The Oldsmobile Connection

[4drRaTrOd]

well, i pulled the vynil top off the car b/c it was tattered and torn in a few spots.......i must say that Olds did one quality installation! only one bad rust spot in the bondo area on the pass. A pillar. no matter though, decided to chop the top 3" in front and 4 1/4" in the rear. refer to my username. :twisted:

oh yes, she will be one helluva ride when i am done......

.....are we ever really done with a custom car?? :-k


steve

[afrats]

4drRaTrOd wrote: well, i pulled the vynil top off the car b/c it was tattered and torn in a few spots.......i must say that Olds did one quality installation! only one bad rust spot in the bondo area on the pass. A pillar. no matter though, decided to chop the top 3" in front and 4 1/4" in the rear. refer to my username. :twisted:

oh yes, she will be one helluva ride when i am done......

.....are we ever really done with a custom car?? :-k


steve

Sounds like you have a lot of work ahead of you chopping a 4-door. Not too often you see that.

[4drRaTrOd]

that is exactly the position i have when modifying any of my vehicles. I try to think of things that you don't see every day.

[afrats]

You don't think it will look a little odd, or is that the look that you are going for? 8-)

[4drRaTrOd]

as far as the looking odd....my opinion is no. the way it looks to me is that the darker color of the vynil top somehow gave the appearance of the windows being small. since the body is all one color now, they look exceptionally tall to me.....make any sense? with the rake of the car (1.5" drop in front with 205/65 14 and 1" lift coils in back with 215/65 15) being roughly 2-4 degrees, the roofline should actually be parallell to the ground once the chop is done.....theoretically.


look at my picture in the upper left.....see how the door windows almost double the height of the door? in my opinion, that's too tall of a roofline.

now take about 3-3 1/2" off the top of that window. to me, at least, that looks sexy.

[afrats]

4drRaTrOd wrote: as far as the looking odd....my opinion is no. the way it looks to me is that the darker color of the vynil top somehow gave the appearance of the windows being small. since the body is all one color now, they look exceptionally tall to me.....make any sense? with the rake of the car (1.5" drop in front with 205/65 14 and 1" lift coils in back with 215/65 15) being roughly 2-4 degrees, the roofline should actually be parallell to the ground once the chop is done.....theoretically.


look at my picture in the upper left.....see how the door windows almost double the height of the door? in my opinion, that's too tall of a roofline.

now take about 3-3 1/2" off the top of that window. to me, at least, that looks sexy.

I guess so if you say so. I don't have to drive it, you do. I always have a problem with being too tall in cars so the last thing I want to do is make the roof lower... :D

[4drRaTrOd]

and that's just it. no one in my family is over 5'8". we're all short. the only thing interior wise that i can see would have to change would be the rear seat. it would have to be tubbed to a point to allow enough head room for the 4 1/4" chop in the rear. no biggie, though. we're only talking 1-2 inches the rear seat would have to be lowered.

as for why this car and why a 4 door:

i don't have the $$$ to buy and build a 1950 mercury or a 1934 Ford 5-window. what i do have is a 83 Cutlass that needs TLC more or less all over. i've always wanted a street machine and i see potential in this car.....especially since it is one that the whole family can cruise in. My little boy (age 6) is really stoked about this project, too. every day he's asking if we're going to start doing the body work, or making the engine go faster.

kids....

steve

[1988_88_racer]

go for it. it would be a change as far as customizing an 80s four door. and change is what makes the custom car industry what it is today. i personally like a chopped top on any square body car. it gives it a low, fat look(like with most hotrods).