Art & Inspiration ----HOTDAMN'S Chopped '54 Pictorial----

Well a few weeks ago I helped light a fire under my good friend Delton (HOTDAMN!) to chop his '54. Now I am in no way shape or qualified to chop a model car let a lone a nice solid '54 Chevy Bel-Air, but I thought if we could get the lid off the car the rest would work itself out.

As many of you know the Iron Lords have a hobby/club shop where a bunch of us rent to work on our stuff. And with that comes a bunch of great individuals that actually do know what they are doing. Some of them club members and some of them just good ol' friends. So over the past bunch of weeks people have came by and gave their insight and I think Del is finally on the track of getting a really nice chop accomplished for his '54 Chevy. I do have to add that Del is incredibly talented and knew what was going on through out the cutting and it was me that was clueless so just because he keeps bad company, don't take that as he's the same as me. He knows how to build cars.

I am doing a Pictorial on this instead of a tech thread because I am really not exactly sure what goes on during a chop. It's a lot of cutting, cussing, welding and staring but other then that I just figured it was wizardry really. What I do know is that Del decided to take 2" out of the front A pillars which amounted to 2.75" vertically in the front. The back was more of a feel type measurement and we shimmed it to a height where the flow and crown all made sense to the rest of the car. The rear window is out of a 1950 Chevy coupe I believe. I know there was talk of a '50 Ford and perhaps a '54 Coupe but in the end the '50 Chevy was chosen. I also want to point out that because the car was not chopped a ton (3-4") it has taken a whole new look compared to other chopped '53-'54's on the road. I feel like it has that factory concept look to it. Ya know before all suites come and fuck it up. Almost Cadillac proportions and wouldn't you know it if you were going by the 1/3rd 2/3rd rule it matches up perfectly. It also seems that chopping the car less meant a little more work I think. The rear window did not get pushed forward as much as heavier chops which caused some issue with the package tray area needing to be moved up in the center and down on the ends almost in a pancake fashion. But that all I really know so far....like I said, I just took pictures and held things.

I'm sure Del would love to thank his fellow Iron Lords for helping as well as Red Humphries for showing the ropes and sticking with us all day. Also Daemon, Scott Bagshaw and visitors to the shop are all very much appreciated for their input.

I'm going to pile on pics and many of them might seem redundant but this is a pictorial so that's pretty much all I have to offer. Also I hope you like B&G shots because that's all I shot in and plan on keeping that up until the car is painted.

Disassembled and marked out.




Talking with Red Humpries and Jerm about the plan of attack...


No turning back...

 

AWESOME I think its cool you guys are pulling together to get this done. Keep the pics coming! Thats gonna be a smooth lookin whip

 

Looks like it's coming nicely. Great job thus far. Keep those pics coming!

 

Top is laid back on the car reaving what I'm calling the "Class out the Ass Chop". used some 2" blue tape for B pillars to get and idea....don't worry we're going to use round bar and make spider web B pillars when it's finished.




Then about a week later we were at this point.

 

Subscribed!! Looking good.Diggin the 53 grille surround. I want to follow this thread. One question. I looks like everyone is bundled up. I thought it was warm in N.C.?? Todd

 

please tell me there is bracing somewhere?!

 

When chopping some of these later models is it not necessary to have it braced internally? Because of the stouter body is there no flex when the top is taken off?

 

The infamous Terd Ferguson who seems to always be smiling.

 

There is a small about of bracing on the lower part of the car. I thought is was necessary to brace the shit out of it but a couple old time builder that came by to help said it wasn't as necessary as long as ....that's where I'm of no use because I really don;t know why there was none used. I just can tell you that it wasn't their first Rodeo and they have all built some really reputable cars so we trusted their judgment and everything seems to be lining up really well.

 

Well mostly through the day is in the 50's but it gets stupid cold during the night ya know? And that week was unseasonably cold so the extra cloths were recommended. Shit is snowed on Christmas here so it's not as warm all season as you think. I like the weather and cold nights are perfect for sleeping!

 

looking good ? the rear windo hole outof look like b its going to fit well.

 

Now all it needs is a BIG BLOCK CHEVY TO MAKE IT HAUL ASS!!

Looks awesome fella's

 

Lookin good Iron Lords keep us posted ....will be following this one congrats Hotdamn

 

Very cool stuff! This picture made me laugh it looks like you guys got the top off and he said "alright it's going to get tough from here on out so I am outta here."

 

Yes I was thinking the same thing....wait what?

 

Who is the short guy with the beard and cap standing around with his hands in his pockets?

 

I don't know, he never talks. He just showed up one day and we took him in like a puppy. Hahahah!!!! Kenny's the man!!!

 

thanks slick39!

as for the bracing if you look closely in some of the pics you can see a fender washer welded over the door gap. it is plenty-o-stout.

when we chopped Bloody Knuckles 51 we did not do bracing under the direction of brent vandorvort (who has chopped a lot of cars in his day) and it worked just dandy.

the rear window is out of a 52 styleline. it fits nice but is a lot of work as you have to reshape your belt line by moving it in an 1 3/4 or so...

jeremy james and I worked on it for a good while last night and will again this evening, and made some good progress.
im sure jeffrey james will snap some more pics tonight.

the rear window is almost ready to be tacked in...

thanks for all the compliments guys!

 

Im liking this thread...keep the post coming...cant wait to see it all finished.

 

im loving the guy with the gun in his belt!!

 

everything is looking really good and proportional, I just didn't want the no bracing thing to come back and bite you in the ass

 

Which one?

 

GOOD EYE HELLVIS!

First post, 13th pic down. Careful with that thing now!

OH and to keep it on topic, the car looks killer! Just got done chopping mine...or done-ish, and that's a TON of work. Good luck!

 

thats funny, I looked through those pics earlier and never even noticed!!!

as terd always says, "ya never know..."

gotta be prepared!

and as for careful, its a glock, safety is job 1!

 

That's one awesome looking chop, great work!

 

Welcome to my hometown, Concord, NC..

 

we carry them here too...but no while working on cars haha looking good!

 

Hell I had mine warming my side through my chop as well, standard equipment. Almost put it to use when I got into those pain in the ass b-pillars. Again good luck!

 

Looks like a good chop to me......

 

Looks great....Loved that thing. Even when I was shittin up the floors.

I did find another one though...haha