Good morning, picked up a 52 Chevy last week, spent yesterday cleaning it out and making some plans for the winter. I definitely want to chop it, but have to do some rust repair on floors and rockers first. Other than that gonna lower it, french the headlights, and change up the tail lights. Looking for insight from anyone, especially on the chop. I'm thinking of laying down the rear glass, but not sure how much to chop it. Sent from my Pixel 3 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Here is the 52 done at the @Pinstriper40 class last time here in AZ The chop was about 3inches and back glass laid down. Gives you a idea..
If this is like you say, your first build, chopping the top of a '52 Chevy is really like jumping into the deep end of the pool and then learning to swim. I like your ambition.
I've got some buddies who've done a few, plus I've been doing body and fab work on other peoples stuff. This is just the first major build I've done for myself
I'll be watching. I'm especially interested in how you address the windshield area. I am trying to figure out the best way to do the windshield on my project without making a bunch of pie cuts and leaning the pillars and doors in. I know it can be done, I am just gathering info before I break out the sawzall and cutting wheels.
Atomic. I see the old girl was last registered in Wisconsin . Are you from Wisconsin or near by? PM me if you are , I may have a few things gathering dust and rust in the barn and maybe an offer you can't turn down! Larry
Atomic, this is a nice one! I just picked up a 50 pontiac about 2 weeks ago, can't wait to see how someone else does it. Good luck! I have a thread under Project Street Snail, if you can help me out any or i can help you just let me know! Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Good luck with your build. I obviously like the '52 Chevrolet since I own one. Naturally, as you can see, mine isn't chopped. Maybe in its next life, it will be.
So I was cleaning out the car, and I found the original dealer badge. I did a little research on the dealership because I wanted to find out if the buildings still exist. Turns out this dealership was kind of a big deal back in the day. I guess they were a Yenko dealer, as well as doing dealer 427 swaps in Camaros and Nova's. Sent from my Pixel 3 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
They where the place to go for used muscle cars in the early 70's when I was in high school . Had them in indoor show rooms. My buddy got his 73 Z28 there when we graduated in 1973. Later it became Wilde Honda in the later 70's. Sad day. Larry
Someone was telling me one of the buildings still exists, not sure if it's true or not. Sent from my Pixel 3 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The dealership was on Hwy18 , Born in Milwaukee ,grew up in Burlington, moved to Portage in 76 . Have not been in in that area of Waukesha in 30 years and even then things had change so much I could not tell where it was anymore. How much are you thinking of chopping it? What kind of end finish are you planning ? All new paint and interior, black suede driver? Let me know . I have some long forgotten projects and parts that may help you on your way. And I would rather pass them on than watch them rot. Larry
In my opinion, there are two basic top chop theories......... A. Thoughtfully done to actually improve the proportions of the vehicle that, in some cases, have people scratching there heads, asking "has that been chopped?". In this category, sometimes a bit more chop is needed, but it's really easy to take out too much. "I wish I had cut a bit more" is easier to live with than "I wish I had cut less" Restraint is the watchword. B. Radical chops that leave the car with "mail slots" for window openings and will never be a question as to 'if' it has been chopped. Unless one is building a Bonneville car, there is little to recommend extreme chops except for 'shock value'. A good example of A. is the Chevy coupe pictured in post #2. However, I also believe it's your car and you are free to do as you please. Ray
I'm definitely not wanting to go radical. I'm a big believer in the phrase less is more. I want to go more in the direction of these cars Sent from my Pixel 3 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
It'll probably be a driver/work in progress for awhile. I do want to paint it once everything is finished Sent from my Pixel 3 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
So after some time off for a road trip with my wife, got back at it today. The previous owner had tacked on a new patch panel on the left quarter panel. He also had included the inner quarters for each side. However... He decided not to install it before replacing the outer quarter. So today I got the rocker lined up how I want it, and cut the quarter out and do some rust removal. Had to kind of stop there because I need to pick some sheet metal to make some patches. In the meantime, I pulled off the fender, shaved the trim holes and the antenna, and started to figure out how to remount the headlights for when I french them. Sent from my Pixel 3 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The Jalopy Journal
