Projects Chop or not chop steel 32 5 window?

If you do chop it I would be interested in the pieces.
Thanks

 

I would stick with the stock height since I am very tall (at least 5' 7"). If I was set on chopping it I would at least put out a few feelers to find someone with a chopped body that might want to trade.

Charlie Stephens

 

100% correct !

 

I like them both ways So best thing to do is have 2 of them.....

 

Yes thanks for the input! I spent a bit of time this weekend playing with blue die and a metal scribe, also tried a photoshops, but that still doesn't give a good perspective. So anyway a 32 5 window has to be by far one of the easiest bodies to chop, it's pretty much a straight, vertical drop. The section that has to be added to the roof, above about the middle of the doors, and the post and front post of the door are the biggest issues, but I have found this article which got me starting on the lines of chopping it.

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/additional-how-to/1401-1932-ford-coupe-chopped/

So after imagining anyone taking a saw or cuttoff wheel to my new, somewhat freshly born baby, I can't do it at this point, I will just work around it with painting it black and the right ride height and wheel stance. After finding these pics I am pretty sold on keeping it stock height. Also the Cowtown Speed Shop is also a great example, a bit more level stance and not such a drastic difference in wheel diameter. The raked look and 165/15 size tires totally changes the look. The bright blue one is pretty close to the tires size and stance, no hood or hood sides to start, no sense hiding a flathead which I at least have some experience with and 348's, but Hemi's and Nailheads, I am still learning about them other than Hemi needs to be respelled to $$$$hemi!!

I figure my next project will be a 34 like the one in the pic, but find the best fiberglass body, Poli Form seems to be the best I have seen, but it's almost double some other good ones, but for a 34 3 window, it has to be chopped a few inches, the sleeker look makes it look so great with a chop. Oh well, plenty of time to worry about that, I will have my hands full with this build. It's not like restoring a car, everything is already made and fits right. I think I have a good picture collection of what to use to get the right ride height, fuse box and wiring placement, steering column, shift lever location etc.

More later...

 

One of the reasons the '32 is so popular is that it looks great with any amount of chop or no chop at all. Personal preference varies as you can see by the comments here. What ever decision you make.....it will still look good. Have fun !

 

I hear you, I just wish I would have done a 32 or 34 earlier, but, decent project bodies are hard to come by and and prices on the new steel body have been too crazy, they seem to have dropped to reality. I like saving stuff from the scrap pile and being recycled, but I am learning the time and effort it takes to cut out all the rust and make repair panels, it's just easier to work more and buy replacement panels, even though it's not the cool method, it just seems like time is getting more limited the older I get and I am to the point that I just want to get the project done as quick as possible so I can move on to the next project. I don't think I will ever be able to let anyone do my paint, but body work seems to be the most time consuming as well as paint.

 

Chiming in. I'm just starting a 5 window project and will be replicating a yellow 5 window I had in the 70's that was chopped 4 inches, was on the cover of Street Rodder and a center in Hot Rod in 79. I'm going to be a little conservative this time and only going with a 3.5 wedge chop. I like them both ways just a little better chopped.

 

Chopp it! It's a hot rod, not a minivan. Go to a show and see what chops you like the look of, and find one to try out.. Once you chop it will always be chopped, but why not build it the way you want it?

 

Put it together unchopped for now. Practice welding on VW's, and when you are good you can chop the '32 yourself if you want.

 

I am with you on that one, doing the frame will keep me busy for awhile. I have a 62 Chev truck that would be good practice with those weird angles and window channels, I just wish I had more time. Actually now that I have found some good examples, the unchopped look is growing on me!

 

Just food for thought from the no chop prospective. HRP

 

I am diggin this! Is this about 4"??

 

When they can look like this, why bother with a chop?

 

Not to go off on a tangent but...
When you do start on a '34 and if you decide to get a glass body, I wouldn't use Poliform. Dick is a total crook...paid him in advance for a pedal car body for my little girl before she was born. Listened to excuse after excuse...She'll be 6 this October and I still haven't seen a body nor refund. Be careful.

 

I have a 5w as well. I have not started yet but I have decided to not chop it. My opinion is that if you do't run fenders a subtle chop about 2" looks good. Run fenders and don't chop, let the rake give the vibe. And if you do run fenders don't go crazy with the rake either.

 

This is an extreme chop
The best cut on a 5 window is a slight wedge. 3 in the rear and 3 3/4 in the front or something along those lines really helps the door window even out. I will find some photos to post

 

That car needs more chop. The roof can be flush and a hole cut in it with a biplane windscreen. It looks stupid as hell to me.

 

4" with post leaned

3" upac body

 

World has enough chopped 32's so no chop, no channel. A nice rake and full fenders would be sweet.

 

My vote would be a 2 1/2" chop. I think that's the best chop for a full fendered 5 window.
Just right and subtle enough to make them guess, chopped or not?

 

I posted the same question yrs ago when I started this 5w. First is how I found it. Everything was kinda mocked up by the seller, nothing was welded , bolted, mounted together...Rocket wasn't bolted in. Did a business card chop, that was easy, doing the doors , window frame, garnish trim, glass was a lot of work and time.
If it was a 3w or a full fendered car I would have stayed with stock . I'm happy with how it looks chopped.

 

I've been a hot rod guy for over 50 years and was always in favor of chopped tops. I even chopped my 41 Willys coupe and if I must say so its the best looking chopped Willys coupe I ever saw.
That being said, and being a gray beard now, I would suggest leaving the 32 5w at stock height. I'm putting pieces together to build a 32 5w and plan to keep it at stock height. As was already mentioned, the 32 5w looks good in almost any form, it all comes down to what you want your car to look like. Just be sure its what you want before cutting it up.

 

WHY DOES IT TAKE ALL OF OUR LIVES TO GET WHAT WE NEEDED WHEN WE WERE 17?????

 

This car's for sale now.