I have been an auto & truck restorer over 40 years, having helped an older friend chop his 49 Mercury FOUR door sedan when I was 16 in 1962. We made a big mess and then managed to make it beautiful. Over the years I have chopped many different types of vehicles, and there are many different approaches depending on the top and what you want to finish with. One of the best books I have seen on the subject is written by Tex Smith and Rich Johnson {both Master builders & fabricators}, published by Motorbooks International entitled simply "How to Chop Tops". Published in 1990, the wording is simple and to the point, and the technology is up to date. It's must reading for anyone who wants to chop his own top, no one could tell you what you will get from this book. Besides telling you how, it has pictures of over 50 Chops before, during and after. I like to reread the book often and I remember the chops I've done, and if I were to contract to chop one, I'd read the book again before I started. By the way, the last one I did was a 49 Chev {3-window, not 5] 3and1/2inch chop and left in primer in 1997. Good luck from an ole' bodyman.
