Hi all, just a few pix of when I first found the beast and the first pixs of when I decided to chop the top, I have lots of images of the build and will post them as often as I can during the fun of customising, cheers.
Cool. I did that with a '41 short coupled sedan a while back, and loved it. I found a clapped out convertible cowl and w/s posts, and used the top irons from a '56 Buick Roadmaster convert. Neat little car.
if all the 4 doors with the top removed looked like this one I wouldn't cringe at the thought of someone doing it. good job.
Thanks 49 RatFink. I think Chev called it a "Fleetmaster Touring Sedan" or something like that. They have a trunk profile like a coupe, it's a totally different body than the regular sedan. It was a neat car, although I admit I wasn't happy with how the center pillar turned out, and the door glass cracked because I didn't put frames around them like a cabriolet. I thought they'd be OK, and it looked cool with frameless glass, but it should have been tempered, not laminate. Live and learn. I always like '41 Chevys, always liked convertible sedans, so I made one. The w/s posts aren't chopped, but I laid 'em WAY back to get about a 3" chop. Didn't alter the bows at all, just sank the mounting point a little low in the body. It looked wicked with the top up, but I don't have a single picture of aside from this one.
Hi again, just a few more pix, I am in the prosses of modifying the chassis by constructing a cross member for the centre of chassis so it can carry the wieght of the body as per an origional convertible chassis (bit hard to find an origional convertible chassis in Aus) so with the help from plenty of images I have constructed a timber pattern as a template and will soon constuct it from steel, pix of this to follow soon, cheers for now, Ian
Hi all, had a few good nights playing in the shed working on the cross member to support body, all timber at this stage and will start plasma cutting and welding soon, enjoiy images, by for now.
Hi all Sorry I havn't posted anything lately, you know how it is, 3 boys to keep in line, oh and a wife, but here are a few other images of the engine I picked up from my dad garage prior to stripping it down, and the rear spring mounts fabricated from 6mm plate cut with plasma cutter, I will send more soon as I am now fitting the steering rack and fabricating new engine mounts prior to welding in chassis rails, cheers from down under for now. Hulk
Hi all Yes I'm still alive, been very busy with work and all and life in general, I have been having some progress on the 47, now going to convert to a 2 door convert not 4 door, and will extend front door guard extensions through to the back guards ( similar to Buick) chassis plates nearly ready to weld (images) trial fitted brake booster & clutch/ brake pedals, diff & springs, steering, motor & other bits, I know their small steps but at least still moving forward, cheers from down under for now.
There's a '40 Chev convertible sedan up in the SF Bay area. I understand it was originally built as a stock-appearing phantom, and was then sold to a guy who street rodded it pretty nicely. It looks like a baby Buick phaeton until you notice how tiny the rear doors are!
Nice lines on the ragtop 4 doors. The red '41 there was built in the 80's from a Fleetline Sportmaster Sedan like mine. Shame they never made one, but then I guess we'd have nothing to do now Holden-bodied 42-48 Chevys down under used 39/40 body shell still didn't they? I noticed the suicide doors also hung around longer. They look sharp on that body style. You're going to have a nice & stiff chassis with all those braces and the fender extensions will look great! Keep up the great work with your build!
Hi all, here are some more images of the chassis x member all welded and ready to fit to chassis, have to lift body off and place in from above, seeya for now
Hi been a while, but been looking for a set of 47 - 48 chev convertible door vent windows & frames ( complete sets) if anyone can help would be great. Body still on chassis at this stage still working on mounting exhaust system, clutch and hand brake set up, will send images soon, cheers for now.
Ah, where in Oz? I'm in QLD and I have a 47 Olds Convertible, same "A" body as the Chev convertible, though you are using a Holden body where mine is a Fisher body. I can take any measurements you want or info.
Thanks guys, I'll keep posting images when time permits, it's winter here in the southern highlands of NSW just out of Mittagong so getting out to do a bit take a lot of motivation, cheers
Hay Rusty olds, can you take close up images of the vent windows Chanel's with possibly any measurements of the width of the Chanel, don't stress if you can't, just wondering, cheers HULK
Just aligning exhaust, handbrake and clutch mount prior to body removal, I'm using flanges along the length of the exhaust (4 each side) because the entire system passes through the chassis, so I want to be able to remove sections for maintenance or different note sound.
looks good ....i love 4 door being done that way good work...anymore pictures love to see them..........
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