As has been said, it's a big job. Damn near a commitment, but done right there's nothin sweeter. Easy to go too far as well. Otherwise:
to chop or not ---- the task is so much bigger than most people think. It is so uber cool, but the issue is your decision. Very nice lookin Chevy bro! ~sololobo~
if you have the skill and motivation....go for it ...looks great the way it is too....flip a coin....lol
I had a sedan like your,s and didn't chop it, it takes a lot of skill/good eye to get the sedans to look great. A hardtop looks much better with a mild chop, and easier to do.
This is the advice you should follow. I feel that stock can be improved on but too much cut will not be any better. So I change my vote from "chop" to "small chop". Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
the decision to chop isn't that hard. it's accepting the fact that mid way thru you get that "well im already here" feeling and it snow balls and you lose motivation or cut corners just to get it driving again and everything you shorted on will stare at you when you drive it. just study rikster first and get the type of chop you want first before you just start cutting.
A completed hard top that has operable windows and garnish moldings is much harder to complete than a post car . I've cut a shit ton of off topic and on topic cars. Getting the quarter windows to operate in an arc then seal against the weather to a window that had a modified chrome glass surround and no door top? Don't listen to peoples guesses on the internet. Before this existed guys went out into the driveway and cut cars and for better or worse something happened. Never ever ask for advice on the internet because unfortunately you will get it. You don't need it. Nobody does
If you have to ask my question is this. Who are you doing it for and why. If your doing it to impress someone............have them pay for it and get it professionally done so it's right. If you doing it for yourself and your still asking I say don't do it until your grown up and make sure your mommy is on board with the decision. Frank
Top looks too tall? Chop it then the body looks too fat, section it, looks better, can't get in and out of it. It's your car, but if you don't do it right, its ruined and you're miserable. Doing it right = skill, patience, and lots of time, if ya got do it.
Adam..That's profound,can I quote you? That's what I love about Frank..he always offers a clear perspective! HRP
I wonder how they cut the backglass on this project. The blue one above had a custom laminated rear window made which was very expensive. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiJ6cKH4P9A
Back in the late '50's in the Portland, OR. area there was Bill Hoffman's very simple mild custom white '54 Bel Air 2dr. sedan sitting on the ground as your does. NO CHOP, what made it distinctive was removing the B' piller, making the car a long roof hardtop, the quarter windows slid in manually. Years later Russ Meeks did a similar, but mild chopped '54 post and as nice as Russ's work is, I would give the nod to Hoffman's '54 for a more pleasing top & body area ratio. I've been involved 3 roof clippings, '31 Ford phaeton, '38 Chevy 2dr. sedan and a '40 Ford DeLuxe coupe all mild cuts, and have been pleased with results. I think the temptation is, as long we're cutting, lets whack a lot of inches out, so people know we've chopped this car out and its the results of all our hard work. So now people walk by notice that the roof been radically cut, that now has become the car's singular outstanding feature. Its very possiable the lookers will miss your car's other mods, also the result of you hard work. You asked...hope this imput is of some help, DYNO DAVE
If you've never driven a chopped car, or taken a ride in one, do before you chop. I have trouble seeing out windows on chopped cars, and if you're gonna drive it, you should like driving it. Just a thought....lots of time and money in a chop. It would suck if you didn't love every bit it after it was done.
The Jalopy Journal
