Good luck with it, I sectioned mine, and I'm almost done with the welding. Theres another thread of a chevy that was sectioned like yours about a year ago, try to do a search it should help seeing another one done. Take lots of pics and brace it real good.
I honestly can't imagine sectioning a car....I just did an AD and all I had to worry about was the cab, doors and hood.... I belive I lack commitment onna car section....keep us posted on progress...
There's a couple "cheats" to the process that eliminates a few of the problems encountered along the way. Most of us know the door skin trick. The other is the firewall. Pop the spot welds and cut down the face portion, drop it back on and re-spot. I see you marked the complete fender. Isn't there a way to get the bumper line closer to the rocker line? Different cut? Just askin. I love sectioned 54s.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=49135&id=1320380505 hopefully these pictures will work, i did know the door trick and the firewall was butchered by the previous owner and will be replaced. the front end is not sectioned yet.
Jesse James, Bill Hines and Gene Winfield sectioned a 54 Chevy on "Monster Garage". It came out pretty neat. Get the DVD and follow along. Check it out: http://www.tv.com/monster-garage/old-school-54-chevy/episode/310468/summary.html
4 inches is a monster section, I'd like to see pics when it's finished. Are you taking height out of the grille area, or just at the bottom of the front fenders? I never liked the ones that take grille height out, too much ramp angle, but I suppose that's personal taste.
i would love to see picts of the process...i going to start sectioning my 48 chrysler and would love some inspiration good luck
well if you just click on the link it takes you right to the album and you really don't have to mess around with facebook and that is the only way i could get all of the pictures to be on here at one time.
there are a few threads people have started on here where they have ATTEMPTED to section a 1954 bel air... however, nobody ever finishes them. they just butcher them and stop posting on there thread. i think they find out how hard it is to put it back together after they cut them up! i tried to email most of them for updates (before i started sectioning my '54) but they never answered my emails. that is why i am going to completely finish mine before i post it up. so remember to stay motivated no matter how frustrating it gets! it i will be worth it in the end! i wish you the best of luck man! i see you are trying something new with the fenders and doors. it's nice to see somone try somebody something different. i am trying something a little different with the rear quarters and trunk. what are your plans for the grill on yours?
i just saw your facebook pics. it looks like your off to a great start. the inner structure looks really clean cut!
so the sectioning is coming along great, this is the project that we decided to do after chopping my '51 4 door mercury this past summer
hell ya man! i love it! the only factory flaw with these cars is that the body is so tall that it looks goofy with just a chopped top....but, if ya cut the body down to match... it makes a work of art! i love sectioned cars!
i never finished mine because i sat back and looked at what i started with, a rust pile with no floors, and with my job and current unfinished project it would take me too long to just fix the rust, so I'll get a better body next time and finish it, but what i did learn is next time i will use a plasma cutter for the inner structure and not do 4 inches because you have to cut the lip off of the top of the rear wheel wells because the top of the quarter panel is going to sit on the top of the wheel well
sorry, i didn't mean for it to come out like that. i worded that wrong. not yours. i have looked at your pics and your car is absolutely beautiful! . i just meant that it makes the car look more subtle, like factory proportions, with a sectioned body. not to jack the thread but, how did you cut a back glass for it?
Thanx man, I was like damn, there a ton of guys on here bitchin cut 54s...there gonna go balistic when this gets read, hah!! No worries, The bodys look good either way I think if the roofs not to hammered. I think my strecthed roof helps out the proportions a bit too. My expensive laminated back glass cracked below the cut line while cutting it down...so I got a piece of tinted lexan, heated and formed it in a powdercoat oven and sanded it to the right fit.
Good luck with your car. I love the monster garage done 54. I was thinking about sectioning mine. I'll watch you first then decide......lol
oh damn, i bought one of those with hopes of cutting it down! what method did you use? any tips to help a poor bastard not throw close to $500 worth of cracked glass in the trash?
The hard bends are the tough part as it wants to crack down there. We used the score n snap method..maybe its ol skool but my glass guy has always had good luck...till mine of course! Im hearing guys using waterjets with great success and also a sand blast method? BTW..I paid that for mine too. PM me if u have any other question I can help with. Ok..the hijacking is over guys...back to the sectioning, sorry about that!
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