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Projects 57 El Camino chop

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by PRANK, Apr 5, 2013.

  1. outlaw1949
    Joined: Oct 8, 2009
    Posts: 507

    outlaw1949
    Member

    If its running and driving......do just that
     
  2. czuch
    Joined: Sep 23, 2008
    Posts: 2,688

    czuch
    Member
    from vail az

    I had a 63 Pontiac Flower car. Nobody could figure out what it was and always had an opinion me about cutting up a Bonneville.
    If ya just won the lottery and the bread is eatin your pocket, do it.
    Heck, Start it and in two years when youre needing money for the divorce maybe one of us will buy it. There are some mad-skill metal benders here.
     
  3. PRANK
    Joined: Nov 30, 2009
    Posts: 16

    PRANK
    Member
    from NYC

    I see alot of guys like the 4 door wagon. I see a lot of you saying drive it and I do I'v see some of the same people with choped channeld slamed gassers & all types of modifications dont be a hypocrite and I'm not rich but I'm not hurting or getting devorced in a few years and have to sell it but thanks for your concern & the in put. #5 post HA HA
     
  4. mr.chevrolet
    Joined: Jul 19, 2006
    Posts: 8,860

    mr.chevrolet
    Member

    let me know when you cut it. i'd like to have that roof rack.
     
  5. PRANK
    Joined: Nov 30, 2009
    Posts: 16

    PRANK
    Member
    from NYC

    I'll letyou know
     
  6. I gotta build me one!

    It's your car, If you have the skills and equipment to do a nice job go for it. Sorry if some of us sound pessimistic, but most of us have seen too many aborted attempts at this sort of thing.
     
  7. pimpin paint
    Joined: May 31, 2005
    Posts: 4,937

    pimpin paint
    Member
    from so cal

    Hey Prank,

    At the end of the day, it's only a Chevrolet:) GM built close to 27000 of the 210 wagons so if this makes yer day, I say go for it! I wouldn't attempt this project if you've never done major collision work or chopped a vehicle, however:eek: There's many, many hours in building trim and filler pieces alone, to say nothing of the conversion itself! I'd study several of the four-door to two door conversions on the web (squawblow, here on the HAMB comes to mind) to give ya an idea of what's involved.
    The " Tri-Five '' era Chevrolets are some of the most ill designed GMs of the mid to late 50s, and without some major sectioning and probably a light chop, jus cutting off the roof and filling in the doors won't improve on that:eek:

    Good luck on your conversion project, and I tip my fedora to you for wondering.........
     
  8. Here's a thread where the same idea had been discussed with many different ideas and opinions:
    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=446403
    If your wagon is nice and rust free I'd probably keep it as is because your time and money would be better spent on a project that had a better chance of success and would increase its value so that when you decided to move on your investment of time and money would be repaid when you sold it.
    But ultimately it's your car, money and time. And keep posting, but when you ask for advice on here you'll get all you want (or don't want)!
     
  9. raymay
    Joined: Mar 2, 2008
    Posts: 2,532

    raymay
    Member

    Making your conversion from a 4 door may turn out to be more work than you expect. Using a longer door from a 2dr may help but will create a lot more structural and design work.
    I used a 2dr 210 wagon for my 56 conversion. I started with lots of cutting and pasting pictures, drawings and building a diecast model. I also checked out what others had done to see what I liked or did not like about their builds. You can search for a HAMB thread "MY FRIENDS 1956 ELCAMINO". It has information and pictures of my build.
    Currently I am doing another "they never made one" conversion on a mid 60's wagon making it a 2dr and probably with a little Nomad styling. I also did a lot of the same pre-plan steps and ended up using doors and other parts from an ElCamino to achive the look I am going for.
    Good luck on your decision. At some point after you start cutting, you may experience one of two things. They are usaully either excitment or regret. I hope yours is excitment.
     

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  10. mashed
    Joined: Oct 15, 2011
    Posts: 1,473

    mashed
    Member
    from 4077th

    If you want to move a tree just rent a trailer.
     
  11. Corn Fed
    Joined: May 16, 2002
    Posts: 3,278

    Corn Fed
    Member

    Cut the whole top off and make it a huge phaeton. Then when you're tired of how dorky that looks, remove all the doors, shorten it up, and make a clown parade car. If you're going to ruin it, you might as well totally screw it up. It just makes my 57 wagon worth all the more!!!!

    And yes, I say the same sarcastic thing when someone takes a nice solid Model A and cuts the floor out of it. Some day when the hack craze is over and people are bring them back up, you'll know what I mean.
     
  12. seatex
    Joined: Oct 24, 2006
    Posts: 2,670

    seatex
    Member

    Looks like a nice wagon. If you are hell bent on fucking it up, I'd be intrested in buying the luggage rack!
     
  13. mr.chevrolet
    Joined: Jul 19, 2006
    Posts: 8,860

    mr.chevrolet
    Member

    i already have dibs on the rack.
     
  14. Nads
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 11,862

    Nads
    Member
    from Hypocrisy

    Don't do it, it'll look like shit.
     
  15. PRANK
    Joined: Nov 30, 2009
    Posts: 16

    PRANK
    Member
    from NYC

    My up date. OK lets have it (your opinions)
    IMG_3296.jpg

    IMG_3326.jpg

    IMG_3344.jpg

    IMG_3362-00.jpg
    what do you think still needs a little more work

    PS. I like more now
     
  16. 41plym
    Joined: Jan 11, 2009
    Posts: 192

    41plym
    Member

    Looks great
    41plym
     
  17. 40Standard
    Joined: Jul 30, 2005
    Posts: 5,963

    40Standard
    Member
    from Indy

    what back window setup did you use?
     
  18. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    Looks like a truck. And that color is all wrong. But you got it done. Congrats, I think...
     
  19. Mojo
    Joined: Jul 23, 2002
    Posts: 1,872

    Mojo
    Member

    Many years ago, saw a 55 chevy at a car show that was a conversion. It looked like it started as a 4dr wagon, it still used the short front doors. They used the roof and windows from a 60-63 truck, chopped about 8" or so. Looked amazingly great.
     
  20. goatboy
    Joined: May 9, 2009
    Posts: 617

    goatboy
    Member
    from kansas

    ditto...........:confused:
     
  21. Phucker
    Joined: Sep 12, 2010
    Posts: 185

    Phucker
    Member
    from Kansas

    ^ Was correct.
     
  22. dabirdguy
    Joined: Jun 23, 2005
    Posts: 2,404

    dabirdguy
    Member Emeritus

    Getting the proportions right is usually the issue with doing one of these.

    Can we get some shots outside where we can see the whole car and from different angles?

    The craftsmanship looks very good.
     
  23. Niiiiice.( you asked )
     

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  24. PRANK
    Joined: Nov 30, 2009
    Posts: 16

    PRANK
    Member
    from NYC

    Its the original rear lift gate window & door
     
  25. PRANK
    Joined: Nov 30, 2009
    Posts: 16

    PRANK
    Member
    from NYC

    I like it & Thanks. I Think
     
  26. PRANK
    Joined: Nov 30, 2009
    Posts: 16

    PRANK
    Member
    from NYC

    Not my handy work a freinds shop. I just pointed and said cut and pionted and said weld that there the owner of the shop had a lot to do
    with the fab work and what should go were as a body guy he knows what will work and what wont. Im happy with the look so far. And as for the color I wanted somthing Bright hey it is a custom car did not want the serra gold (brown) back on it Ill post more pict's when I can
     
  27. 5559
    Joined: Oct 25, 2012
    Posts: 362

    5559
    Member
    from tn

    Wonder what he did ? Hope he left it a wagon.
     
  28. You could always try READING the thread! Or at least look at the pictures:rolleyes:
     
  29. papajohn
    Joined: Nov 2, 2006
    Posts: 896

    papajohn
    Member

    How dare you cut the roof off your own car and paint it a color you like? That is not traditional thinking.

    Looks good. I was a bit worried about starting with a four door, but it seems ok. Rear roof corners have a 1950 Dodge business coupe look to them. Also reminds me of some of the hearse/ambulance conversions of that era.

    Most importantly, you like it!
     
  30. papajohn
    Joined: Nov 2, 2006
    Posts: 896

    papajohn
    Member

    BTW. you could have really pissed some people off and left it a four door, making a cool little crew cab with a 4 ft bed. Sort of like a 1957 Chevy Avalanche concept truck.
     

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