thoughts on chopping my 48 fleetline

i am seriously thinking of chopping my 48 chevy fleetline,,does anyone have any tips or ideas? would i have to cut the trunk to make it look right? how much should i cut out,was thinking of 3 to 4 inches,anyone have pictures of chopped fleeetlines like mine?

 

Lets see it done fellas! Chop tops rule on these cars and they have a factory slanted "B" pilliar to boot! For those of you who like these 41-48 Chevrolets, be sure to join the social group:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=478

 

not an easy chop, really one of the hardest to get right, and if it's your first chop I'd recommend being very careful and do a ton of research, maybe even a little help from someone that's done a few.

 

Here's a 46,but the same body---a lot of hard work.
TwoChops

 

anyone have pics of one being chopped ??

 

yeah, this has to be one of the hardest chops to get right...do a lot of homework before the first cut

 

man i would say leave it alone. just get it to sit really low! that alone gives it a killer stance! but it is your ride, so its ultimately up to you? but the guys are right, do your homework! if done wrong it will look like shit. good luck! and keep us posted!

 

Dont

 

what he said ^^^^^

 

Here is my chopped 48 Pontiac. The windshield and back glass are stock size just slanted in. The car was chopped when I got it. It was done at a shop in Boise Idaho in the late 80s or early 90s.

 

ask yourself.. why...

this one isnt chopped.. and looks great.

 

cut it up! It's just an old car right now...but can be really cool when done......correctly!

 

Not every car needs to be chopped to look good.They're great looking cars.Just lower it like Big Creep said.

 

...check out the editorial page in the latest issue of Rod & Custom, there's a photo of one chopped in bare metal.

 

It's your car but a chop would not be the way I would go. These cars look fantastic scraping the ground as evidenced by the green sedan previously posted. For my two cents I don't see what is gained as far as looks go.

48 Poncho

 

I bought my 48 Aero because it already has a chopped a custom look to it right from the factory. Just my opinion. As stated previously they just need to get closer to ground and maybe lose some trim and door handles. The lines of the 47-48 Chevy are perfect just the way they are. If you cut a few inches from the top, the cab and roof line will no longer be in proper proportion to the large fenders. In contrast to lets say a 50s Mercury which looks great with a chopped top due to the fact that the fenders are not a pronounces and the cab width is not a narrow in relation to the rest of the car like the Chevy's. Again, just my opinion and taste.

That being said, it is your car and you can do whatever you want to it and don't let anybody tell you different. If you are dead set on chopping it try this link as a start. http://www.teamverploegen.com/chop%20top.htm

Good Luck either way.

 

Don't need no friggin chop!! Just my opinion. Your car, just get it on the road and drive the wheels off it. Rock on. ~Sololobo~

 

those came with a perfect roof from the factory... leave it alone and slam it... just my .2

 

42-48 fleetlines already have a lower roof then the other 42-48 chevy body styles.would not chop it.

 

The cars look great how they came from the factory, just needs a good stance and some chrome removal to make a nice customs.... But if you want to have a REALLY nice custom, yes then you need a chop.

Its a hard chop to get right, but once you succeed it will look so good
Go mild on the chop, not your regular 3 inches or more. I would say it needs a two inch chop, and a lot of cuts to make it look perfect...

Not a chevy, but the body is the same, this one showed up at this years Santa Maria show...

To me this is just perfect




This one shown before here is also perfect, has a heavier chop... but you can get away with it since its converted to a Hard-Top





Same car

 

thanks guys !! all of your ideas helped,,lame excuse,that article helped quite a bit also,thanks it looks like a lot of work,but it would look more like a custom with a chop,,,,,,,,again thanks everyone

 

Just for what its worth. I had posted this about the chop on my 48 Buick sedanette.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=163203

 

I like em unchopped, but like Rikster said if done right it will look good.

This one is Miguel's from the Strays. Pretty sure he chopped it himself. He's a Hamber too might want to ask him... I think his name on here is Miguel Zarate (sp?)

-Juan

 

Here is a pic of my 48 chevy with a 3 inch chop.
If you do the chop right, you shouldn't have to mess with the trunk.
If you want more info on the chop or more pics, let me know.

I've also taken off all trim, filled in the holes from the clips, working on shaving door handles etc.

When all is said and done, a clean, simple car.

 

That looks good Cali.

 

I personally wouldn't however a member on the forum recently chopped a similar GM sedanette to yours and mine (Oldsmobile) and it looked great. Photos were posted as well. Did a search but can't find it.