pie cut hood 55 2nd

[Speedbumpauto]

Was able to roll the 55 out of the shop for the first time today with the hood mounted in place. Took a few angles of it to show the pie cut done to the hood in finished form. This is a controversial mod and not for everybody but I thought it would fit the theme of my project. For those of you considering it, here are some views for you to consider. The original cut was 1 1/2 inches but by the time it was tuned up, it came closer to 1 3/4 inches. The top has been cut 3 inches and 1 piece glass installed. It runs and all the electrical stuff works so with the million little things to finish up, should be on the road in a few weeks.

[iowaboynca]

Why would this be controversial? Truck looks sweet...

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Speedbumpauto

It runs and all the electrical stuff works so with the million little things to finish up, should be on the road in a few weeks.

i feel your pain there
you do have a sweet truck.

[OrrieG]

I think on chopped TF trucks you need to section the hood so it does not look so nose heavy. Nice looking project.

[Kim57]

Looks real nice.
I took an inch out of the front of my hood.
IMHO it helps when you lower these trucks so they don't look so nose heavy.
Kim

[RedneckRodder]

The pancaked hood look isn't for me, at least not on the TF trucks, but to each his own!

Either way, the truck looks great, and your hard work shows throughout!

[Panelman55]

You truck guys are always trying to out-do oneanother. I think the truck looks nice, but the hood is a little to low for my liking. I see no reason to hack on something that doesn't need it. Just my .02.

[mr48chev]

Well, I like the daylights out of it. I like it that you didn't overchop the top too and used a bit of restraint there. Not so sure about that much white though, I think I would have kept the factory paint areas and done the whole body in turquoise.

[ChuckDriver]

Hood looks cool!

[DransportGarage]

I think the truck looks just AWESOME!

[Speedbumpauto]

Pictures don't really do it justice since you can't see the turquoise pearl in the white as well. In southern AZ I think the white will work well but paint is always a hard choice.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Not my cup of tea but I agree with JJ, it looks cool on your truck. In fact your truck is fantastic. No one has to have my taste to be appreciated by me. Outstanding job, SBA!

[Russell Ashley]

I think the hood pancake job looks great. You've done a nice job on that truck. I'm not a fan of chopped tops but you kept it to a reasonable amount and it has good proportions. Someone who isn't familiar with these trucks might not even recognize that it is chopped unless it's near a stock TF.
I'd like to see a side view pic to get a better look at the profile with the lowered hood.

[Speedbumpauto]

"Someone who isn't familiar with these trucks might not even recognize that it is chopped unless it's near a stock TF." Thanks for all the good words but this is exactly the comment I wanted. It might be hard to believe that someone would work so hard to make something that looked like it hadn't been worked on but that's where I was trying to go. Don't have a profile with the hood installed but I will take one the next time it rolls out of the shop. Still working on the cold air box so the under hood will be complete.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by Speedbumpauto

"Someone who isn't familiar with these trucks might not even recognize that it is chopped unless it's near a stock TF." Thanks for all the good words but this is exactly the comment I wanted. It might be hard to believe that someone would work so hard to make something that looked like it hadn't been worked on but that's where I was trying to go. Don't have a profile with the hood installed but I will take one the next time it rolls out of the shop. Still working on the cold air box so the under hood will be complete.

There is a lot to say for having the restraint to "improve" but not over do when it comes to modifications like chopped tops or pancaked hoods.

Most of the great customs show that restraint and often make a stone vehicle of the same exact model look like it has something wrong with it when sitting side by side. That is also something that I have tried to convince one of my buddies on for the past 30 years as his favorite word is "radical" If a 3 inch chop is perfect he will chop one five so it's "radical" He would have taken three inches out of the front of the hood to get a "radical" slope to the hood.

[hotrod1]

I think it looks great. My hat is off to you. I just want to see more pictures.

Tell us more about the roof chop. Did you do it first and then went to a glass guy or did you ask their opinion first and then chop? Suggestions? I have seen some not being able to make the glass fit afterwards.

[crossfire84]

very nice!

[OrrieG]

I think it looks great. I also think that chopped TF trucks need to have the hood pancaked to keep it from looking to nose heavy.

[87Lowrider]

Considered Chopping and pancaking... not too far into my project to do it. Very nice looking truck! /Ken

[Speedbumpauto]

Thanks for the kind words. If you're considering these mods at least you have an idea of the look. Hotrod, I had a friend and metal wizard do the chop in a way that the roof was not split. My idea, his genius. Did NOT have a glass guy approve beforehand but it took 3 windshields and a very nerve racking week. My advice would be to tack it all together and have a glass guy make a fit while you might be able to make minor metal adjustments to make it right. I guess I was lucky but an argument could be made that if the glass guy had said he couldn't do any better than his first attempt, it wouldn't have turned out as good as it did. Who knows?

[mr48chev]

When I section my truck I plan to use the top half of one of the extra 1-1/2 ton hoods I have accdumulated with the bottom part of a half ton hood that someone had cut a big hole in the middle of the hood at one time before I ended up with it. That hopefully will give me a gentle and natural looking slope to the hood. The section may end up being the difference between the height of the 1/2 ton fenders and the 1-1/2 ton fenders about halfway between the radiator and firewall.

[BigJackDaddy]

Nicely done.