Not sure why this thread has my shorts bunched up enough to post a reply, but I can't help throwin' in my 2¢: Buncha the earlier replies were raggin' on you, Less, for your plans for your ride. Although it comes out as criticism, I think they were trying to be constructive: trying to keep you from becoming a resident of Posertown. Many people who have been into old cars (or "classics", whatever) for a while have a generally similar view of what's cool, and what's not. Some of the plans you mentioned combining different aspects of what you consider cool, and according to this generalized sense of cool, most would these are all cool things in the right places... just not all on the same car. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you are trying to BE cool, and be accepted by most of the people into traditional customs or rods, then your plans have a huge chance to make you into someone seen as a poser. It sounds more like you are wanting this as a LEARNING EXPERIENCE, which is as cool of a motive as I can imagine. Plus, a 54 Chevy 4dr is about the best "classroom" you could step into. You don't have to worry about resale value or any of that crap... just do it for yourself and learn... and don't be afraid to share what you learn along the way! Just cause some folks around here have been into cars 3x longer than you've been alive (not me, I'm only 33.) doesn't mean there's nothing left to learn.... and I guarantee there will be people here that can learn from your experiences that you'll have with this car. That said, I still think the glass front end will be a waste of money... but that's just me... and apparently several others! (Mainly cause you are either A) changing for the sake of change with no significant improvement to looks or mechanics, or B) you can get the same effect-- tilting-- with parts you already have.)
i have school at 4 and before that ill be running around trying to get my salvaged title. i catch you one day!
Good purchase, congrats! As has been said, the MAIN thing that makes a gasser a gasser, is the altitude of the nose. Lowered = not a gasser. If you want to put a tilt front end on your custom, I think that'd be bitchin. Go for it. If you build it like sky's then you can't go wrong. Here's another one for inspiration... And here is a buddy's 4 door olds for more ideas...
like i said it was just an idea. and idea's can change. the two cars posted in this thread look exactly like im imagining my car when she is done. I grew up with a father who drove a Roadrunner and my mom had a suped up 66 nova. So im not totaly blind to the scene, we used to go to car shows all the time and I still go myself. Yeah i need to learn terms but I dont think that will change what i think looks good or doesnt. the car im talking about is in both the pics on this thread.
Yeah its basically going to be like sky's. only thing thats debatable is the tilt font end. glass or use the heavy ass hood and fenders to do it. the weight is the only reasion i would go with glass for that look
I think a 'glass tilt front end could work. It would be cool..... BUT, I think I also agree with a bunch of others that it would be or could be overkill on that car. ....meaning this, lightweight glass front ends are really seen more on race cars. They save weight, and weight saving is usually associated with drag racing. What you are building is a custom. Customs are generally low and slow. They don't have to be hopped up, but some are. Most use a stone stock engine with some chrome doo dads thrown in for good measure. Some however are built to be fast....there is a big blending/sharing/gray area between the two worlds of "hot rod" and "custom". ....which leads me to my next statement. That 'glass tilt front end could work on your car. If thats what you want, then do it. If you want to make your car be fast, then do that too. There really are no "rules".... The best you can acheive is making your car make sense. Some people do this by strictly following a precedence (ie. restorers, or militant "traditional" hot rodders)....some make their cars make sense by following an inner voice. .....and then some just don't make their cars make any sense at all. You can see those on Ebay under the title of ABORTION.
YIKES!!!! Steel!!,...you seem to have good steel where the hood is concerned, geez man don't be nuts, get a friend to weld stuff from you and make one, people always go for steel first, then if its not availible they go for glass,...on a hot day the glass will smell like,...plastic or bondo in the hot sun! Not cool! Nice score though,...who cares about it being 4 doors as long as you're happy, screw everyone else,...... "If it ain't steel, it ain't real!" -Fabricator kevin Take care bud! Jason
Another thing to consider about a glass front end, or any glass part. In my experience they tend to expand and contract alot, changing the fit depending on how hot out it is. Maybe it's just cause I live in AZ...I'm not sure. They usually don't have as good of a fit as steel parts to begin with either. If the aim is to have a really clean looking car, I'd go with steel. You could always weld the panels together and fill the seams for that smooth look. You could pancake the hood and have it open regular, then have the whole front end be able to swing forward also. Just a thought...
you probably already thought of this but because it hasn't been said yet, from a safety standpoint, the glass nose will be like having nothing there at all in a wreck whereas the steel front helps make your car as strong as a tank
hahaha I didn't say you have to be safe, I just said you probably already thought of... hell my T would eject me if it thought I was heading for a wreck
Actually, you'd have to be 50 to be double classic! jeesh, these old guys forget how to do math.... I don't think Satan wears a clean coat but who knows, he might... Skyrodder, I love the 54 man. Very cool Less, I believe you have described a custom car but with a fiberglass front end. This post has me cracking up because it shows how much spell check would help some of us.
I allways been the kid who was better with hands on things. I never cared much for school, just could not wait to get done. The funny thing is I cant spell, but when I talk I use alot of big words, weird?
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