Hello Citizens I'm looking for some 53/54 chopped chevrolet photos, but before you throw rocks at me and tell me to do a search: I chopped my 53 chevrolet sedan 4 inches today its currently sitting in the garage with the lid resting on it. The car used to be a four door, but its now a two door. It's all very exciting and there'll be photos also when my friend with the camera has a chance to upload em. Now, for my dilemma. I took 4 inches out of the A pillar and all around and it looks pretty neat, but there's something in the back of my head telling me I should make it 4.5 inches. I've hunted around and seen a lot of very nice chops of this era chevy, but they rarely list how much has actually been taken out. I've seen a bunch listed as a 4 inch chop, but none as a 4.5 inch. I know they're out there. Could anyone with a 4.5 inch chop or 5 inch chop please post me a photo or two? I'd really help with my decision.
IMHO it's not about the exact dimension, but what you do with it. Walking past it, noone will ever say 4 or 4.5". It all boils down to how nicely the rear window flows with the rest of the roof. IIRC mine calculated out to be 4.5" out of the a pillers, which probably was a little to much.
I see what you're saying, that it's not how much you take out, but whether you make it look right. At the moment the chop kinda looks like it could be factory, it doesn't look too severe, but I want to sort of be on the edge of subtle and noticeably chopped. I'd still like to see what people have done with a 4.5 or 5 inch chop. I have a feeling I will be going that extra half inch. Thommy, I like the chop on your car.
I'd say it's just about right then, but if you want a bit more radical, go for it. Thanks Mate! (LOL) It's been a hard road traveled getting mine to where it is now, but I'm on the home stretch now!
It is your car. We did mine around 4 in the front and whatever looked good to get a flow with the rear window in the rear
Here is my ex four door I took 4 from the front and 5 from the back, hope this helps Sent from my iPhone 5 using TJJ
We chopped poorboy's Chevy at the 2003 HAMB Chop. I am not sure how many inches it dropped front and rear but "killer" should know since he was the technical lead on this project. I know that we used an Olds rear window which fit real nice. Here's a pic of poorboy and his car...
Photoshop is a wonderfull tool for checking on overlap and general appearance of a potential chop on a turret top car. The compound curves will need to be recreated to give the right look, not so much as HOW much as everyone has told you. You DID buy the "How to chop a top" book before you started......It helped on my first chop as it gives all the in and outs of chopping a turret top (the hardest). It is critical where you cut the C (rear pillar) on these cars.......
Here is mine 3 3/4 in the front and what ever looked good in the back rear window is from a 50 fleetline.http://[URL="http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/<a href="][/URL]" target="_blank">http://[URL="http://s64.photobucket.com/albums/h187/460willy/53%20chevy%20chop/?action=view¤t=tires53andtruck002.jpg"][/URL]" target="_blank">" target="_blank">http://[URL="http://s64.photobucket.com/albums/h187/460willy/53%20chevy%20chop/?action=view¤t=tires53andtruck002.jpg"][/URL]" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
I guess I don't want to hack in to it, put it all back together and go "oh.. cut too much. Damn. But yes I just have to go with my intuition. Here are a few photos:
Nice. i was told my 53 had 4 and 4 taken out of it when it was chopped and two doored its got a real nice shape just needs cleaning up.
Four inches is fine. You just need to make sure the rear portion flows down properly. You might need to take an inch more out of the rear to get it down a bit lower for the flow into the trunk lid. Also, I would look into getting a 50 or so rear window and use that rather than the wrap around. Those are difficult to make look right after the chop.
Thanks kids. I love that Cole Foster hard top, he took 4 inches out of that, but the hard tops have a lower roof to start with don't they? This car is a 150 so it already has smaller rear gl***, I'm going to move the belt line at the back forward as opposed to stretching the roof back to fit, then just move the original 150 gl*** up into the roof a few inches. I just like that kind of look.
Thanks everyone. This is my first chop and I guess I'm over thinking it. I just want to get it right, you know? But yes I just have to trust my own judgment.
Heres a couple older shots of mine, I don't seem to have many up to date ones in my phone..(if it works..) it's about 3.5 at the front and about an inch or so more out back. Kinda hard to tell in the shots, but I took out some of the "crown" starting just before the B pillar.. A little in front, little more in the back. '49 coupe window which has gl*** now finally. Also, get a cart or something for that bottle!! That makes me nervous.
beautiful chop jkustom, id never seen pics of your car til now! i plan of removing the crown out of mine also
Whelp, I found a stocker in the junk yard and I had a tape measure..... Mine is chopped 5 inches vertically as measured at the b pillar I say a bit to much cause of the rear window. It's to much chop for the stock rear window, and allow the removal of the crown in the roof, without having the filler piece at the bottom of the rear gl*** above the belt line Which ruins a chop for me How far are you going now? Sent from my iPod touch using TJJ
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