Help: 4-door to 2-door conversion? - TriFive.com, 1955 Chevy 1956 chevy 1957 Chevy Forum , Talk about your 55 chevy 56 chevy 57 chevy - Belair , 210, 150 sedans , Nomads and Trucks, Research, Free Tech Advice

gcander · 07-06-2009, 12:44 PM

I have a 56 4-door sedan that has been passed down to me in good condition but I really like the look of the 2-door hard top. How feasible would it be to convert? Will it be more economical to have the sedan converted or spend the money on purchasing a 2-door hard top in need of restoration? If the conversion is the better route to go, would any custom shop be able to do the work for me and still maintain the car’s structural rigidity, or would it only be possible to convert to a 2-door sedan?

Gary Blake · 07-06-2009, 12:49 PM

WElcome! I'd find a two door,

TheHotrodHandyman · 07-06-2009, 01:01 PM

If finding a 2 door hardtop is out of the question then a conversion to a 2 door sedan is your only reasonable choice unless you just keep the 4 door as it is and enjoy it.

Lloyd's 55 · 07-06-2009, 01:26 PM

Your fixing to put a ton of money into it. Doesn't appear to be what you want and never will be. Sell it now. Find the one you like and want, then all the $$$$$$s and pains hardly hurt at all. JMO

Lloyd

auggie56 · 07-06-2009, 01:35 PM

These cars take a lot of time, money and skill. If you have none of either, I'd find a hard top you like.

carls 56 · 07-06-2009, 01:58 PM

hi ya and welcome! if its been passed down, its got to have some meaning. l would look for a 2dr . drive and enjoy the 4dr

chevender · 07-06-2009, 02:39 PM

We've discussed this topic before and found that to turn a sedan into a hardtop pretty much involves replacing everything from the firewall back to the begining of the trunk lid. So in other words it's not worth it. Now going from a 4 door sedan to a 2 door sedan has been done alot and is not that expencive. So if you want a sedan we can help you. If you want a hard top, Your better off looking for a hardtop body. Good luck in whichever you decide.
Rick

ProjX57 · 07-06-2009, 03:10 PM

As has already been said, if it was handed down, there must be some meaning there.
There are a lot of 4 dr cars that have been built along the pro street line, and look great, there are 4 dr's that have been restored and looked great, and built for hot rodding,and again look great. I would not change it. Drive it and enjoy it, and the meaning it carries with it.
If you want a 2 dr, get one, and don't try and make the classic you have something that it is not, and really could never be. You will not be happy.
It's going to cost some serious ching to find a 2 dr hardtop or sedan, and rebuild or restore it. You might do a search of 4 dr's that has been massaged a little, and see what you can do with what you have, who know's you might actually like it. Nothing wrong with 4 dr's. To answer your question.....Not Feasable.... My .02

Ed

Watchdog · 07-06-2009, 03:21 PM

Poor four doors...they get no love.

bigdave R.I.P. · 07-06-2009, 10:25 PM

chevrolet150 has done a few conversions. try getting a hold of him. great guy

07-06-2009, 12:44 PM	#1
gcander Member Join Date: Jul 2009 gcander's Garage Location: Minnesota Posts: 1 Member #9455	Help: 4-door to 2-door conversion? I have a 56 4-door sedan that has been passed down to me in good condition but I really like the look of the 2-door hard top. How feasible would it be to convert? Will it be more economical to have the sedan converted or spend the money on purchasing a 2-door hard top in need of restoration? If the conversion is the better route to go, would any custom shop be able to do the work for me and still maintain the car’s structural rigidity, or would it only be possible to convert to a 2-door sedan?

07-06-2009, 01:26 PM	#4
Lloyd's 55 Senior Member 3 Gold Stars Join Date: Jul 2007 Lloyd's 55's Garage Location: Denison, Texas Posts: 3,041 Member #3138	Your fixing to put a ton of money into it. Doesn't appear to be what you want and never will be. Sell it now. Find the one you like and want, then all the $$$$$$s and pains hardly hurt at all. JMO Lloyd __________________ *"SUMDAY"* Eatin this ELEPHANT one bite at a time. JUST MAKE IT YOURS, PUT IT ON THE ROAD AND ENJOY IT. I have no desire to leave this world in a beautiful, well preserved body. God willing, I will leave in a totally used up, totally worn out body, Loudly proclaiming "Lord What A Ride". Very soon, "If it ain't rainin, I'll drive a real car". '

07-06-2009, 01:35 PM	#5
auggie56 Trifive Leaders Club Join Date: Jul 2007 auggie56's Garage Location: Toledo Ohio Posts: 7,060 Member #3147	These cars take a lot of time, money and skill. If you have none of either, I'd find a hard top you like. __________________ ‎Free Speech Is Dead ‎ "The White Hut" Toledo Ohio, a popular hangout of the car generation of the sixties.

07-06-2009, 01:58 PM	#6
carls 56 Trifive Leaders Club 2 Ball Pool Champion! Alien Invasion 2 Champion! Altex Champion! Anti Aircraft Gun Champion! Baccarat Champion! Block Buster Champion! Cliff Diver Champion! Get-A-Head Champion! Ninja Turtles 2 Champion! Pong Champion! Super Kickups Champion! Ultimate Ping Champion! Weetabix Games:Running Champion! Clash`N Slash Champion! Graveler Gunblast Champion! Cone Crazy Champion! Bug Hunt Champion! PelPet Champion! Hamster Race Champion! pursuit Champion! Weetabix Games:Cycling Champion! Red Kens Pigeon Cull Champion! Lotads Lament Champion! Desert Dash Champion! Bubble Blubbs Champion! Ed, Edd, Eddy Champion! Snowboarding Santa Champion! piljard Champion! Mini Putt 2 Champion! Weetabix Games:Swimming Champion! J&B Snowman Punch Champion! Roving Reporter Champion! Cone Crazy Champion! Extreme Racing Champion! Pepsi Bucket Launcher Champion! Springfield Snow Fight Champion! Lumpy Artist Champion! Dribble Worldcup Champion! Flyswatter Champion! Subzero Champion! Starfrosch Champion! Tobby Stick Balance Champion! Flash Golf Champion! Fruity Shuffler Champion! Spy Hunter Champion! Juice Squeezer Champion! Spell Catcher Champion! Klingemon Champion! Harry Potter: The Marauder`s Map Champion! Chansey Champion! JigSaw Puzzle Dog Champion! Renault Mr.X Champion! Grab-A-Snack Hurdles Champion! Slider Puzzle Champion! Plops Champion! Conundrum 3D Champion! Join Date: Feb 2008 carls 56's Garage Location: brandy station, va Posts: 33,109 Member #4923	hi ya and welcome! if its been passed down, its got to have some meaning. l would look for a 2dr . drive and enjoy the 4dr __________________ "DRIVE AND ENJOY THEM WHILE YOU WORK ON THEM, LIFES TO SHORT" my toys: 56 4dr 210 & 57 4dr belair ARMY NAM VET (so proud)

07-06-2009, 02:39 PM	#7
chevender RIP: 12-31-2011 Join Date: Dec 2007 chevender's Garage Location: Green Lane PA. Posts: 2,871 Member #4395	We've discussed this topic before and found that to turn a sedan into a hardtop pretty much involves replacing everything from the firewall back to the begining of the trunk lid. So in other words it's not worth it. Now going from a 4 door sedan to a 2 door sedan has been done alot and is not that expencive. So if you want a sedan we can help you. If you want a hard top, Your better off looking for a hardtop body. Good luck in whichever you decide. Rick __________________ Ain't nothin to it, a baby can do it! 57 210 gasser 57 210 wagon

07-06-2009, 12:49 PM	#2
Gary Blake Senior Member 2 Gold Stars Join Date: Aug 2008 Gary Blake's Garage Location: casper,wyoming Posts: 2,712 Member #6221	WElcome! I'd find a two door,

07-06-2009, 01:01 PM	#3
TheHotrodHandyman Senior Member 3 Gold Stars Join Date: Apr 2009 TheHotrodHandyman's Garage Location: Wilmington, Ma./Crystal River, Fl. Posts: 3,361 Member #8438	If finding a 2 door hardtop is out of the question then a conversion to a 2 door sedan is your only reasonable choice unless you just keep the 4 door as it is and enjoy it.

07-06-2009, 03:10 PM	#8
ProjX57 Senior Member 2 Gold Stars Join Date: Nov 2008 ProjX57's Garage Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 2,612 Member #7050	As has already been said, if it was handed down, there must be some meaning there. There are a lot of 4 dr cars that have been built along the pro street line, and look great, there are 4 dr's that have been restored and looked great, and built for hot rodding,and again look great. I would not change it. Drive it and enjoy it, and the meaning it carries with it. If you want a 2 dr, get one, and don't try and make the classic you have something that it is not, and really could never be. You will not be happy. It's going to cost some serious ching to find a 2 dr hardtop or sedan, and rebuild or restore it. You might do a search of 4 dr's that has been massaged a little, and see what you can do with what you have, who know's you might actually like it. Nothing wrong with 4 dr's. To answer your question.....Not Feasable.... My .02 Ed __________________ Ed............aka Speed 57 Chevy 210 2dr sdn " I've Done So Much, For So Long, With So Little, That I Am Now Qualified To Do Anything With Nothing".

07-06-2009, 03:21 PM	#9
Watchdog Senior Member 1 Gold Star Jumpin Joe Champion! Super Splash Champion! Havana Club 2 Champion! Join Date: Apr 2008 Watchdog's Garage Location: Darlington, SC Home of "The Track Too Tough To Tame" Posts: 1,129 Member #5274	Poor four doors...they get no love. __________________ 55 Bel Air

07-06-2009, 10:25 PM	#10
bigdave R.I.P. Trifive on Facebook Admin Join Date: Aug 2008 bigdave R.I.P.'s Garage Location: Coopersville, MI Posts: 1,834 Member #6272	chevrolet150 has done a few conversions. try getting a hold of him. great guy

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