'64 chopped shorty
 

LINKY

http://i14.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/21/37/d7f9_1.JPG

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Oh word!!! That is nice. Hmmmm, an Elky frame you say...............

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Looks ok, i think they look like an old lincoln with the front end that stuck out a mile when they are chopped that much :lol: but oh well its different :metal:

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

HAH!! I could cut a hole in the roof and drive it like Rat Fink!!!!!!:lol:

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

:haha:

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Another one bites the dust...not a hater, just my two cents.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Its in a town within 100 miles from me.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

think of it this way lilred...
it was one that got crushed... they just stopped before they were done:lol:.
chops need to look at the big picture... they need to be sitting in the ground, if you take one down this far, it might need a section too to get the look back in proportion.
I did a quick photo section on it.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

In a few years, when we are all drooling over the next trend, after the lowering trend has passed, just like the chopping era has faded, that lowered/chopped truck and many just like it will be sitting in the back lot, collecting dust/rust...because no human being will spend the money to restore the sheetmetal and frame back to it's original glory.

Many/most trucks I see posted on this site and many just like it, fall victim to slamming/chopping/"z"-ing/channeling/smoothing and every other personal touch known to man.

Just an observation...wouldn't it be a travesty if most/many Corvettes/Chevelles/Cameros/Mopars/Mustangs/etc/etc/etc were butchered up with these personal touches, only to be de-valued/depreciated long before their time. I have and will continue to scratch my head wondering why many/most '60-'66 Chevy truck owners are so compelled to go to work on these trucks, to, in their opinion, make them better.

Once again, I emphatically state that I am not a hater, I just struggle with the notion that many/most of these trucks need to be radically modified, in order to be set apart from everyone else, even though there are not that many of them on the road compared to the '50-'59's and the '67-'72's.

It would be refreshing to see a new member posting photos of his/her newly purchased '60-'66 Chevy truck and not read/see the majority of the replies suggesting that "it sure would look good with a body drop/laying frame/dragging ass/rolling on 22's/etc/etc/etc". With the number of these trucks going to the crusher/rusting to the frame rails/being chopped up, there aren't going to be many stockers left.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Very true, Post up a thread for stock trucks only lets see how many are out there, im not being a smart a or anything i agree, im just curious too.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I think Tony did post a thread for stockers. I'll look for it and bring it to the top. A mild chop looks good on these trucks, but thats a little much. But to each his own.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Yeah i remember seing a thread about that a while back.

I agree with you there :chevy:

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Well, it is being done to those vehicles as well but, on a much larger budget. Lets face it these trucks are affordable. There for its not a big loss to cut something up. These are not factory numbers matching muscle cars. They are work trucks. Personally I like the stock look but updated with the modern conveniences. My vision of a vehicle is something that I can load my gear in and take off across the country if I want and do it in style. Because I like to drive my rigs. I would not want to do that in a forty year old restored truck. That just would not be any fun for me. That is just my opinion. Personally I do not like the truck that was posted in this tread but hey that was his or her vision and I can respect that. I think because these trucks are affordable it is giving a younger generation the opportunity to own and build a "Hot Rod, Rat Rod, Low Rider, Dragin Ass, Layed Out, Rocker Sparks Flyin, Bad Ass MFen Cool Ride" and I take my hat off to them for it. These are the next generation of Hot Rodders and the enthusiast that are going to keep this hobby going....:metal::metal::metal:

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

:metal::metal::metal: :clap:

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

first off, i like what you did with your photo-chop jon.
lowering and hot rodding is not a fad, it has been around as long as the automobile.........
to each their own, don't think it is right to tell anyone who is changing their vehicle to match their vision or need, that they are ruining their vehicle. my $0.02
oh and 502, well said!
customizing vehicles is a living, breathing, ever changing, and always innovating, pass time to some, way of life to others!

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I'd drive the hell out of that thing. But i'd flame it first.

http://i14.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/21/37/d7f9_1.JPG

I look at it this way, every time some one drags a truck out of a field, wrecking yard or someone's back yard, they're saving it from either rusting into oblivion or being crushed. Chopped, dropped, primed or restored, atleast it's being saved. Besides, how boring would it be if everyone drove a restored stocker?

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I do respect the work (there is no way I could do a chop without messing something up) but aesthetically, it doesn't look good. My grandpa had a saying... different isn't always better.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Mine did to "A fare line is pleasing to the eye".

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I always have a hard time with doing large modifications to a restorable truck, but if it has been hacked, cut, or in a large accident already, then go for it! My front cab came from a truck that was going to the wrecker after someone folded the frame rails up 30 degrees, and the other complete truck I started my build with was hacked by previous owners. That one was also going to the crusher a few weeks down the road, so I think of it as putting them back on the road, instead of destroying them. No matter how different they are from stock, it's still nice to have some old trucks out and about.

Now, if it was grandpa's old pickup that had 50k on it, was in restorable solid condition, and was complete, some one needs to be slapped around if they want to chop it.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I agree!! :lol:

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I like it! if all the old cars and trucks were just stock and know one cut them up or customized them yaaaaaaaawn,pass just my few cents

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

:agree:

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I'm not a big fan of chopping either. I do agree with LILRED66 some and well some I do not.

I'm not a huge fan of chopping the truck up and altering every piece of sheet metal so it looks different. Do a change, but doing the change properly is what I've always wanted to see. Nothing drives me more bonkers than to see somebody do something, but in a hacked mannner. As well I'm not a huge fan of copying what everybody else does.

On the other side of the coin subtle changes to these trucks are what make them a little unique almost like a different color from the factory.

The hard part is coming here every day and seeing the marvels you guys pull off redoing sheet metal and altering the suspension in such ways that in my mind defys physics. I didn't know sheet metal could bend that way or you could cut something that way to make it work.

In the end I'd rather see a chopped truck on the road opposed to a stocker in the crusher.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I personally don't like the look . but we all know what they say about opinions.;)

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I guess that means I "butchered" my Suburban... Darn it!!! Oh well, I guess I'll just have to accept the devaluation I've subjected it to and hunt for a stocker to do a 100pt resto on... Because I'm sure that the original design is the best thing achievable... even 45 years later.

I know the sarcasm is a little overboard there Tony, and I do respect what you do with your trucks. Thank God there are guys like you out there preserving these great machines in there near-factory state. But by sticking with all factory specs you are also saying that the original design is better than anything you could come up with. What if they had made it differently, would you stick with that? If so than you are basically putting all the authority in the hands of the original designers and accepting that they know/knew better than you about all aspects of the design 45 years ago. And regardless of what choices they happened to make your OK with it. To me that's equivalent to saying your parents know how to dress you better than you do. No offense intended. That's just the analogy that comes to mind.

I fully agree that they designed some sweet looking trucks. That's why we are all drawn to them. But if we were somehow barred from making any changes to them I guarantee many more would be gone forever by now.

FWIW, I am not a fan of the chop posted, but for every way you can detract from a vehicle I believe there is a way to improve upon it.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

AHH yes the stock/modify debate!!
I have always thought " I'll build my truck/car the way I want, and you can build yours the way you want"
Thats what makes putting together a truck fun you can do what you want. LILRED 66 your truck is beutiful, I mean If I bought it like it is I wouldn't change a thing.
But when I bought my 60 it was just an old truck, so I built it for me my way.
Yes I get a lot of ," if I built it, I would have done this , or that" or "why are you running wire wheels" etc. But I didnt build it for them.
I grew up with lowriders,and can remeber when being "low amd Slow" was not widley accepted , now look.
Any ways it would be boring if we all built our trucks alike. When all is said and done you build your self a nice truck that makes YOU happy

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I agree !!nicely said...

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I know I said my bit already, but this has been on my mind all day. This hobby NEEDS both sides in order to continue over time. Imagine if there was not any stock trucks to referance to? My hat goes off to anyone who restores their truck to any level, be it the just a quick correct re-paint to make it shiny, all the way to a concourse level. Without being able to see these works of perfection, you can't see how it was done in the past,
but....
My heart lies in taking what I see as a great start and updating it. I've restored quite a few pre-65 Volkswagens, but on top of that they always sat on the ground. I take more interest in seeing what can be accomplised while not getting attention right away. I like subtle mods, and I prefer someone NOT to notice what has been changed(within reason). Updated power plants, brakes, re-designing suspesion, and utilizing newer technology is even sweeter if you can hide it from the untrained eye.

If you ever need to remember why you started into this hobby at all, just remember what got you into it in the first place:it's supposed to be challenging and fun!

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Preach On brother Rob!!!

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very true Rob . My uncle had an old choped Merc, my dad couldnt understand why he would do that, and they would argue about it when ever the topic would come up.
But yes we need both or should I say all schools of thought from Bias plys to dubbs, restos to rats. One thing that I have alawys liked about this board is the lack of hatters, and the wide variaty of trucks
I give major props to ANY ONE who takes a truck and or car and fixes it up (or down), the part that kills me is the truck that rots in the field or on the back lot and never gets fixed , that to me is a waste.
CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG ? I just couldnt resist that

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I know it will never happen, but it is just a thought. If GM engineers reproduced the same truck again they would put some current amenities in it even if they used the same body. It would have a LS2, PS, PB, tilt, cruise, PW, PL, lowered with a better suspension and so on. So I guess we are reengineering a 40+ year old design. I like stock and have had cars that remained stock. I wanted to do something different this time.;)

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I would love the gm engineers to repop this year truck with ALL the design flaws fixed, and the new rustproof galvanized metal they use for a good measure.
They engineered some horrible drainige issues and pockets into this design.

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:lol:Oh man, too funny!:lol::lol:

[QUOTE=slepysal;.
CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG ? I just couldnt resist that[/QUOTE]

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Truck looks good.Imo it needs a little more roof line to give it good semetry but Love the roll pan and the whole theme.
I found a couple chopped roofs that I find appealing. Not too little,not too much.

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...1/68585252.jpg
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...101/1037_3.jpg

As far as the other subject: I dont attempt to build something unless I know I can do an acceptible job of it or pay someone to. Cant stand to see a hack job. I think the body lines on these old trucks are great,but need a little help here n there.I hate seeing fenderwell to sidewall gap too,cant explain it,I just do. I respect the oem look and the amount of attention it takes to restore one but at the end of the day I enjoy making a statement about who I am. A vehicle is an extension of that person.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Cool! I like the blue one ;)

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Yea,me too.It makes you look twice.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

I personally enjoy the challenge of finding NOS or good OEM parts to restore these trucks. Anyone that has seen my trucks or visited my shop and seen my inventory of good, used parts knows how difficult it is to locate these items.

Although I thoroughly enjoy this site, I see I am in the minority when it comes to choices/preferences. I owned and drove these trucks when I was a teenager and have loved them since, at the ripe old age of 43.

At the end of the day, I find it very rewarding, to pump the life back into an old barn find or a run-down daily driver and see it in its original glory days. I enjoy looking at all the builds and know it takes a great deal of knowledge, experience, confidence and money to build some of these projects, but I notice when I go to shows many of the trucks are relatively similar.

None of my projects have ever wowed anyone, except the preservationist-types, so maybe I need to lurk in the back-ground and cater to the builders looking for good, used OEM parts, needed to preserve their truck to original or near original specs.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Tony, my hat's off to ya pal! If it weren't for people like you, in the future there would be no original style specimens left for younger generations to enjoy.

I, personally, have never desired an original, stock restored vehicle but I admire folks that build 'em. I think there is room enough for everyone on here
to share their projects/knowledge and express their preferences. That is what makes this board so awesome. There are people on here that range from stock style resto's all the way to radical modded beasts. I enjoy them all. I just try to build what is more practical to me.

As for your projects never wowing anyone, I must disagree with you. I was extremely impressed with your attention to detail on the 4x4 build that you posted and every pic that I have seen of your trucks are just awesome.

Like the old saying, "It takes all kinds to make the world go 'round".

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Tony, I think that you offer a good point-counter point to this site, keep the posts coming.
I for one like all 3 kinds of these trucks, stock,mildcustom(lowered/paint/int.ect..), and the truly outrageous radical customs....
In a perfect world I waould have 1 of each!
I think all the different tastes and interests are what add the color to this site.

Re: '64 chopped shorty
 

Tony I'm with you, except I'm a hater. Anything chopped is ugly IMO. I don't see the point at all and it looks terrible.