.

They actually ended up taking out the entire back of the chop including the rear window and half the roof and remaking it. Came out pretty good. Someone might have some photos.

Dutch Comstock was giving them direction. He's chopped a bunch of them.

[anders nørgaard]

Hi Kerry,

Here's a pic from Friar Tuck's MM2005 album

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3824/medium/P5261713.JPG (http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=12783&size=big&cat=3824&page=6)

a few more in there http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/images/icons/icon6.gif

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=12783&cat=3824&page=6

[anders nørgaard]

More pics here:

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=3829&page=2&perpage=24&what=allfields&=&action=

I think it was Bob Baisden, Bennett Chapman, James? and Bill? that did the roof chop

[Kerry Pinkerton]

More pics here:

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=3829&page=2&perpage=24&what=allfields&=&action=

I think it was Bob Baisden, Bennett Chapman, James? and Bill? that did the roof chop

They were working it that project along with some others but the 'owners' were a couple guys from upstate Il or Michigan or somewhere up north.

[tombsycles]

Wow!
That's some nice metalwork in those pictures! :-)

I would agree a vehicle of this vintage and unmolested state isn't typically one to be used as a training aid for a first project, no matter how much text you read or videos you watch.

There isn't very many massive panelled compound curves in both positive and negative radius crown in one panel that was ever manufactured before, or since.

These models take a very practiced hand with knowledge of the path to get to where you want to go, and some complicated layout and fabrication to make as few panels as possible with the least amount of welded joints, coupled with structural integrity.

The course of cutting and manufacture of panels to fit be employed in this project are paramount to it's success and applicable longevity.

I would hazard these model year Mercs are a challenge for the best of craftsmen, that I have seen uttering a few 4 letter words in the process on many an occasion. I've even uttered a few myself, and I was unprovoked!!! :wink:

I can only speak for myself in this as to experience, and admit my scrap bin has had it's share of panels I thought would fit after tweaking and trimming end up there, and although it wasn't intentional, mistakes/"mistooks" visually made me rethink if it was worth my hard head experimenting with something I couldn't reverse once the cutting was done.

The days of "pie-notching" long radiuses and adding sections are gone. The amount of mud to finish the mess would require overload springs, not to mention door openings and adjacent glass fit. :shock: :roll: And the window openings are the least of your worries compared to the rest!

Hands-on is the best way to learn though, but should you go ahead with this, I would consult someone who can show you how to do it without ruining a very nice project.

Once the damage is done, it's impossible to undo unless you replace, and a job of this nature, might mean replacing a whole lot you never considered when you started with the best of intention.

Best of luck.

[htf]

ruffrodders.com has some pretty good step-by-steps on a couple different models and i believe the 49-51 merc was one of them

[anders nørgaard]

Here's a 22 page step by step on a 2-door 50 merc chop:

http://www.ruffrodders.com/cgi-bin/ib/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=50;t=629

[A Glause]

I have chopped four or five Merc's through the years, none of these were easy. I read all the how to's I could get before doing the first one, this made it more difficult then ever because they all had different ideas on how to do it. Yes and every one I did was different too, the last one not only being chopped but change to a hardtop also. We now have a Caddy in the shop that was one of those bad chops. The work involved in doing one of these is so much more then a car in the 30's so be sure you are up to the task be for jumping in.

Andy

[MAStuart]

Any chance anyone has a pic of the merc that was work on at mm. I was chopping one for my buddy Ed Betz before he died . His brother sold it unfinished. I was just wondering ................hope the screwup job wasnt something I started. Mark

[superleggera]

Take a look at the HAMB --> http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=5

Just do a search on chopped merc or chopping merc. You will see everything from individuals, Barris, Ayala and the other masters from the era and how they were chopped.

Also do a search on Street Rodder magazine and "how to chop a merc". Inevitably all the sketches and cutlines for a 49/50 and 51 are out there.

Chopping a 2-door Merc is a large project. But if done properly can look fantastic. Post pics as you go.

[Overkill]

Gene points out some issues in the chop. Once you see the details he discusses, you'll notice the problems on many of the chops out there.