knighthawk Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Has anyone out there ever chopped a '48 Dodge 4dr ? I know most of you favor keeping these original, but this car is nothing but a shell to start with, so nothing is lost. Quote
bob westphal Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Many, many years ago I had a P-15 2dr sedan that was chopped for a short wile. However, I didn't do the chop. Good luck! Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Larry, ask this question on the HAMB..if it has been done..odds are you will get an answer like real quick... Would not think this would be an easy task though given the lines of the roof..with all the other mods you are making on the car, I think I would get it on the road and see how the thing drives with the newly transplated 5th Ave supsension and drivetrain..then if all is well with the world..then entertian the chop...At least by doing it in stages, the car would be marketable if for some reason you had to move the car... Quote
knighthawk Posted January 9, 2007 Author Report Posted January 9, 2007 yes you are right .Tim. I am just now finishing up the rear spring hangers ( up 7'' ). It will be a while before I get that far. But just thinking ahead, I just don't care for the roof line, especially towards the rear. What do mean by "HAMB "?? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 hokey assed message board H.A.M.B these guys are dedicated cutters of cars in all manner...if it is chopped, flopped or tomahawked..these guys have done it..there are no rules..rat rod heaven where shops such as "Custom by Crash" and interiors: "Rip and Tear" are common...not that bad really..but these guys are more into go than show.. Quote
Normspeed Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 I think you'll find the HAMB on jalopyjournal.com. One tip: register, fill out a profile and post an intro on their intro page before you post any messages. they are a little touchy about new members posting without introducing themselves first. Quote
55 Fargo Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 :Larry, I know a feind of mine is thinking of buying my 47 Chrys Parts coupe and turning it into a convertable, he has all the parts to perform this surgery if he feels so inclined. I think the plymouth could look sharp if this is done tastefully and the job is well done. The beauty of fixing up an old car is this, it's yours and you can have it anyway you want it to be, nothing is carved in stone, unless your a purist trying to create a concourse restoration, must of us have drivers, which IMHO its the most practical and fun..........Fred Quote
Normspeed Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Larry, take a look at HACKNSACK44 's member profile. He hasn't posted in a while but he has a chopped sedan. Quote
knighthawk Posted January 9, 2007 Author Report Posted January 9, 2007 It sounds like your cars are still basically all original, , as I also have kept all my cars original. BUT, New theory here : these cars have spent 50 years ( or more )of their lifetime being original, so, now is the time to recycle them , make them into something fun, every car can be improved , some are a little too long , a little too high, a little too low, you already put chevy 350's in them, why not just go a little further ???................p.s. just giving you guys a hard time ! ..........thanks for the tips. Quote
knighthawk Posted January 9, 2007 Author Report Posted January 9, 2007 I looked at Hacknsacks44, , I like it , I would lower it a little tho. If you'll notice the area just above and below the rear window is not right, it just dosen't ''flow'' right .this is my major concern ????? Quote
Allan Faust Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 I disagree with you on one point Larry.... modify, fine...anytime (I love lead sleds) however, I'm more into leaving mopar with mopar, chebby with chebby, furd with furd.... mechanically that is..... Allan Quote
Allan Faust Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 And as for hacknsacks44, I think what you are seeing is the "not removing of the bulge" in the chop.... an interesting article I've found on chops here.... A little longer than normal, but probably would remove what you are seeing in the "flow".... The "not another merc chop article" http://www.webrodder.com/index.php?page=showStories&pageNum=9&CID=7&search=&PHPSESSID=8977c1ce6d812024de0496a7115f24aa Allan Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Amen Allan..however at looking at car in question..that is basically what I was referring to in doing the cut..the glass section of the rear will have to lay a bit flatter in regard to the removal of the top so the lines will "flow" Whatever you take off the top..the seats will have to go lower for a good seated position and then you have the other extreme..seeing over the dash..most folks at the last show where I saw these lowered vehicles were driven after being lowered..looked to be some of the most uncomfortable drivers and occupants there was at the event. If you noticed the special seats designed with the ganster lean built in as found in the fiberglass cookie cutter rods..look as ugly as they have to sit IMHO Quote
Allan Faust Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Actually Tim, I got into a chopped 50 merc this summer, with a 4 inch chop on it.... I asked the guy if I could, because being 6' 3", I was wondering if I would fit in one... and be comfortable..... I was actually quite amazed at the comfort and vision I had in it..... and loved every second.... thats me sitting in it, and I wasn't scrunched up either... and supposedly didn't have lowered seats, it was the original seating... Allan Quote
Brad Lustig Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 I've seen pictures of our cars chopped (can't say I've seen a 4dr, though). One thing I've noticed is the cars always look a little "off". The body really needs to be chopped too (I think that's the correct term). I know it's cliche but I like the Mercs chopped. As for headroom, you could get by with quite a bit of chop before it became an issue. Quote
Normspeed Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 I think the term for taking a slice out of the body is "sectioning". Dropping ther body lower over the frame is channeling, and taking some of the dome out of the roof and hood is pancaking. Quote
Brad Lustig Posted January 9, 2007 Report Posted January 9, 2007 Sectioning came to mind after I posted but still wasn't sure. Thanks! Quote
knighthawk Posted January 9, 2007 Author Report Posted January 9, 2007 Do you think I could get my '48 to look the 50 merc that Allen Faust has a picture of ? In this case , I don't think sectioning would work ,cause the fat fenders are al ready pretty low. Am going to that webbrodder site now,.......... thanks Quote
Allan Faust Posted January 10, 2007 Report Posted January 10, 2007 I don't know if it would be possible, due to the fact that the dodge has more of a rounded rear end than the merc.... you'd probably have to pancake the rear end quite a bit to keep the curve and the lines together right..... It would look interesting though.... (my opinion). Allan Quote
Allan Faust Posted January 10, 2007 Report Posted January 10, 2007 As for the sectioning, I don't think its needed... you want to go low, drop the body using blocks, bags, whatever, tub it (or channel it if necessary) and use the chop to lower the lid.... Allan Quote
Guest rockabillybassman Posted January 10, 2007 Report Posted January 10, 2007 I'm a proud Hamber, and I take exception to the assertion that we're into rat rods and ripped interiors. We're a board for traditional rods and customs. The words "rat rod" will get you run out of town on a rail! Rat rodders and the like belong on the Ruffrodders forum and the Ol Skool Rodz forum. Hambers may scoff at street rodders (goldchainers), but many of our traditional rods have much money invested in them, the difference being that Hambers are into doing stuff themselves, as opposed to the 'chainers getting them built at a rod-building shop with crate motors and ghastly Coddington billet wheels. Rat rods are NOT traditional rods with a bit of patina, they are collections of junk thrown together with little consideration for style, comfort and safety. Please be aware of the difference. We object to being called "ratrodders". Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 10, 2007 Report Posted January 10, 2007 I am a hamber..I made the comment..I have seen a plenty of the work represented over there..while I admit the "goldchainers" and Coddington crowd is not represented there..which I do like about the HAMB...but I have seen a lot of thrown together vehicles..while maybe the general theme is traditional hotrods..not all of your member have the pocketbook but can share your enthusiasm if not you purse. The reference to custom by crash and rip and tear interior is home grown and is such that one would put together himself..not that the actual fabric is ripped and torn and the fenders are dented...but fabic sewed at home and body massaged by your own hand...not the custom work secured by some guy siting on his couch writing checks. While you take offense at some of the words I used..I totally hate the word RESTORED as the overall majority of cars in the industry could not hold a candle to a restored car. so..all in all it is a wash..you call it one thing..I call it another..and by the way the term rat rot was not to idicate the car is junk..it originally started out reflecting cars that did not have the chrome or brite trim replated due to the extremely high cost..ans if this is wrong then accept the fact that we are from different parts of the world... Quote
james curl Posted January 10, 2007 Report Posted January 10, 2007 I had a neighbor who chopped a 41 Dodge two door. He took 4" out of the front post then pie sliced the C piller to make the front come down to the front post height, then pie sliced the post to lean them back to the lowered roof. This removes the hump in the rear as the back window is lowered at the top edge by moving foward and down. Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted January 10, 2007 Report Posted January 10, 2007 Sectioned......click on link to see a Ford shoebox coupe sectioned but not chopped. Kinda cute. At Nashville Good Guys show. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/BobT3/Nashville%20GoodGuys%20Show%20June%2006/Non-MoPar%20at%20Nashville%20GoodGuys%20show%206-06/100_1921.jpg Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 10, 2007 Report Posted January 10, 2007 There is a ton of work that goes into a chopped top..and anyone who starts one and gets it completed with clean lines..well that is an accomplishment. I think a number of cars look especially good chopped..other do not..I do not think I would ever attemp to alter the roofline.. Quote
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