I'm getting ready to start the chop process and have been looking at this thing for months trying to figure the best way to approach it. I have chopped tops on earlier body styles that were much simpler than this one. From the "B" pillar forward I have no surprising issues but behind that is a bit challenging. I would really like to hear from anyone who has tackled a similar body style especially where you made or suggest I make the cuts.
A few years ago I would have said the exact same thing. The short answer is my car, my money, my personal preference ;-) After helping building three of these I want something different. I do agree they have great lines and they are beautiful cars. You obviously have a good eye for beauty so we share something in common. The aggressive look I'm trying to achieve can't be accomplished without some radical changes. Besides someone before me started hacking on it but gave up. I promise it will be right, impressive and done by mid June (I hope).
While I have a '37, and would normally agree with this statement, do a search on this board. Someone's already done one, and it came out killer! Good luck.
Please don't F up the lines of a beautiful Fat Fender Coupe..... The proportions get all jacked, when they are chopped, and believe me, chops are awesome when done right on the correct car. Just my $0.02. P.S. I have a chopped 37 Chevy 2 Door sedan. But I would never chop a coupe.
You know, I thought for sure I searched the forum previously with no luck but I think I found it at: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=280008&highlight=chopped+37+ford+coupe Thanks for the heads up. That was a little different approach to what I had in mind but that really gives me some ideas. Thank you HotRodChassis for posting a great article!
I'm not gonna offer any opinions on do or don't. Like you said, it's your car and money and time. Subscribed.
This is picture shows about how radical I want to go. It will be powered by a blown, 331 hemi topped with an EFI converted Enderle bug catcher. I changed from the 6v71 to a standard 671 blower. The motor is at the machine shop but unfortunately the K1 rods we ordered will not be in until late January or early February. While I'm at it I need to thank Vergil and Gary (73RR) a couple of great members of this forum for their helpful advise, attitude and time. The world is truly blessed to have you on it!
Good to see you're going to use a Hemi, great choice. With regards to the chop, I'm all for it, even though I would not chop the a-pillar as much as in the pic. Try to maintain a parallel line in the door windows. Just my 2c. Good luck, I'll be watching this one for sure!
I agree! I believe that is a 37 Plymouth. The body shape is similar and I'm only planning a 4" drop which looks like I still have a lot more of that line. I definitely don't like the radius transition at the bottom corner of the rear side windows either. I was originally going with a flathead but after buying three junk blocks I was done with them. The hemis were readily available in the mid 50's and a lot of guys used them in everything.
Mine's actually a 41. I agree with you on the rear side window as well. Looks like you know what you want! Maybe get some guys here on the Hamb to make a photoshop for you. Give Rikster a try, he's great! Done some work for me as well. This will make it easier to visualize your project.
Here are a couple of pics to show how things are going. Thanks to my real job I didn't get this done by mid June but I have made some progress. I took 5" out of it and personally I think I got the aggressive look I was looking for and the lines still look good. I have a few items I still need to finish. Tonight I hope to get the rest of the welds ground and the dolly work done on the body seams.This weekend I should be able to finish the doors and start the lead work. Before: Current:
thats actually coming out pretty tough. That one you had as an example looks pretty rought though. I hope yours comes out better! Heres the best one IMO , a 38 built by sam barris.
Could I suggest bringing the rear quarter window further back, and to more of a point. It looks a little small as it is. Sam Barris really aced it.
I was thinking that as well. It looks a little "thick" in the lower rear corner. From what I can see though, the chop looks GREAT! Really aggressive, I think you reached your goal.
Yes I agree. I certainty didn't want a hacked up look but I did like the radical appearance. I haven't seen many of these body styles chopped and stripped down to the cab. I appreciate the comments guys but at this point it is what it is. I'm definitely not cutting it apart. I did several versions using cut up photo copies to determine how radical I could go and what effect it would have on the shape and lines. I preferred the smaller window over the elongated top which would give the car a longer appearance which is something I definitely don't want because the car will be fenderless. The rear side windows have clean seamless transitions from radius to radius. At this angle I think it does make that lower corner look a little thick but it has not been changed from its original relationship. Once I get the doors done and everything cleaned up I'll take a better profile picture and post it.
Just my opinion...but I hate the way the rear side windows look on one of these chops...any way to open it up and still be symetrical ?...and keep the lines...I've never seen one done but maybe someone has...
Woo, that is a lot of work! We both took a very similar approach to the chop and his rear windows reduced in size as well. But he did not remove nearly as much as I did. I personally think the original rear sides were too big. To be honest I would have like to had mine 1-1/2" taller and about 2" longer but that would have been a lot of extra metal work. I'm willing to bet that for every one person who doesn't like it there will a 100 that do. Besides I don't think many people will be paying that much attention to the body.
I didn't know you were planning on it being fenderless. I agree that most won't pay attention to those little details (they'll be distracted by the HEMI!) and IMO the chop looks great, besides the side window. As long as you're happy that's all that matters, and I do applaud your balls to cut one up, and the metal finishing so far. You do have talent, and it shows. If it was mine though the side windows would bug the shit out of me and I'd have to elongate the lower rear corner.
I should have taken some close up pictures of this before I started on it. My wife bought it for me 26 years ago for a webbing gift. At the time I had helped a friend build three 37's. I think she thought it was a car that I really wanted but in reality I would have never bought one for myself. My friend helped her find this one which she got for a really good price (for good reason). It had no drive line or interior. It looks like this car was pieced together and not very well either. The floor, firewall right up to the center of the "A" pillars, the pass side rear wheel well and several patch panels on the pass side have all be cut and welded at some point. If you look close at the picture you can see what I'm taking about. Nothing lined up and the body was seriously tweaked. I just started working on it this year which shows how motivated I was. I probably would have been a little more reluctant to cut it up if it would have been in better shape. I figured radical hot rod was the way to go and that's the road I'm on. I hope it's a fun one! lol
Never yet have I seen a chopped 37 5 window that didn't look like crap, or that I even came close to liking. Nothing is new now.
Yea I know where your coming from. I kind of feel that way about cars that look like bath tubs. It's a really good thing that I don't build things to make you happy .... "A".
Don't have to make anyone happy but yourself. We don't have to like what everyone else does. On some coupes a chop looks killer, but not the 36-38 5 windows. Have fun, if there was some way you could make the window openings bigger and as has been posted more symetrical then you might have it.
There are a lot of vehicles that I personally would never own and sometimes I have even said to myself why in the heck would anyone build something like that. But I do appreciate the work, money and commitment that most people put into their projects. I post things on the forum not to brag or to get stroked, but in hopes that I might learn something, someone else may be inspired or heaven forbid actually learn something from me. I really do appreciate peoples constructive criticism. I would be very surprised if a single person on any forum has ever changed there project because someone didn't like it. I look at my projects as pieces of art not necessarily defined by a single style, some flow like scenery while others are more abstract. This particular project is a cross between Cubism and Expressionism. It doesn't necessarily express what is real but is an expression of attitude and power. This is the first car I have ever built that wasn't going to have a pristine paint job and immaculate engine compartment. It's been kind of fun just focusing on the raw and basic utility aspects of it without the worry of perfection (if there is such a thing).
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