I have full intentions on using the Horseshoe (where the top components are at behind the rear seat, as well as the convertible header (the windsheild is identical). I also will be using the front vent windows and rear windows from the convertible as I am told they are different as well, but the Door glass is the same. I am not worried about the actual hydraulic pumps right now, as I can deal with lifting the top manually. I was also already planning on replacing the rear seat, so no love lost there. The convertible parts from the 1950-1953 Olds/Buick/Caddy J bodies are supposedly identical. I plan on using as much stock stuff as I can. B Pillar casting? What are those? And don't worry, it won't be me with a sawsall. I will be looking for a reputable shop to do the work, Charles
Theres a 52 caddy soft top right down the road from me for sale good shape,if you want to start over.
My first thought is Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo deep breath ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! But hey its your car do what you want Me I would buy the project do it and have two
Just buy another caddy, sheesh. you're gonna pay a shop to do all this labor, and at the same time chop up an already nice car that you could sell as-is? Maybe I am missing something, but I think it would be cheaper to sell it and buy a conv. caddy. You also don't have the hydraulic pumps and all that fund stuff, so it will be a half-assed project anyway.
Just so you know, the strap iron welded to the bottom of the "X" of the convert frame you show is NOT original, I've been under several of these, have owned a couple (real ones) and that's not factory. I think the B pillars have a heavy (didn't remeber it as cast, but it may be) brace from the pillar to the floor. You could duplicate in steel if you don't have one, if you're not trying to pass the car off as a gennie rag top. Your car is nice, but if you want a convert, have a donor, and can find a shop to do it, go ahead on. It's your car, make it what you want. Too nice to cut up, sheesh, this is a site dovoted to cutting cars up, for cry'n out loud. Brian
I guess I'm on the wrong message board ... I'd say that a Hot Rodder or Customizer should only cut up a car to improve upon it's looks ... IMO, what you did to that '56 Sedan de Ville was not an improvement ... but hey, to each his own ... it would be a very boring world if everyone drove HEMI powered, chopped & channeled, '32 Ford 5 window coupes ... or stock '56 Caddy SDV's.
or the BEERHOLDER... Sorry toi HiJack the thread, I saw going topless and Hot Rod Michelle and had way wrong thoughts! LOL. Hello Michelle!!! Hope all is well!
I totally agree, we took my 52 chevy from a HT to a Vert and the task was long and hard, We had to put the vet xmember in the coupe frame. It took us ove 18 months to do all of the stuff mentioned above and it wasn't fun. The glass was the same but of course we chopped it 2 inches as long as we were at it and that really complicated the whole project. Am I glad we did it, hell yes, I've got 81k on the car in 5 summers and just love it. Would I do it again, FUCK NO, too damn much work. BB
Its just metal!! Now that I got that off my chest, the convert's X member looks to be something you could improve on. Do you have access to a trashed convert for essential conversion parts such as the top mechanism and attatching hardware? That would be super helpful unless you're going to do a custom roadster.
I can not believe you are still talking about cutting this car Give me a Sawsall I will cut the roof off that shiny red bitch in ten minuets
Mine is getting cut over the next few months. A trim, a shave and polish! As long as it looks good....If it isn't stock to begin with (if anything is changed!!!) then why bother keeping it stock....Alex Gambino says it best...."Chopping cars is not a crime"
That caddy makes me hard the way it is but it is your car and if you want to slice the top off thats your choice. If you convert it to a vert or a full time roadster, as long as it is done right and tasteful I say do it. But that being said, I personally could not do it to a ride that sweet.
in june of 76 my buddies and I wanted to cruise out to Army lake for senior skip out day, it was about 85degreesout. there were 6 of us and the only car we had that would make the trip was Al's dodge Coronet, but it was to hot for all six of us to spend the day crammed in, .... so we cut the top off duct taped some paddind along the remnants of the roof just behind the windshield and behind the back seat. after that day, he drove that car for about a year. I wish I still had that kind of spontenaety. Jim To Tall, Is that pee wee herman, or kyle bush as your avatar .
Buy something else, and go with a Carson top. What Revhead said. And let's all say it together-"for all intents and purposes."
if you have to pay to do it it is not worth it. if you can do it yourself cut awi was going to do the same thing to my 50 cdv even found the top assy and bucket area. only problem was finding the windshield top parts.
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