to section or not to section my 54 chevy

Well Im getting ready to start cutting on my 54. I was originally planning on sectioning the body and doing a chop top on it but after studying the one that was done on monster garage Im not sure if I like how its proportioned. My favorite 54 by far is the flat red one with the 55 chevy headlight bezels and that one only has a 3 inch chop I believe. Not to mention Im 6'2 and after taking 4 inches out of the body and 4 out of the top that doesnt leave much room. Please give me some opinions on this. Thanks

 

4 inch chop NO section.

look for pics of Packrat32's 54 Chevy. it looks SWEEET. it just got painted but even in primer it looked killer. i think his is a 4 inch chop.

 

on second glance that looks like a bit more than 4"...

so where have you been Jody??

here is the 50 Chevy i've been chopping. it has a 4 inch chop, slanted B-pilars and a 47 Pontiac back window (it's 4" shorter and 8" narrower than the stock one).

 

Even though i like the car the "Legends" built on Monster Garage, i still like the look of them chopped and not sectioned more than sectioned.
Something about the shape of those quarter panels in stock form that just looks good to me..

Your right, mine was actually 5" in front and about 5 1/2 in the back..but 4 would look just a good.
Mike thanks for the props..

Tony.

 

I'll cast a vote for non-sectioned.

On a similar note, I've seen slanted B pillars on most '53-'54 chops, and while it looks cool enough, I'm more interested in have straight pillars, so my windows will still function. (yeah, I'm a dork)
I'm still trying to scheme up a slick looking chop without moving the B pillars.

 

there was a recent post about 54 Chevy customs. do a search for it and you will find pages of nice 53 and 54 custom Chevys.

lets see some pics of what it looks like right now...

 

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I'll cast a vote for non-sectioned.

On a similar note, I've seen slanted B pillars on most '53-'54 chops, and while it looks cool enough, I'm more interested in have straight pillars, so my windows will still function. (yeah, I'm a dork)
I'm still trying to scheme up a slick looking chop without moving the B pillars.

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i assume you mean the quarter windows??? all you have to do is get a little creative and they can roll down even with slanted pillars. just mount the window chanels and regulators on an angle so they roll back into the quarter. might not go all the way down cause of the wheel well but it will be "child proof" that way ... you could make em pop out like an old V-dub. that would be cool and get some airflow in the back seat area.

 

You gotta section it so you can be just like Jesse James!!!!!!!!!! J/K.... Chop it....sectioning is just gonna be a lot of work that isn't needed to make the car look good.

 

if you are serious,

do it,

but not too wild,

take about three inches off the top and two, maybe two and a half out of the middle.

that's five inches, then strech the rear fenders out another three or four

lower the whole thing till it's about three inches off the ground..

I can see it, can you?

Paul

 

shoebox coupe windows pop open to if your disliking the beetle coment

 

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shoebox coupe windows pop open to if your disliking the beetle coment

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i know. i used the V-dub as an example just cause i'm an asshole ...

 

DO NOT section it. I cant think of one car looks good sectioned. IMO it's a waste of time/energy/money.

 

no section- 3" frt and 4" rear on the chop........straightB posts keep the quarter glass same length if you can

 

i personaly like the slanted B-posts but i have seen some straight ones that look good. lets see if i saved any pics....

 

in my opinion,i wouldnt section it...you could just chop it and drop it and THEN decide what you want to do,but in my opinion,most sectioned cars dont look right/look funny..and if you DO section it,LOWER IT.nothing looks as stupid as a sectioned car (which is supposed to make it shorter,rite?!) and leave it jacked up!makes it look like you're too lazy to finish somethin..once again, just my 2 cents
creepy

 

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DO NOT section it. I cant think of one car looks good sectioned. IMO it's a waste of time/energy/money.

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I have only seen a few cars that looked good sectioned...One for example would be the maroon shoebox built by Valley Kustom. It was a short roof coupe without a chop.

I do not think a '53-'54 Chevy would look good sectioned.

Also, I do not like chopped AND sectioned cars. One or the other, or the proportions get thrown off...

DO NOT do it just to say you did it...Keep a good look and style to the car.

 

Don't section. I agree that I've never seen a sectioned car that looks good. The reason why the '54 looks so out of proportion I think is due to the way they "sectioned" the front fenders differently than the rest of the car. The wheelwell needed to be higher.

Deke

 

about a 2" section. I like them slightly sectioned, it's subtle. A lot of work, I guess it depends on what you're going for... a radical "look at me" custom with a serious section, or a subtle "something is different" section. They look tough just chopped, but they look sleek sectioned.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. I really liked the monster garage 54 at first but Ive been looking thru alot of different pictures of alot of different early 50's chevys and I like the looks of just a chopped 54 layed out on the ground. And Mike Ive just been working and trying to get Teds 48 chevy done (hes picking it up this weekend) and out of Jakes garage so we can get to work on my car.

 

I disagree, I believe chopped and sectioned cars can look exceptional.
Here is Dave Johnson's Spokane, Wa. based 53 hardtop that was built in the early sixties. 3" chop and 31/2" section, the pontiac trim certainly gives it a distinctive look as well.

 

mick won me over with that picture.

 

I'm reading everything I can on 49-54 Chevy top chops, before I attack my '50. The problem with sectioning one of them as I see it deals with the "hips" or rear quarters. Keeping the concentric curve of the front of the bulge is the critical part.

 

Notice the car Mick posted doesn't have the "bulge" part of the 1/4 sectioned, or not sectioned as much. It's sectioned in front of it but I suspect that 1/4 panel is near stock height and the trunk area dropped in between the fenders.
Way cool!

How much was Billy G's "Copperhead" shoebox sectioned?
It's pretty right on.

 

i think yer right Doc. it looks like it was sectioned without sectioning the quarters. now THAT is a hard trick to pull off.

i stil agree that MOST sectioned cars do not look right but it is possible with a little restraint, vision and skill to pull it off. i still would'nt bother though. why open that can of worms? a chop and drop will do wonders for it.

 

I think it's be real cool sectioned 2 and chopped 3.

**Good idea** Figure out a good way to lower your seats a couple of inches if you section. People just look too weird cruising around w/ their chest above the window line.

 

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DO NOT section it. I cant think of one car looks good sectioned. IMO it's a waste of time/energy/money.

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DITTO!

 

I wouldn't think twice, I'd run a cutoff wheel through that SOB and take 3" out of the middle of it..... ITS EASY!!!!!! LUKESTER

 

In my opinion, dont go more than 3" on the section. I think a 3" or so chop and a 3" section would look good. Anymore out of the body and the car starts to look like its in the crusher to me... Unlike like a chop, sectioning should be more on the suttle end of the spectrum....

That, and when you take too much out, the front of the quater panel loses its nice round curve and starts to make a point..... Just my opinion...-J.

 

This is done pretty much the same as Dave Johnson`s car :

 

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This is done pretty much the same as Dave Johnson`s car :

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i'd sure like to see some under construction shots of that section. it looks great done but i'll bet it was a real bitch to do. there has to be som many differet cuts in so many different places in that thing. that is realy the key, just like a good chop, you have to know WHERE to put the cuts.