ClassicCar

SEWERAT

Hey all, it's been a long time since I was in here, and Iâ€™ve been surfing around for a month again, but I am finally getting back to my 49 4 door Commodore this month and I have the plan to change it to a 2 door.

I didnâ€™t want to jump on the conversion thread started by Chez.

I was hoping for some input on my 4 door conversion idea.

I have "2 door" doors already and was thinking to go at the 2 door conversion differently than is being done by Chez. I was going to move the B pillars back, use the 2 door doors, and then build a rear window area and use the skins from the previous rear doors to graph onto the quarters. I am wondering if this approach has been done and if Iâ€™m missing something. My measurements seem to make me think this will be a easier approach rather than stretching the front doors. The doors from the 2 door are from a sedan not a coupe so my thought is they should in theory â€œfitâ€ my roofline and door jambs?

Any thoughts?

bent metal

What's the difference from what you want to do and a Brougham?

MikeWA

This has nothing whatsoever to do with Sewerat's post, but at least on my computer, his apostrophes and quote marks show up as a very strange string of other characters. Are others seeing that as well? I inquire of my more computer savvy friends- what causes that?

Lee ODell

Mike (WA) wrote:

This has nothing whatsoever to do with Sewerat's post, but at least on my computer, his apostrophes and quote marks show up as a very strange string of other characters. Are others seeing that as well? I inquire of my more computer savvy friends- what causes that?

No strange characters on my screen.

Lee

SRCraftsman2

Mike (WA) wrote:

This has nothing whatsoever to do with Sewerat's post, but at least on my computer, his apostrophes and quote marks show up as a very strange string of other characters. Are others seeing that as well? I inquire of my more computer savvy friends- what causes that?

I have them too. But have no idea why. I am running Firefox, are you? I hope someone answers Sewerat's question.

Hudson308

The doors from the 2-door sedan (a body style called a "brougham" by Hudson) and those from a coupe are identical for a given year and model (trim level). The brougham uses the 4-door roof skin and decklid, along with 3-ft. long quarter windows. The quarter windows on a coupe are only about 2ft. long, with a longer deck and shorter roof than the sedan. Doors from the convertible and Hollywood hardtops are different again, as they have no permanent framework above the window.

You've got your work cut out for you converting a 4-door to 2. The steps you mention are the major ones in the process. I've attached a couple shots of some Australian 4-doors that have been converted to 2, along with the additional challenge of a top chop. I would NOT recommend you try both modifications on your first conversion attempt. I don't mean to sound condescending or patronizing. It's just that chopping the top on a stepdown is an advanced project requiring considerable skill and a good eye for design, due to all the compound curves that have to be resolved. Structural integrity of the finished top is also more critical on a stepdown, as there is no separate ladder frame foundation to rely on.

[ATTACH]7000[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]7001[/ATTACH]

Hmmm... for some reason my picture attachments aren't visible.

Oh, well... you can see 'em on page 3 of this thread...

http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16037

P.S.- I'm seeing the funny apostrophes as well.

mrsbojigger

Hi Sewerat,
Thank you for not hijacking my threads. Yes, it can be done but as the other guys say, "It is very difficult because of all the compound curves". Just take your time and calculate every cut and weld over and over before doing it and how it will look once you have done it.
As for the strength, I was also thinking along those lines of a weakened body shell so I connected the front and rear sub-frames to make it a "framed" uni-body. I would also add gussets at critical corners of the "frame".
The 2-door sedan doors will work. I found that all the different doors have the same horizontal and vertical contours to them which helps a lot when mating up these pieces to each other. Hudson did us customizers a great favor in that respect.
I don't know all the answers but if I can answer any question I would be glad to.
Peace,
Chaz

SEWERAT

NP, Chaz. I actually am following your thread as well for ideas, So I'm a thief but not a high jacker!

As far as the metal work, Iâ€™m an ASE master tech, out of that and was an officer for 8 years now an inspector but still keep a 5 stall shop and have done about 6 top chops and a ton of rods. I try to do 2-4 rods a year. Iâ€™m not chopping the roof. Iâ€™m 6â€™ 4â€ and can barley see out now!

Thanks a ton for the info on the doors Hudson 308 (sorry still new to real names). Thatâ€™s exactly what I was looking for. Iâ€™m not worried about the custom work needed on the body, I was just hoping to go this route and my extra doors are in storage for a few more weeks so I wanted to get the dirt on the general contour design and if they will (by theory) go into the 4 door holes. For work sake I would go the route of Chez if the roof line was different. So, ill lean towards measuring for this approach of grafting the rear door metal and using the 2 door doors. For some reason the pics from the link dont come up.. Too old maybe? Ill try from my home computer when I get home.....

I usually do more reading then posting in this forum, but that will change now that this car is in my sights. I just wanted to thank everyone for the help and warm responses. I have gotten away from many forums due to endless flaming, high jacking and all around. Chevy talk is about the only other forum I visit somewhat regularly. But everyone here seems very helpful and personable.

Keep the ideas coming, and I look forward to being more active in this Forum soon. Have a great weekend all!

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