Projects 1953 packard chop progress

Okie Dokie.

 

I like it,don't stop now.Make sure your winshield opening is square!

 

My $.02...

1 - It's chopped too much. The proportions are thrown off. Does it look mean? Sure. Does it look good? Not so much. You knocked about 2" too much all the way around.

2 - Your quarter windows are too small. You've effectively turned a 2 door sedan into a business coupe. It looks weird.

3 - Your sail panels/C pillars are going to be enormous, and your back window isn't nearly wide enough. It looks silly, and like your back window was an after-thought. Not to mention you'll have blind spots the size of Texas.

4 - The fact that you're not reusing the trim around the window bothers me. Fit and finish and attention to detail are as much a point of pride as the major metal work. Finish your stainless work

There's more to a chop than putting the roof back on

 

I love the chop, radical chops ARE NOT for everyone, dont assume that im not going to reuse the trim around the windows, i am. i was simply replying to an earlier post about selling side trim

BLIND SPOTS? ARE YOU A WOMAN? 360 degree vision is for PUSSIES!

 

here are the quarter windows stretched, i have to do this!
thanks for the heads up 57 joe

but your still a woman!

 

That looks 10 times better. The windows look proportional to each other, and the C pillar becomes a more normal size. It's going to be a lot of work, but it will be worth it.

Glad even us women can be of assistance

 

I played with the image a little bit, I think that when the chop is done, a 6 inch or so section is in order.....
I like the long 1/4 window much better, and the angled door post looks good .

 

The chop for that car is too much-more isn't always better. A few "too chopped" 49-51 Mers come to mind, but there ain't no going back now.

Now that you're commited, to make this chop "really work" as others said, requires extending the quarter windows back to sedan status and sectioning the car. Sectioning will be a bitch, but it's the cost of making that severe chop really fly.

 

dude its not a good thing around here when the fonz shows up in a pic ..........lol lookin good !!

QUOTE=BloodSweatSteel;3830024]a little update



and most of the trim will be up for sale at some point and the rear window, anybody know who needs it?[/QUOTE]

 

Any update on this chop BloodSweatSteel? I'l love to see some pics!

 

holy jebus! thats friggin beautiful! i've been toyin with the idea of choppin my packard for some time, and i think you might have made my balls drop enough to do it. id love to see more pics, too. killer work, man.

 

Hey just spreading the word a new sucker took over the Packard j o b.
See Pics, the lines have been cleaned up - enough said.
Now I need a volunteer to take on the glass work, then interior, mechanical ect...
My biggest question right now is to stay old school on the mechanicals or completely update. The inline 8 runs good, I am tempted to update the fuel and ignition systems, mod in a T-5 or Toploader and go with a late model F-150 9 3/4 rear with discs. Speaking of disc brakes I can find no conversions for the front end of this car, any leads???? Packrat

 

Well, it looks like someone took over who knew what in the f#$% they were doing! The dimensions on the back window look much better and the roof line has improved substantially.

Keep posting progess...

 

Are those from a hudson donor car? Looks real good that way.

 

How about a full profile pic so we can see the whole car. Looks pretty good so far.

 

Those 1/4 windows look fantastic. No room for improvement there.

 

The longer 1/4 windows totally saved this fucked up chop. Completely fixed the whole proportion of the car...now the 6 inch chop looks about right. Nice work, I thought this one was a gonner...

-Abone.

 

I appreciate the input guys, I knew when I bought it and talked it over with Patrick & PJ (of 37 Rods & Customs, Smyer Texas) what needed to be done, the rear roof line was raised giving head room and lengthing the rear quarter windows (from scratch pieces) to better match the length and proportion of the car and tie in to the door window size. Credit goes to them for saving the roof line. I will get some side shots soon. Alot of metal work on this car, with the doors, front floor boards and quarter panels all needing attention. This is all on a tight budget so progress is slow. I did pick up a sweet parts car (4 door) that i do not think I am going to be able to piece out as I have put a little money and a lot of time in her to make driveable, check out the pics.
Hey Notice the crap - haze on the rear windows - I am thinking water deposits but i can not get clean, I have tried CLR Lime away, wax and buffer and glass polish, any ideas?

 

Looks like you have passengers that puke a lot. Other than that, it looks sick!