Projects 50 buick body swap

So, I had a 4 door special. It was pretty low. 5" off ground. I swapped the body to a 2 door sedanette. Everything I've read said the chassis was the same. They do bolt up identical. I did a ton of work on this chassis (nailhead, open driveline, etc.)and it's the one I'm 100% going to use. Now the the 2 door body on, it's gained 4" maybe more, in elevation.
Now I'm back to the drawing board. I think to get what I'm after, I'm gunna body drop it 5" and bag it. The bags will strictly be to make it easy to get the rear tires off under the rear quarters if i get a flat, and to get it on a lift.
2 questions:
1: Any know off the top of thier heads if the 2 door had a higher factory ride height?
2: what size square stock do you prefer to use for making the new subfloor/body mounts?
Thanks!
Jason

 

No offense @OZCAST, but pictures might help us understand what you’re talking about.

 

There is no info in the GM Heritage center archives on Buicks. From what I can find they weight real close to the same. https://www.hometownbuick.com/buick-models/1950-buick-models/ Both weight a bit over 3700 lbs.

I'm going to ask, what did you change on the chassis when you had the body off? No changes the ride height should be the same.

 

I did a ton of work on the 4 door chassis. Jag front, 4 link rear, 401 nailhead and st400 tranny. My budget didn't allow me to do all that a second time on a 2 door I found, and since I'd rather have a jetback than 4 door, swapping bodies was the way.

 

Was the 2dr Jetback a Special also?

 

@OZCAST did you measure height of frame to the ground before and after the suspension modifications? Maybe when you swapped front and rear suspension parts it raised everything up?
If frame height is the same after I would check the "drop off " height of the 4dr and the 2dr, maybe they are different. Drop off meaning height difference between rocker panels and top of the frame.
Good luck

 

Thanks. I did all the work while the 4 door was on, then drove it for a year. I just couldn't resist the jetback when it popped up. It needs a floor anyway, so I'll channel it. I was just really surprised when I saw the height of the 2 door

 

Ya, both specials

 

My 4 door special was definitely higher than 5" off the ground when I first purchased it. Last year I cut 1-1/2 coils out of the front springs and installed el camino springs out back. That got it down around where I was looking to run it, at the expense of suspension travel. I had to trim the bump stops to get any travel at all up front. NOt fun to drive, but hey, it looked cool. This year I installed Eaton 1-1/2" drop springs up front and put the stockers out back and it is higher than I am looking for.

I was looking into sourcing a set of Fatman dropped uprights to get back down where I want it. This requires disc brakes and such and modification of steering components.

I have decided to front clip the frame instead, as it brings the brakes, power steering, modern-ish suspension, and eliminates the lever shocks all in one shot. I'll set the ride height while I am at it. I'm not doing bags on this car.

 

P.S.: according to this the frames should be the same across all 40 and 50 series cars in 1950.

https://www.hometownbuick.com/1950-buick-frame-bumpers/

 

That's what I saw before I did the swap. Really strange.

 

The jag front clip brought it down a ton. I put 3.75" beltech lowering springs in back for a caprice that dropped it perfectly to match....for the 4 door body. I'll probably bag this one first and see how nit looks before going through channeling it. I just did inner and outer rockers. Really don't want to get back into that part of the car again if I can help it.