I have a chance to get a F1 panel truck, and I was wondering if anybody has rodded one of these and what would look cool on this truck? Or would it be a waste of resources, and too ugly?
Chop it till you cant fit your arm out the window..... Channel it a little too, just enought to get the cab sittin on the running boards.
No Chop! Panel's are cool just like they are, there is little chance of improving the aesthetics and a really good chance of ruining a perfectly good truck.
Try it in photoshop/mspaint first and see if you like it. I've actually been thinking how one would look for the past couple weeks. I think it could look cool. Also, Gravedigger started as a 51 Ford panel truck. Maybe you could do something like that?
Do it, so I don't have to cut mine to find out if I like it! JK. Try it in photoshop, then see if you like it. If you do...GO FOR IT! It's YOUR ride. I personally think it would look cool.
I have chopped a few of them and the Chevys too -they respond well- I believe I chopped the one for Gary Stock from Illinois [that ended up painted Orange] about 10-15 yrs ago and it was 3" at rear and 4" at front[its a st. rod ] but if you dont put a slight tilt in them they look like a TORPEDOE if chopped very much.....If I remember there is a lot of work on the rear door top area.....however you do it -DO NOT- WIDEN it......I never do......
I think its up 2 you, but i say chop it. heres a little ms paint (my friend has my laptop w/ photoshop) it was done really quick w/ a pic off google but u get the idea... hope it helps stephen
I think I changed my opinion. I guess I would have to see it in person, but I think it is starting to look too much like the sedan deliveries. I'm leaving mine unchopped...but again, if it floats your boat, I say CHOP IT. Thanks for the photochop, Pyro!
do a seach for atch and his panel, cant find any pix on my desktop but its preety bitchin. its white with 5 spokes i think, gota mild chop. all the pix of it ive seen are on the salt. id definatly go for it
I had one a long time ago & considered chopping it (didn't have the tools back then) & figured it'd be a LOT of work (loads of long, flat panels succeptible to warping) to get right. I think these would look good with a mild chop vs a heavy chop. They are unique enough to not require anything though... As with the trucks, watch for rust in the front sheet metal, particularly around the grille area. Also on the panels, inside wheel wells.
One cool way to do this is to chop the front and slant the rest down to meet it. A friend of mine did this to a 54 F-100 panel, calls it Slightly Slanted. Another cool trick is to replace the rear doors with the glass hatch out of a late 70s Pinto. Looks really good and if your rear doors are good you can sell them for a mint.
Here are some pics I found of what it could look like. I think if you did a even chop and then put some tall tires on the back to give it a mean rake and it could look pretty cool. You could tub the back of it inside too and fit some really big tires in the back. It would be a truck and you could have a back seat too. Damn, I want one now.
I know this is a chevy and not a ford, but it's easy to see why i posted this. A friend of ours did this one a couple years ago.. This thing looks KILLER with the chop! If i had one, i'd really consider it..
There's a shit-load of hours in gettin' a panel chop ta look right, almost like a sectioning job. Many pie cuts and slits in the rear post/quarter areas Be sure ta brace the snot out of the inside of the body prior ta maken' any cuts.
Those panel trucks always seemed to have too much roof crown to them, in my opinion. Chopping them would exaggerate the roof crown, make them look "bald headed". I would consider reducing the roof crown on the top, but leaving the window/side height stock. I saw a 49-51 Ford woodie wagon done like that and it looked so right, factory should have done them that way.
I'd leave the top alone and slam the suspension HARD. Just my opinion. 'Cause you've got to realize I can do suspension work but suck at body work Frank
I'm not gonna chop my chevy panel, but I would like to try a chop on my 48 suburban. Although it's a big job for my first chop, I might have to recruit some help.
here you go.... throwed together theese 2 for you....one chopped and one chopped and sectioned. The sectioned one allmost turned out as a Volvo Duett
Please don't chop it! They look great with out any roofline change. Lower it is a different story. Gregg
Fellas I am blown away with all the photo work, and ideas, my fat head is spinning around. I see now what bothered me most was the roof crown. I dont think anyone could have stood up inside even back then. The chop and section is awsome,the black 51 is way too cool, I was thinking I could put my locksmith stuff in there and get lots of free advertising driving it around. Also want to thank everyone for posting such good ideas. Now I will have to learn this Microsoft digital image program to fine tune my thinking. I am excited about getting this truck now.
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