Projects 54 Chevy bel air 4 door. Stock lowered, super low budget

how's it going fellas, as the title states I have a 54 bel air which I've had for about 3 years now. I am the third owner, and it's in the process of being driven after getting the 235 pulled out in favor of modern drivetrain. Anyway, I took this pic of it at the exhaust shop the other day and I was just thinking. I've already gone this far into the build, cost wise is it worth converting it into a two door? I've made some renderings that are aweful but you get the point.

 

here I've simply "shaved" the door handles and "eliminated" the rear door, which would make it a bad choice in many people's opinion. I do think it looks odd

 

and here I've eliminated the b pillar, followed by chopping the top, I'd say around 4 inches front and back

 

And extending the door to make it a true two door. ^^

 

I couldn't find any posts on converting a 4 door 54 into a two door so forgive me if I'm beating a dead horse. Let me know what you guys think about the last photo edit, which is the route I'd most like to take.

 

I wouldn't change a thing. That is a nice looking ride as is.

 

I'd just enjoy it the way it is.

 

I too, think its a fine ride as it is.
Enjoy what you have.

 

In my opinion, if you want a 2 door go out and find one. You will save yourself a LOT of time, effort, aggravation, and probably even save you some money. 2 doors are not hard to find. Or just ride this one the way it is.

 

Yep, trade it off for a two door if you just have to have one. That's a good looking Chevy as it sits now, too nice to start hacking on.

 

There's nothing wrong with a 4dr for a daily cruiser.

I do love a good 2dr conversion, and some cars lend themselves to it really well. But it's not so much about the extra doors as it is the roofline, and I think that's where people tend to get tripped up when they start thinking about doing this. With your specific car, the roofline doesn't benefit from losing the hind doors...at least, not without a significant amount of alteration to the existing roof, or replacing the roof altogether.

Is it worth it? Nope...probably not. It's a nice looking car the way it is. Now that you've gotten it road-worthy and are able to drive it, do you really want to shove it back in the garage for another 6 months/year? Enjoy it for what it is and keep your eyes peeled for a 2 that you can make a longer-term project. In the meantime keep improving your sedan in its natural state so that when it comes time to move on you're not trying to sell someone on *your* idea of what the car *should* be instead of trying to sell a nice old car that is ready to roll. Until you do get to that point you have a great old ride to have a lot of fun in.

 

First car I ever had registered was a '54 4Door that I bought from the original owner, it was a great car. You don't know its a 4Door while your driving it, if you want a 2Door buy one, sure will save you time and a lot of money. Bob

 

Thanks for the input. Yall make some good points. I should've gotten a coupe to begin with, but the car is nice and I look forward to having fun with it how it sits

 

Enjoy as is or sell and get a 2dr. It's a perfectly good looking car. Embrace the moredoor!

 

This is one of the body styles that doesn't necessarily suffer from the awkwardness that an extra set of doors brings.

I think that you have done a very nice job so far of making it a cool cruiser that a good amount of people would envy. Nice job!

As mentioned before, if a coupe is what you need, they are plentiful and reasonable. Keep your eyes open for a possible trade, but don't get caught up in the investment of time and effort added to the possibility of it not coming out the way you want.

If I hadn't converted my '53 two door post Bel Air into a no door roadster, I would trade you in a heartbeat! You have put together a fine looking more-door! Enjoy it!

 

looks like a nice car. i'd just leave it alone.

so you want to remove the B pillar and have a car with no side glass? why would anyone want that?

 

Leave it alone.

 

It is worth driving, and its a simple thing to do, drop your ass in the seat then point and shoot.

 

Just slam the crap out of Four door, shave the rear handles and drive it. Then maybe find a two door.

 

Nothin' wrong with it as is. The conversion to a 2dr would be a helluva undertaking, (not to mention the question of cost you brought up) especially to make it 'right'. I wouldn't, and I'm a died in the wool 2dr guy. Drive it until a '54 2dr comes along (if that's your thing).

 

Now that we saved you all this money and time , buy a pair of skirts for it. Bob

 

I wouldn't change a thing!

 

geez, why do what you already have done to something you didn't want? get it running and sell.

 

slam it,
put the chrome BACK on the front fenders and love it,
its almost good lookin' now.. with stock fender chrome, it will be.

 

A two-door conversion would be biting off some major league chew. I'd do everything to it that you'd do to a two-door, (hot rod it) but leave it a more-door. These days 4-doors get a bye. That's a nice car btw.

 

I like the Tudor look WITH the pillar and unchopped. But really I like it as is

 

Used to be some Grudge/Bracket Racers at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wa., that ran a 53, 210, 4 door sedan. Plain Jane car, looked like they just bought it off someones Grandma, but it had a 455 Oldsmobile, TH400 trans, and 10 bolt rear end. Easy 12 second car, and it was't all cut up. A real sleeper. Good direction to follow if you ask me. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Just drive and enjoy.

 

Shave the door handles and rock the 4 door.

If you really want a 2 door buy one. Chev 2 doors are not rare or expensive. A lot easier and cheaper than cutting up your car. But, the 4 door sedan is not looked down on the way it used to be 50 years ago. You can make a 4 door cool.

 

Ok, here's what ya do........scout around till you find a 53-54 coupe body in good shape...if the drivetrain is missing/junk that's ok....leave the 4 door as-is and while you're driving it, build the coupe you've been wanting as your money comes in..no big hurry. See? Simple!
Oh, and when your coupe is done, give the 4 door to your wife to drive or sell it to defer costs incurred building that coupe.