53-54 chevy roofchop Qs

firstly, i know how to chop a car, ive done a few different cars, i just need a few specific bits of info pertaining to this particular model.

im looking a buying a '54 210 4 door ive found at an ok price( hell, even finding one over here is a pretty big thing), but if i get it i want to chop it.
ive found loads of pics on the net of chopped 2 doors, mostly on here and on 50chevy.com, but ive only found a single pic of a chopped 4 door. i think it looks pretty good, anyone got any more pics?
pics can tell me a lot, but theres a little more info i need.....

what the generally accepted 'norm' to chop one of these? (in other words whats the sweet figure in terms of looks and practicality) 5"? 6"?
im 6'4", used to driving chopped cars, and dont mind needing to lower the seat a bit.

next, the glass. is it tempered all round (meaning i cant cut it), or is the front screen laminated? if its tempered, what my best option, get new glass made, or sink the stock glass into the cowl(s)? ive heard this is how they used ot be done 'back in the day', but im not sure how to go about it. any tips?
im particulary after info about the rear screen, as i prefer the look of a shortened stock rear window to the grafting on of a '50 ford window clip.

any info/help greatly appreciated!!

 

front glass can be cut. somewhere I read that for certain cars a rear window can be bought that is not tempered... so you can cut it.

I like 53 -54's with a small rear window like a 49-52 chevy. seen too many 53-54's with the big glass that did not flow right.

I'll go dig up a picture of a chopped 4 door.

 

thanks for the info.

this is the only pic of a chopped 4 door i could find-


i think it flows very well, it looks to have a slight reverse rake on the chop.

 

... the glass ain't in yet. that is where the flow gets disrupted. not saying all of them are messed up. but enough to make it something to watch out for. here's one from Paso Robles a few years back with the small rear glass

 

here's a rear view of a two door with the small glass. I just like this look. maybe cuz I got a 49.

 

i gotta agree on the smaller glass look, i've only seen a few where the stock wrap around glass looks good, but thats rare and few. The shoebox glass method seems to work and look the best i think

 

I think 6 inches is way too much. My 2-door is only chopped 2 inches, with the roof skin pancaked another inch at the front tapering to 4 or so at the year, I'm 6'3", and much lower would be a pain in the neck (literally). I'd say 4 inches would be about it.
And I also like the small back window idea (mine is a '48 Chevy rear window), but I have seen just a couple '53-54 with the wraparound rear window either cut or sunk that looked really good.
The original windshields and all side glass are laminated and can be cut. The rears might be laminated or tempered, but someone on the HAMB says you can buy new ones that are laminated and can also be cut.

 

4" would be the best chop for comfort and looks. 150 rear windows i think are the best looking.

 

For another pic, and possibly more info, go to Collector Car Trader Online. There is a '54 Chevy moredoor For Sale. Forget the front/rear glass cutting, unless you hire a pro to do it. A 4"/ 4 1/2-5" chop is plenty. Anymore and you will need to section hood, etc to make body lines flow. Upper section of glass leave in original framing the lower part needs to be supported by a custom open channel with rubber lining. Channel welded to body to support it. Lots of slicing and dicing involved. Gene Winfield did one on Monster Garage.

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141104

 

PM or do a search for "Tony" here on the HAMB. He chopped a 2dr, but he can give you some excellent info on it.

 

i think i will still go for a chopped stock window. theres a couple of reasons for this.
1- i prefer the shape of the chopped stock to a grafted in smaller window. i think its because the window obviously looks chopped unlike a stock size window graft.
2-i have no chance of finding any of the known donor window clips over here.
3-im stubborn and i like a challenge the best way to get me to do something is tell me its not doable

i think the way to do it will be to cut the cowl loose at the bottom, shorten the window aperture, then tilt the whole frame down.
i want to be able to run the chrome strip round the swage at the bottom of the windows, and most ive seen using a different window clip loose the swage the trim fits to.


as long as the glass is laminated, i can get it cut very cheap. i think i may get a laminated rear window made up, my glass place can do me curved stuff at ok prices. if its worth doing, its worth going all the way and finishing it off right.