Thread: young kid needs help!

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hi i just turned 18 and saved up enough money to buy a project car. i decided i want a 54 chevy 2 door coupe. i had a couple of questions about it.
-are parts easy to find for the 54?
-how hard is it to put a chevy 350 engine in it?
-what should i look for when buying a project car?
-how much does a descent chopped top cost?

as far as how i want it to look, i want to get the top chopped, slam it, shave it, paint it primer black, and put some wide whitewalls on it.

parts are easy to find for the '54. www.chevsofthe40s.com is just 1 of the suppliers.

350 will fit. chevsofthe40s has the mounts and things. you'll have to cut the ribs
out of the firewall, that are on each side of the resess ( for the 6 )

Look for a solid car, maby even a 4dr, as that will be cheaper ( you want heavy mods, so a 2dr conversion is possible )

as for a top chop. don't have the roof cut, w/o having someone agree they will cut the rear window down 4 you. there not reproduced that I know of, and finding someone to cut old glass is going to be hard. '54 Chevy has got to be 1 of the hardest chops, so it's gonna cost you $$$ and being your just starting, you don't have the ability to chop it yourself

Welcome to CHR, Harout! Sounds like you want to build a traditional kustom. Some parts for 54 Chevy's are available both in nos and repro while others may be difficult to come by. Should be plenty of room in the bay for a sbc, even a bbc. Make sure your body is as rust free as possible. Good solid sheet metal is desired. Watch for excessive bondo or poorly performed repairs. Having good bumpers (good chrome, little or no damage) is desirable as new ones could run you several thousand dollars. Suspension should be an issue since you are likely to replace nearly all original suspension parts and the brakes.

As for chopping the roof, I can't directly address that, but others here may. I have a friend with a chopped 53 and his is excellent. How much time and money, I don't know.

You ain't got half enough money save up. keep saving.

A '54 chev hardtop is one of the easiest tops to chop. The windshield posts are at the same angle as the rear pillar, so the top just moves ahead and down, without any lengthening. The posts just need to be leaned inward a bit to line up. And then there's the rear glass.......Plexi?
The 2-door sedan is much harder. It is possible to use a whole roof off a 4 door to get away without stretching it. The rear window doesn't need cutting, just lay it down a bit.

i found a 1952 but with no windows. how much will it roughly cost to get new windows?

bobsclassicautoglass.com/gm.html
NEW REPRODUCTION 2 PIECE WINDSHIELDS. 1949-1952 CHEV, OLDS, OR PONTIAC $340.00
stores.ebay.com/Bobs-Classic-Auto-Glass

(from dogpile)Picture is a Flat Classic Auto Glass Kit for a 1949 to 1952 2-Door Chevy. We offer 10% off regular price for all flat auto glass kits. ...

www.classicflatglass.com/
1952 chevy panel we have the doors for this . good ... has good doors, seats, dash gauges, and glass ect ... 1956 chev 210 4 door sedan 265 v8 auto trans.missing carb & hood, it does ...

oops lost a couple linke -
search dogpile auto glass 1952 chev

1952 chevy panel we have the doors for this . good ... has good doors, seats, dash gauges, and glass ect ... 1956 chev 210 4 door sedan 265 v8 auto trans.missing carb & hood, it does ...

hi har. it appears you are pretty new to our favorite game of what if .a 54 and earlier had atorque tube driveshaft which means you will be changing rears along with the motor.the 54 is neat as are most cars of that time.MY first attempt at play toys was a33 chevy 3window.knowledge and cash kept me from ever finishing it, next came a39 willys 2door same result next 53 stude ditto next came a55 chevy 3 door. finialy I found a car I could put together.It was fun learning (expensive waste of good cars and money.This not to dicourage you but to tell you to think hard and get good advice before you start. good luck on what ever you start on. phil the geez

Originally Posted by harout

i found a 1952 but with no windows. how much will it roughly cost to get new windows?

$aprox $200 per windshield side, $50 per side window, vent windows are like $30 each, rear glass is $227.50 4 a style line, $218 for a fleetline. I got the prices from Chevsofthe40s

guy here in town does alot of custom sized/cut street rod windows guess maybe were just spoiled here :d works cheap to!

Some thoughts from one of the old geezers. A '54 with a V8, lowered, and with a retro look is a great project. However, it sounds like you've just saved enough to buy the car. A top chop on any car is a major project, and if you're thinking about doing it yourself, think very carefully. It takes major, major bodyworking experience. If you don't have it, a shoebox chop top is not the way to learn.