Projects Chop or not chop steel 32 5 window?

Hello all! Finally I am jumping into the 32 5 window build I have put off for 15 years. I got a killer deal on a steel 32 5 window from United Pacific, I plan to build a highboy with steel 16" wheels with 40 hubcaps, a stock looking flathead with stock heads but a polished 2 barrel carb/manifold set up and not a lot of chrome.

Anyway, any recommendations who to trust to chop it in SoCal, or is it better or maybe a bit unique to leave it stock height? Also, what is a reasonable cost/price? I know it would look cool with a 2 1/2" chop, but I don't see many stock height steel coupes. Plus I want to do most of the work by myself, so having to deal with all the wood, glass, front windshield frame modified in addition to the cost of the chop may make it not worthwhile.

I would love to do gloss black, I know it's common, but looks so great. Any input on a really dark, British racing green, or Aztec bronze matte like in the pic? I maybe just mock it up and wrap it with vinyl to see how it may looks, drive it to get the bugs worked out and then paint it. It's about $300 for wrap materials and a weekend of work, I don't care if it is not proper or perfect, I just want to see the overall look, I have tried photoshopping but it's not the same as seeing the real thing, and it's pretty expensive to change once it's painted.

Also I have a lot of ideas for wheels, I plan on one narrow alloy set, 4 /1/2x15 and 6x15 and one steel in cream or black, and maybe with or without whitewalls to change it up once in awhile. I like the style with the polished lip and ribs, but brushed middle sections, I need to see them in person.

Any input or who to trust would be grateful.

 

Personally,I like the 5 windows with a stock top. HRP

 

I say chop it. Just a nice 2" chop. My coupe is not chopped, but it's always on my mind. I haven't pulled the trigger for a few reasons. One of many being that I have this desire to channel it and leave the top. I really like the look. Plus can always cut it, but putting it back is very difficult. Just my opinion. Do what ever you like. It's your car who cares what the there's think. Unless its built to sell. Then leave it tall. Fits more buyers.

 

I also like stock top hight on 32,if u just have too chop,keep it about 2in. of chop,the so call cool of lots of chop gets bad fast after driving a short time,works great at the dragstrip n cool for that , but crap on the road.

 

I happen to like them chopped, but like Dana said, keep it to a minimum if you do chop it. JMO, now do what you want, but keep in mind that it is easier to chop it later than to reverse it after it has been chopped.

 

Pretty street roddy looking wheels. On the 'old school' bandwagon, but failing.

Re. chop my advice is twofold: 1. Do you like the look of chopped or not? You need a complete picture before you start, a concrete target to work towards. Jumping around 50 ideas in a build ends up in a mish-mash piece of crap. 2. Go to some events or cruises and ask politely if you could sit in some chopped coupes. That may or may not seal the deal for you.

 

My vote is stock cab height.

 

Chopped cars look cool but can be a pain to drive, sit in a few, or better yet, see if you can ride in someones.

 

Cool, that was a quick response! Yeah I have sat in both, I am 6'1" and yeah, checking to make lane changes and parking will alone will end up costing me a fortune at the Chiropractor. 1" would be perfect, 2" not so bad, but for the expense, probably another 1/3 of the cost of just the body alone I am thinking leave it stock and spend that money on a quick change rear end.

Thanks I know what you mean about the wheels, I like the kidney bean type look. I go to a lot of shows and am just trying to do something a bit different, but not extreme. I know it's not 100% correct old school, but I want to push it a bit but keep it looking right and cool. Half the time it will be these black wheels. Also that is the stance I like on the black roadster. Sorry for the BMW, it's the only pic I can find of that color in the sun, it looks great, but has no life to in when not in the sun or light. Black looks good in any light.

And actually the gold/bronze color of the truck is kind of growing on me, but I want to get it together as quick as possible and drive it but also to get the bugs out. It will sit in the body shop a long time for paint so I want to try a few different looks and see what wears off. I know, black is always safe and does look great, but some of the details get lost with black. Also a dark gray with pearl shows a lot of shadows and detail, that is up in the air though but worth testing out.

 

A color like that mineral gray, might make it modern looking. Its a nice color, but is it right for your car/build? Try looking at some dark red, blue or green samples with no mica or metallic. I like the sound of a quick change, even more of a post war hot rod, to not have metallic paint.

 

I also vote for keeping it stock height, no chop.

 

Can't go wrong with black and no chop. Its been done numerous times, for a reason.

 

Try Waldens for your top chop as they sell the Brookville 3 windows with a chop. They may have even assembled your UPAC 5 window as I think they do some and So-Cal do some.
Don't know the situation in the States but here in Australia nearly all glass cars come with 3" chop as standard so if you have a steel one you don't chop it so it doesn't get mixed up with the glass cars LOL
As X38 said forget those wheels as they don't go with the flathead. Mag wheels and metallic paint really took off in the early 60's and by then the SBC was pushing the flathead out.

 

My sedan is chopped 2 1/2 inches, looks cool and still functional. I am 6ft and have no issues seeing.

 

Here is a little comparison. I had the fenderless glass car with a 2 inch chop which I think is the right amount for a chop on a five window. I personally preferred the chop over stock on fenderless. MHO.
Wheels on the chopped car are Fenton Gyro 15 x 3 1/2 and American Dragmaster 15 x 6 1/2 six slot.

I sold it after buying the metal stock bodied 5 window with fenders...I will not change it but if I did it would also be 2 inch ( NO MORE THAN 2 1/2)
I put original 1960s American Racing D spokes on this one. 15 x 6 and 15 x 7.

 

No offence to anyone, but if I were ever able to luck into a 32 coupe that I could afford I would have to chop it. It would be a dream come true that would be passed down to my kids & in all reality be my once in a life time thing. Sooooo it would be chopped bout 4", stroker flathead, 5 speed, quick change, big & littles. But that's just one of my dreams along with two blonds bout 115# ect.

 

Yeah I hear you, it's hard to come up with something new, I know what I like but also you never know if you will keep it forever, I love building cars probably more than the stress of driving them, worrying about accidents, rock chips etc but I have to have one to drive and enjoy to car shows etc! Actually my goal is to build one while I am driving a finished one, build it right and hold out for top dollar, I don't care if I sell it which seems to drive up the price of stuff I have built and sold in the past, but a 32 is a first. It's crazy what some of these cars sell for, but I hate to say, it's usually not the fiberglasss ones, it's hard work put into these cars to do them right and with high quality! Sometimes I redo stuff 5 times to get it right or it will drive me insane always seeing and thinking about any flaws or stuff I rushed on, it's the journey, not the destination! I would actually be happy with a new age motorsports fiberglass body, they seem to have gotten it right. I would at least be able to drive it and enjoy it and not have a fortune into it, a chev 350 and 5 speed is cheap horsepower and driveability!

 

I hear that!

 

Sell it and buy a 34 and than decide whether to chop or not to chop

 

When in doubt, always chop it.

 

I really think you need to look at some old magazines and find an era that entices you and stick to that. So far it seems like a complete mash-up of ideas and that always looks bad on a car. If you want the car to be "HAMB friendly" pick an era that suits you're taste or pick a cut off year and don't go past it for parts. If you end up putting a 350 in it and those fancy wheels you posted it won't be a traditional hot rod so it wont really fit in here.

 

Stock height. Saturn Lilac color. 56 corvette wheel overs.

 

I like 'em unchopped and chopped, slightly or hard. The style of the car will dictate if it needs a chop and how much. What I don't get is the big hang-up on wheels. The easiest thing to change and the last thing that needs to be purchased. Again, the style will tell you what is right. Hell, I would put Moon discs on it. That fits any style. JMHO

 

Man your 5w is beautiful Jeff.

 

Don't mean to stray off topic from the original posters thread but I would just like to say you're coupe turned out perfect Jeff! I have been absolutely drooling over the pictures of it on IG

 

I was just talking to my dawg about this and she understood what I was saying and paid attention. Not so much the OP so I have decided to delete everything and save my sage advice for someone with half a brain.

 

You need to think East Coast, no chop, channel it the width of the frame.

 

If you are going to cut it go a minimum of 3" and max 4" Here are photos of a 3" and 4" both were my cars. If you go less than 3" you may as well leave it un-chopped. IMO.

 

Chop it, it's only money and time. Build the car for yourself the way you want it.