1971BB427
Contributor
Posts: 459
Loc: Portland,Or
Reg: 12-06-09
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12-17-20 09:41 AM - Post#2810212
I just got this in an email this morning, and finished watching it just now. It's a fun video to watch, and shows how it can be done on a budget. Some will likely take it further and more finished, but it's a good starting point here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXjxmQ7GWL4&a mp;fe...
1969 Suburban 2wd 350
1939 Chevy pass. coupe 350/700R4
1937 Austin gasser 327/TH350
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Edited by 1971BB427 on 12-17-20 01:38 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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 TAT_2
Site Ambassador - Member #26 - "20th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 36951
Age: 67
Loc: "UNDER THE BOARDWALK"
Reg: 10-29-00
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12-19-20 04:48 AM - Post#2810326
In response to 1971BB427
WHEN I HIT A DEER WITH MY VIBE & TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL BODY SHOP THERE WAS A 56 THAT WAS CONVERETED TO A 2 DOOR FOR SALE.I SAT IN IT & FIRED IT UP.I ALMOST BOUGHT IT ,$8,500.00 ASKING PRICE.2 TONE BLUE & WHITE.
09 PONTIAC- VIBE
08 PONTIAC- G6
93 VETTE - 40TH ANIV- RUBY RED- LT1/6-SPD/RAG TOP
PREVIOUS VETTE'S 58,68,70,76,78,85,90
QUOTE FROM HELEN
"WHY YOU LOOKING AT THAT? YA KNOW YA WANT ANOTHER VETTE"
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15022
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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12-19-20 08:02 AM - Post#2810337
In response to TAT_2
The only problem I can see with 2 door conversions on Trinh’s-fives is that you need nice 2 door parts. And if you find nice 2 door parts, that means the car they came from was probably nice enough to restore and would have been less work than doing the conversion. Now if you get parts from several cars that were unrestorable (like one side taken out by a bad accident), that’s a different story.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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1971BB427
Contributor
Posts: 459
Loc: Portland,Or
Reg: 12-06-09
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12-19-20 08:38 AM - Post#2810342
In response to wagonman100
Not sure how nice all the parts would need to be? I would think the major piece would be finding good doors for a 2 dr. sdn. But even they wouldn't need to be excellent, just pretty good. Anyone with the skills to do this conversion also has the skills to fix doors. So if they're mainly good, a little rust or dents wouldn't stop me from using them.
Now trim can get very expensive if you start with a Belair level 4 dr., so I'd prefer to use a 210 or 150 myself. And I'd likely want a '55 also, just because they're my favorite Tri 5 and also would be less expensive side trim.
But considering the difference between a 2 dr. sdn. and a 4 dr. sdn. in equal condition, I think I'd take this conversion on myself if I found a 4 dr. priced right, and complete enough to begin with.
I've got a friend who did his '55 this way, and even got his title changed to a 2 dr. after applying to the state for a title change. His came out very nice, and he even installed the correct rear window operators to make it all correct.
1969 Suburban 2wd 350
1939 Chevy pass. coupe 350/700R4
1937 Austin gasser 327/TH350
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15022
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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12-19-20 03:30 PM - Post#2810373
In response to 1971BB427
You would need to have all of the structural pieces from the 2 door as well. So I still say if you have a 2 door body shell that is good enough to use for parts for the conversion, it’s good enough to restore as long as the other areas of the car that you don’t need to cut out for the conversion are in good enough shape as well. The doors are really secondary since you may need doors to restore a 2 door as well or you can even buy door shell bottoms and skins new these days. Trim, as you said, is another story so a ‘55 150 would take that out of the equation.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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 56sedandelivery
Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 5897
Age: 69
Loc: Everett, Wa.
Reg: 02-26-08
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12-19-20 10:50 PM - Post#2810393
In response to wagonman100
This is a somewhat popular thread over on JalopyJournal/the HAMB; there are a couple of very involved threads on how to do it there, and there are a couple of different ways of going about it. I have a friend that deals in 55-57 Chevrolet cars AND parts. He'll get a somewhat "decent" Tri-Five body, that's been sitting for some time without an engine/trans, but no title. Not having the title can be a problem. He's wound up with cars that had been stolen decades earlier (one actually belonged to a cop, and he wanted the car back, but never came to get it). Those are just parts cars; easier to store and sell parts than a title-less car body/frame. He'll use whatever he can, and sell the rest for scrap (I don't necessarily agree with that approach). I know some people have bought doors and other parts for a conversion from him, but I/he has never seen one finished. Some states, not having a title on an old car is't a big problem, just not our state. Personally, I would't want a 2 door made from a 4 door, I've seen bodywork fail on repair jobs after a few years; can't imagine a car made from various pieces and parts. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15022
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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12-20-20 10:28 AM - Post#2810423
In response to 56sedandelivery
Cars without titles are another story too. You can get a state issued VIN and title if you want to go through the process. I hear what you are saying about the quality of the work. Doing body work for a living I have seen so many cars that have been hacked on by previous techs it’s not even funny. Doing something like a conversion like this takes dedication, perseverance and know how. It’s easy to get tired of how long it takes to do things properly and start to shortcut things. I have a 1983 Malibu wagon converted to a 2 door and made into a modern Nomad. It’s still a project but I can tell you it’s a long process to cut all of those parts out so you can reuse them and them install them and, in my case, modify and fabricate other parts and have them look good and work right. I didn’t do all of the work on my wagon. I cut the parts out of the parts car and trimmed them to fit the wagon. The stuff the was fabricated was done by someone else and I have to go back and redo some of the work.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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4dr 57
Valued Contributor
Posts: 4725
Loc: Texas Hill Country
Reg: 11-10-04
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12-22-20 04:57 AM - Post#2810533
In response to wagonman100
Back when, Sherman used to make everything necessary to make the 4drHT to a Convertible conversion simple. A 4drht or Nomad has the required "A" pillar.
No reason to think this has changed because it hasn't.
Sherman parts are available through CARID although IDK if they offer Sedan parts. Maybe one of the newer outfits do if they aren't all concerned about the HT vs. Sedan thing. I like the idea of using Sedans very much as there are quite a few advantages, it's a simpler way to go.
But I have to ask myself, why all the bother? Maybe its more of a Craftsman's project as there are a few Guys here who have Journeyman level skills when it comes to fit and fitment, second to none!
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5Larry7
"17th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 2030
Loc: Dallas, TX
Reg: 05-17-04
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12-22-20 08:56 AM - Post#2810553
In response to 4dr 57
I believe Woodys Hot Rodz makes a kit for a 4 door to 2 door conversion.
'57 210, 327 cid, Holley MPFI, 700R4, A/C & more.
'51 Studebaker Starlite coupe, 350, TH400, GV OD.
'96 Replica of a 1950's Teardrop Trailer. |
Edited by 5Larry7 on 12-22-20 07:54 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Bad56Sedan
"14th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 1335
Loc: Pasadena, Texas
Reg: 04-29-04
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12-25-20 06:56 PM - Post#2810755
In response to 1971BB427
I had to go look at the parts boutiques,
they have a 4 door to 2 door kit for ~$5999.99,
you take a $4000 4 door,
then you take $6000 kit,
mix it well and you make a $3500 2 door,
then you still need the kit to finish the 2 door,
that kit is about..............
VC56S 2 door Sedan, 40 Years
[image]https://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/fbbavatars/a v-3564-1354211547.jpg[/image] |
Edited by Bad56Sedan on 12-25-20 06:59 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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