to section or not to section my 54 chevy

[camberMI]

Well Im getting ready to start cutting on my 54. I was originally planning on sectioning the body and doing a chop top on it but after studying the one that was done on monster garage Im not sure if I like how its proportioned. My favorite 54 by far is the flat red one with the 55 chevy headlight bezels and that one only has a 3 inch chop I believe. Not to mention Im 6'2 and after taking 4 inches out of the body and 4 out of the top that doesnt leave much room. Please give me some opinions on this. Thanks

[kustombuilder]

4 inch chop NO section.

look for pics of Packrat32's 54 Chevy. it looks SWEEET. it just got painted but even in primer it looked killer. i think his is a 4 inch chop.

[kustombuilder]

on second glance that looks like a bit more than 4"...

so where have you been Jody??

here is the 50 Chevy i've been chopping. it has a 4 inch chop, slanted B-pilars and a 47 Pontiac back window (it's 4" shorter and 8" narrower than the stock one).

[Tony]

Even though i like the car the "Legends" built on Monster Garage, i still like the look of them chopped and not sectioned more than sectioned.
Something about the shape of those quarter panels in stock form that just looks good to me..

Your right, mine was actually 5" in front and about 5 1/2 in the back..but 4 would look just a good.
Mike thanks for the props..

Tony.

[ComingApart]

I'll cast a vote for non-sectioned.

On a similar note, I've seen slanted B pillars on most '53-'54 chops, and while it looks cool enough, I'm more interested in have straight pillars, so my windows will still function. (yeah, I'm a dork)
I'm still trying to scheme up a slick looking chop without moving the B pillars.

[kustombuilder]

there was a recent post about 54 Chevy customs. do a search for it and you will find pages of nice 53 and 54 custom Chevys.

lets see some pics of what it looks like right now...

[kustombuilder]

[ QUOTE ]
I'll cast a vote for non-sectioned.

On a similar note, I've seen slanted B pillars on most '53-'54 chops, and while it looks cool enough, I'm more interested in have straight pillars, so my windows will still function. (yeah, I'm a dork)
I'm still trying to scheme up a slick looking chop without moving the B pillars.

[/ QUOTE ]


i assume you mean the quarter windows??? all you have to do is get a little creative and they can roll down even with slanted pillars. just mount the window chanels and regulators on an angle so they roll back into the quarter. might not go all the way down cause of the wheel well but it will be "child proof" that way http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif... you could make em pop out like an old V-dub. that would be cool and get some airflow in the back seat area.

[bufordtjustice]

You gotta section it so you can be just like Jesse James!!!!!!!!!! J/K.... Chop it....sectioning is just gonna be a lot of work that isn't needed to make the car look good.

[Paul]

if you are serious,

do it,

but not too wild,

take about three inches off the top and two, maybe two and a half out of the middle.

that's five inches, then strech the rear fenders out another three or four

lower the whole thing till it's about three inches off the ground..

I can see it, can you?

Paul

[Tim]

shoebox coupe windows pop open to if your disliking the beetle coment http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[kustombuilder]

[ QUOTE ]
shoebox coupe windows pop open to if your disliking the beetle coment http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

i know. i used the V-dub as an example just cause i'm an asshole http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif...

[Muttley]

DO NOT section it. I cant think of one car looks good sectioned. IMO it's a waste of time/energy/money.

[choprods]

no section- 3" frt and 4" rear on the chop........straightB posts keep the quarter glass same length if you can

[kustombuilder]

i personaly like the slanted B-posts but i have seen some straight ones that look good. lets see if i saved any pics....

[hotrod54chevy]

in my opinion,i wouldnt section it...you could just chop it and drop it and THEN decide what you want to do,but in my opinion,most sectioned cars dont look right/look funny..and if you DO section it,LOWER IT.nothing looks as stupid as a sectioned car (which is supposed to make it shorter,rite?!) and leave it jacked up!makes it look like you're too lazy to finish somethin..once again, just my 2 cents
creepy

[laidoutford]

[ QUOTE ]
DO NOT section it. I cant think of one car looks good sectioned. IMO it's a waste of time/energy/money.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have only seen a few cars that looked good sectioned...One for example would be the maroon shoebox built by Valley Kustom. It was a short roof coupe without a chop.

I do not think a '53-'54 Chevy would look good sectioned.

Also, I do not like chopped AND sectioned cars. One or the other, or the proportions get thrown off...

DO NOT do it just to say you did it...Keep a good look and style to the car.

[53_210]

Don't section. I agree that I've never seen a sectioned car that looks good. The reason why the '54 looks so out of proportion I think is due to the way they "sectioned" the front fenders differently than the rest of the car. The wheelwell needed to be higher.

Deke

[Mojo]

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/xrcs/post/54%20Chevy%20kustom%202.jpg

about a 2" section. I like them slightly sectioned, it's subtle. A lot of work, I guess it depends on what you're going for... a radical "look at me" custom with a serious section, or a subtle "something is different" section. They look tough just chopped, but they look sleek sectioned.

[camberMI]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I really liked the monster garage 54 at first but Ive been looking thru alot of different pictures of alot of different early 50's chevys and I like the looks of just a chopped 54 layed out on the ground. And Mike Ive just been working and trying to get Teds 48 chevy done (hes picking it up this weekend) and out of Jakes garage so we can get to work on my car.

[lurker mick]

I disagree, I believe chopped and sectioned cars can look exceptional.
Here is Dave Johnson's Spokane, Wa. based 53 hardtop that was built in the early sixties. 3" chop and 31/2" section, the pontiac trim certainly gives it a distinctive look as well.

[praisethelowered]

mick won me over with that picture.

[The37Kid]

I'm reading everything I can on 49-54 Chevy top chops, before I attack my '50. The problem with sectioning one of them as I see it deals with the "hips" or rear quarters. Keeping the concentric curve of the front of the bulge is the critical part.

[DrJ]

Notice the car Mick posted doesn't have the "bulge" part of the 1/4 sectioned, or not sectioned as much. It's sectioned in front of it but I suspect that 1/4 panel is near stock height and the trunk area dropped in between the fenders.
Way cool! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

How much was Billy G's "Copperhead" shoebox sectioned?
It's pretty right on.

[kustombuilder]

i think yer right Doc. it looks like it was sectioned without sectioning the quarters. now THAT is a hard trick to pull off.

i stil agree that MOST sectioned cars do not look right but it is possible with a little restraint, vision and skill to pull it off. i still would'nt bother though. why open that can of worms? a chop and drop will do wonders for it.

[Tony Bones]

I think it's be real cool sectioned 2 and chopped 3.

**Good idea** Figure out a good way to lower your seats a couple of inches if you section. People just look too weird cruising around w/ their chest above the window line.

[cool57]

[ QUOTE ]
DO NOT section it. I cant think of one car looks good sectioned. IMO it's a waste of time/energy/money.

[/ QUOTE ]
DITTO!

[LUKESTER]

I wouldn't think twice, I'd run a cutoff wheel through that SOB and take 3" out of the middle of it..... ITS EASY!!!!!! LUKESTER

[Jkustom]

In my opinion, dont go more than 3" on the section. I think a 3" or so chop and a 3" section would look good. Anymore out of the body and the car starts to look like its in the crusher to me... Unlike like a chop, sectioning should be more on the suttle end of the spectrum....

That, and when you take too much out, the front of the quater panel loses its nice round curve and starts to make a point..... Just my opinion...-J.

[klazurfer]

This is done pretty much the same as Dave Johnson`s car :

[kustombuilder]

[ QUOTE ]
This is done pretty much the same as Dave Johnson`s car :

[/ QUOTE ]

i'd sure like to see some under construction shots of that section. it looks great done but i'll bet it was a real bitch to do. there has to be som many differet cuts in so many different places in that thing. that is realy the key, just like a good chop, you have to know WHERE to put the cuts.

[Paul]

it's a photo chop,

can we see it with smaller rear wheel wells and a little less mass behind the rear wheel?

Paul

[marq]

my personal view is that sectioned cars look kinda odd and i have never liked the look at all they are kinda out of whack with everything else a pariah if you like .I love a nice chop(not on my car) and a good channel or both together but sectioning is just shouting look at me and how clever am i it dont mean it looks good just technical.i work for Gm here in the uk and i think ford had the same idea about why roof lines had to be tall in family cars basically it was so everyone could fit in with a hat on...think i'm joking?well i aint and if the minority of people were not so tall there would probably have been no need for roof chops i mean after all T roofs were built that high because people actually wore top hats fer god sakes.........Marq

[BigDdy31]

OK, here's my fitty cent worth: Now keep in mind that I do not have the mad skills to do a section like this alone so my opinion is purely from a 'looks' point of view.

I've seen people saying 'sections don't look good' and such as that but to be honest, they are just like chops, they can look great, mediocre, or like something on a stick. I have seen some sections that I love and that really made a unique and cool car.

My best advice is this: if you want to do a section to see if you can and to get the experience, then go for it. If you love this particular car and just want to play with it, then go more conservative and stick with just a chop.

Just one big haired man's opinion. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[bobx]

i agree with the big daddy..

some sections look good, and some dont, just like with a chop..they can make the car or make the car look like it was cut just for something to do, not to make it look better.

photochop the car and figure out what you want to do to it..

then do it.

good luck

[Rico's Chop Shop]

i personaly like the slanted B-posts but i have seen some straight ones that look good. lets see if i saved any pics....
What is the scoop with the chop on this? I really like the c post any info would be great private message me, I will be starting my chop here soon on the 54

[LOW LID DUDE]

I agree with Mojo,section that sucker.It takes balls to section a car.Most of the dudes that tell ya don't do it,couldn't do it themselves.Talk is cheep! A 2 inch section takes away the fat ,to tall bulky body look .I sectioned a couple cars ,a 48 Chevy fleetline and a 50 Ply 3 inches and when people look at them they can't quite figure out what was done but like what they see.I agree too much can screw up the proportion of a car but just a little can add streemline class to it.Go for it!

[Harris]

Uh guys, this thread's 6 years old......

[49ratfink]

two thousand-fucking-four.... noobs

[Lunatic]

oops

[oldcarfan]

jesus.

[subdajj]

How many times have we seen posted:

Search is Your Friend

Do a search first

And many other variations

But somebody does a search and would like more info on what they found and people are still not happy.

If you do not have some thing good to add to a thread go to one that you do