Vannin' Home Forums Thread Like Summary - My 72 Dodge Chop Project

I picked up this 72 a few months ago.....was only 3 miles from my house.....had been sitting in a carport for 20 years....and was $350!!!!! Going to fix the body rust, build some crazy ground effects and chop the top!
Brought it home and washed off 20 years of dust/dirt.

IMG-2087 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

IMG-2094 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

IMG-2105 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

Started laying out and cutting the hood for the hood scoops.

This is the design I am trying to achieve:
Hood scoops by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

Laid out the cut lines and then cut. The wood blocks are just there to hold it open and let the metal flex until I weld a 1/4" rod opening....then will have to fill in the sides. I plan on making the openings a little taller. I like where it is heading.
HS1 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
HS2 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
HS3 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

Engine and tranny back in. Now to install the headers, hook up the linkage and wiring and fire it up!
Chop engine by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

Finally got the side doors cut down to fit and I have finished all the flares and ground effects all the way around the van. Have to finish the top of the passenger door and then want to cut two recessed scoops in the hood and then the real fun begins....cutting the windshield and finding side glass that will work.
Chopped van side doors by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
chop effects by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
CE1 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
CE3 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

Almost free. I paid $350 for it. Had to fix some rust and swap the motor. I always wanted to chop one but didn't want to invest too much money in case I screwed it up and had nothing but a scrap van left!

Every time big red surgery photos pop up I'm happy. Reminds you what's possible. I guess I joined the van surgery club lately with new windshield metal.

Lee, when I talk about custom vans or this forum with people, sometimes they don't get it.

Then I pull up your build threads and they understand. Absolutely epic dodge vans man.

Finished trimming and welding the other half of the front spoiler on.

IMG-6474 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

IMG-6478 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

Put the engine into the chopped van. Now have to install the carburetor, linkage, transmission, radiator.....and the list goes on. Kept the carburetor off (and almost left the intake off) due to the reduced room to work with going in through the passenger door due to the chop.

Chopped van new motor 2 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

Chopped van new motor by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

I hope you can catch some action shots f that being done, along with the results.

Finishing up the metal work on the van so I can start the bodywork. Finishing the passenger front door (what a PIA....everything changes....the top of the doors get longer, the widths don't match up etc) and started filling in the sides of the front scoops. Fitted the windows and realize I am going to have to make side glass (ughhh). When I chopped the top I decided to pull the sides in vs widening the roof so the curvature of the door glass changed (I was given a tip of someone else who had to make side glass of what car class to start with). Always something new on this project!
chopped van raw metal1 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
front window raw metal chopped van by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
front window chopped van by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Hood scoop chopped van by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

Hood scoops are done (just need a little touch up and need to find some screen/grate for the back of the scoops). I wanted to "break up" the spoiler as it was a lot of straight sheet metal so I cut and welded two closed scoops in the spoiler just to give it a little different appearance.

Spoiler vent by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Spoiler vent 2 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
Spoiler vent 3 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

My van got slammed the whole side of the van was wiped and I went to a JY to get my metal ... cost $400 for the whole side of that van







Had them slice the whole side of a van to get me my metal....





They cut what they needed ....



As Big Red sits today ...

That was a metric ton and a half of work, time, frustration, and money. Turned out nice! Cool to see it up close and give you a ride from the driveline shop. That alone was a long grind just to straighten out the entire driveline.
Good job Scott!

Off to WrenchaPart! Gday!