Customs Chopping Another Four Door

I lowered and pushed back the front windshield some

 

I think the original picture is making things off a little since it the picture is at an angle. I rotated it so the tires are in a level line and the roof looks better now.

I agree with the others that if it were my car I would extend the 1/4 window to meet the end of the door. Another thought would be to go a little further, leave the roof and shorten the door. My thought would be weld up the back seam all the way down (even over the fender) make a new vertical cut at the end of the 1/4 window down to the budge of the fender, then cut the door around the fender. I think that would look good...

 

I took the doorhandles off, stopped the beltline trim at the back of the window, and kinda primered the whole thing without trying to make any changes to the body itself. I think the seam around the back of the backdoor is going too stand out, simply because it squares off on the body in an awkward position...just my two cents

Maybe round the trailing edge something similar to this, it might blend better...

 

It helps to look at this on a flat surface and with out the busy background. So you can see how everything flows. Pretty sure that back window is going to have to stretch out. Hope this helps.

 

if you're not going to change the back door window openings..I think what electrodude did above in photoshop to round the edges looks like a solution to clean things up a little..also dropping the front end like the above photoshop pics would make a huge difference. I also think you can get away without pancakin the hood if the car sits right

Lunchboxlbc's version also above is spot on though

 

Lunchboxlbc, did it right,, what he changed in photo shop just makes the car look "right"....

the rear door / window / rear window / beltline is just "not right" for my taste....

easy for me to say, I've never chopped a top.....

Looks good, could look "right" with some more changes.

 

I like chopped 4 doors if they're done right because it really makes the car look REALLY long!!
But your lines are wrong. (boy I feel like a jerk) To make it look right your going to have to make it a 2 door or extend that rear door window out to the end of the door.
I've seen one done similar to this and in the end it just doesn't seem to look right.

 

yeah...not feeling the long rear window at all. still looks like a hood welded to the top. the overhang line is just 1 inch or less above the belt trim (which fits fine) I'm shaving the door handles. when you extend the rear door frames with an oval rear window you lose a great look from the rear 1/4 stance...maybe you gain a little from profile to some people.. but a car has to look good from all angles. I'm glad everyone has taken the time to comment though. its a good feeling for a newbie. I hope to impress and distress as much as I can. ha ha.

 

You said it know make it happen. I will be very interested to see just how you make out with this one. Good luck!! nad remember to have fun......lol....don't let it stress you out it is only metal and can always be welded back up.

 

no stress here, life is good! I'm not trying to be a **** or anything... just trying to explain my ideas. it would have been too much metal work for the short two weeks I have to finish this old girl.I like the short window.... looks kinda two door-ish in person.

 

Like he said.The proportions just don't look right the way it is now.

 

i left the window opening the same but i think hard-topped with the door shortened is the best look

 

lookin' good man!

 

It may be an optical illusion, but the b pillar looks like it's slanted slightly to the rear to me.. It's messing me up. The back window is too laid down to my eyes, but like someone said, pancake the deck lid and it might work in a "psuedo fastback" kinda way..

The short back window, along with the lack of headroom in the back seat makes me wonder why your keeping the rear doors functional at all? 2 door it and the car will make so much more sense.

 

Ya... I like that, W/ a suicide back half door.

 

Run with it!
Awesome job in a short time.

The owner can always suicide the rear doors later if'n he doesn't like the look of 'em when they're opened.

 

thanks, I'm glad someone noticed my time crunch...haha

 

I don't understand why you would take on a project like this if you don't have the time to do it right.

 

$$$?

 

way over chopped and doesn't look good at all. that should get you on the cover of old skool rodz.

 

i like it!!

 

Money.... just because something isn't your style dosent mean its not right my man. the owner loves it. he had 1500 bucks and two weekends off. one to drop off and one to pick up. I think outside of the box. I reach out to help a good friend of mine. He told me not to turn heads, but to break necks. I'm working on making my shop something big. I think I'm off to a pretty good start. I'm having fun working for myself.... my metal work is solid and I only used 3 pieces of metal...pretty right as I see it. thanks.

 

although I dont dig this one as much as your last one you posted it IS nice to see someone chopping a 4 door. I have a 49 plymouth and when I move back east in a year or so I may be driving it down to see you!!! Keep it up and post some pics when it is finished!

josh

 

here is how i think it should look somewhat i really coulndt get the window exactly how i wanted it but close




upside down shoebox back windows dont work, they were designed the way they were because all roofs taper smaller so the window goes from big to small, and when u have it upside down the skinnyest part of the window is on a wide part of body, and that creates a very odd looking c pillar, tooo much gap at the bottom from quarter window to rear windshield

 

I'll buy the two front end guards if you don't use them

 

You're having fun, the owner's happy, and the price is right. I'm picking up a 4 door 54 crestline to chop and this thread has helped. tnrotter

 

here's a proper 4 door chop swiped from another post.

 

Probably really won't know what it looks like until it is all the same color, but it looks great now.

 

yup

 

I think this version works the best , it retains the short 1/4 window that you want , and makes it look like the door was ment to be that way. dont ' mess with the top any more , just blend the back door opening in.

btw, since no one mentioned it, that is a 49-or 50 chev... not a 53.