I did a couple seaches but haven't turned up anything on fleetine sectioning. Anyone know of someone that has done it? I have a 50 fleetline that I recently chopped 3 1/2." I'm think of doing a 2" section and adding a caddy 500 to power it. I know most of you guys are going to flame me which is fine. I value all your opinions because there are some top notch people on here and I have learned so much from here. I'm one of those guys that loves to learn hands on. I did my chop even though most of my buddies told me not to because of the difficulty. Well it sure doesn't live up to the work of B*** but I think it turned out ok for my first chop ever
that realy is good for your first car to ever chop. You really picked a tough one to start with. I think you should have the same mindset as when you did the chop..Just do it. If you screw it up you will fix it. I say just get out your tape and saw. I would love to see one sectioned too so please post pics.
This is one of the slickest Customs I have ever seen and all the work was done by the owner, Ken Thompson. That is him standing with the car. It is powered by a V-12 Jag. I took this picture almost 20 years ago. If you were watching the B-J auction a few weeks ago and saw the sectioned Falcon with the INDY Ford DOHC engine, he built it too. He is here in North Carolina and one of the best kept secrets in America. PM me if you would like contact info for him. He is not taking in any work for awhile but can give you some opinions.
Sick work homie!! Looks really good!!!! Any pics of the chop in progress? When u section it post a lot of pics!!! Always fun to see
car looks good , section would be awesome... but i aint feeling the verticle mercury sable tail lights.
Since you chopped it and are happy with it.You are ready for a section man. I sectioned my 48 Fleetline 3 inches , chopped it 4 and added a Airflow front end. The section was no big deal. Cut down pictures to get a feel of what it will look like and how everything changes when cut down. I like you chopped mine first then decided to section it. Go for it,it's worth the effort.It totally changes the design of the carYou can check mine out on my web sight. HAVE TOP WILL CHOP
Thanks man!! Here is my build thread. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=513142 Thanks guys. The chop was a lot of work but I really enjoyed the challenge
I agree with you. It was more of a last minute/budget thing to get it ready for the world of wheels (so last minute that i sprayed a quick clear over it as we were pulling it on the trailer to take it down there. I'm still trying to find some cool vintage ones....But all the ones that I like seem to cost a fortune. I'm hoping to luck up and find a deal. I want ones that will kind of extend the "fins" a little.
The chop looks great I've always liked the look of the Fleetline roof, had plans to put one on a '54, but it just never happened. To me the hard part of sectioning a '49-54 Chevy is keeping the front of the quarterpanel wheel bulge round, not pointed after the section is removed. That and the front wheel opening. Hope you post lots of photos of the project.
To get some idea how the best customizers did it back in the day, look for articles on the A brothers sectioning the Polynesian. Same body style, but an Olds. Very difficult and tedious to do a section. Lottsa welding!
The chop looks good, and I'm sure you could pull off a section job too, but will there be room for a 501 Caddy in there once it's done? A friend of mine has one in a '55 Buick Roadmaster, and even that is kind of a tight fit, they had to notch the engine cradle out a couple inches for clearance. You'll have to mount the engine high up to take advantage of the space inside the dome of the Chevy hood, but you'll need to rework your floors for trans clearance, the top of the trans tunnel might only be a couple inches from the bottom of the dash. If you can pull it off, I'd say go for it, but I'd mock that engine/trans up first to see if you'll have room.
Should be the same as mine pretty much this will give you and idea of how much work is involved. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=313465
Thanks! Actually already read your thread a million times and thats where I got the inspiration. Its already saved in my favorites
I think that Rikster has the Polynesian article on his website. It is the bible on that body style sectioning. it would be in the Valley Custom folder, Valley Custom were true craftsmen and they did a lot of sectioning.
just finished up cutting everything and lowered everything down. I'm pretty stoked at how everything lined back up.....it's almost like I know what I'm doing....hahahaha....beginners luck.......4 inch section and 3.5 inch chop
looks killer! yea gotta do something with those tail lights though bro what about early 50's cad? pm me if you wanna set, i'll get ya hooked up. as for valley customs and the polynesian being sectioned, the car is beautiful but I cant get my head around why they cut the door skin in half as well as the front fenders. just cut the bottom of the door skin off after the door frame has been sectioned, with the front fenders raise the wheel wells and trim the bottoms...
my plan is to do exactly what you said on the doors. so much easier than what they did...those tail lights were a temporary thing.
Looking great. not dure if they are your style, but as I mentioned at WOW I have a pair of these that I was gonna run on a '50 Chevy I was building. '49 dodge. They fit the contour of a '50 chevy great.
just scored some 56 caddy front and rear bumpers from Pullapart in Birmingham. Also got some 61 chrysler boomerang tail lights from a fellow hamber (hotdamn)....this car is going to be sweet!!! (also got the tail lights off the caddy just in case)
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