I know there's probably a thread already but somedays I just don't have any luck. I'm wondering if its reasonably possible to convert a 4 dr hardtop 57 Chevy to a 2 dr hardtop. Is it possible and if so what's involved and how hard is it?
Theres a thread somewhere in the hamb that shows step by step how to convert a 4 door chevy to a 2 door. Those 57 4 door hardtops are cool. Just shave the door handles and it will look long and sleek. My brother had two. His first one was in the late 60s, shaved handles, white primer with a gloss black top. Chrome reverse with knock offs. Man that was a cool car. His second one was 2 tone blue and such as nice.
Do a search on www.trifive.com , lots of info over there. I am in the process of restoring a '56 sport sedan (4 dr. HT),like you I thought that it would look better as a 2 door.However this car is a rust free nevada desert rat with dried out interior and bleached out paint. I'm old ,tired and just don't want to "frankenstein" this one. Biggest problem aside from the length of front doors,relocating the strker post and using a split bench or buckets,is the roof . The whole thing is shaped differently at the rear,back gl*** is different although the windshield is the same. Upper door gl*** seals are different too. There would also be a problem with the rear 1/4 windows.Hope I didn't **** in your mess kit !
The roofs look totally different. I´d guess it´s possible, but very difficult. The 4dr hardtop is cool anyway.
Anything is possible if you throw enough money at it. A four door/two door SEDAN is easier and will look "right". As already mentioned, the four door hardtop has a unique roof and door openings that do not look like the two door hardtop. You could do the change, but it would be obvious that something wasn't right.
Please, save the rare 57 Chevrolet Sport Sedan, these are really cool cars. Our Kansas bro Poverty Flats has a beautiful one. As others say get a 2 door post to start with, more of em and just have a tu door post ride, they are uber cool anyway. Good Luck! ~sololobo~
You need 2 door hard top doors and trim. The 4 door roof looks a little different, I never have paid much attention to the '57 4 door hard top. I do know that the '56 4 door hard top has a real neat looking roof line. Anyway getting back to it, the 2 door hard top doors are longer than the 4 door front doors. You move the door jams back to make room for the 2 door doors. then you have to get the quarter gl*** recut to fit the new configuration. Weld the rear doors or what is left of them shut. Not any more difficult than any other custom work. it will never really look like an original 2 door hard top but it will be p***able.
There is a pic of a sport sedan that was converted over on www.trifive.com under projects. It is located in Kuwait . It doesn't look quite right nor quite wrong. I always wondered what a lightly chopped '57 olds/buick top and 3 piece back gl*** would look like ,photochop anyone?
I did a 4 door bel-air for a friend. I shaved everything including the hood bird, all the door handles, side trim and trunk. Then we painted it flat black. With the door handles shaved you hardly notice it a quad door. A lot of people ask if it has been chopped because the rear window is much shorter. It's a really cool looking car.
I think saving the sport sedan is the way to go,too many have been scavenged and crushed, they are unique . More doors have their advantages.
Got a link to the actual thread? I'd like to see it. As has been mentioned, 4 door sedan to 2 door sedan conversions are fairly straightforward if you have the right parts, a 2 door hardtop conversion onto a 4 door hardtop would require a whole roof, rear window, doors, door jambs and half of the quarter panels to make it look factory. Although I'd like to see what a 4 door hardtop roofline would look like with 2 door hardtop doors and quarters on it, I think it'd be pretty. Would be easy to photoshop, post a clean side view pic of the car in question and we'll find out.
the results would be taking a cool looking car and making it look ****y. probably have some issues with getting the rear side windows to roll up and seal. not a good idea the way I see it. on a side note, a buddy of mine once told me about a "50's custom 56 Chevy with a different roof" so we went out to look at it and it was a 56 4 door hardtop. later ion he got into VW bugs,,, I guess because they all look the same.
Not the same car but will give you an idea of work involved http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78120&highlight=chevy+door+to&showall=1 Used to be a video on trifive but I see youtube has it blocked due to copyright issues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXLGxlFyzx4
Thanks for the link. I'm not fond of that one because they didn't use the proper length 2 door hardtop doors in the conversion, they just welded the back doors shut which throws the proportions off. I'm all for 2 door conversions but only if they're done properly. That's one of my old threads, here's another similar one I did http://jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=608094 And one on a '55 Chevy which turned out great http://jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=350312 That one will be the guide I'll use when I do my '57 Chevy post. Those threads really show how it's much easier to do the conversion with post cars, since the roof is unchanged and stock gl*** and window regulators from a donor car can be used. With a 4 door hardtop, you're either swapping out the entire roof or you're building a phantom style car that didn't exist, with 2 doors but a different roofline. Might look cool and is certainly do-able, but won't be nearly as straight-forward.
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