61 impala sport sedan

Yeah, you'd end up with the wider C pillar and smaller rear glass like the white one but with 2 doors like the blue one. I'm thinking part of this would be easier than a 2 dr post conversion because the area of the open side windows will remain unchanged. The hardtop side glass upper channel wouldn't change, you'd just be lengthening the door glass and shorting the rear door (quarter) glass.

Definitely intriguing, I'm going to bring home the front doors from the other car next time I'm up there and put some more thought to it.

I'd go for it, Your going to get some people scratching their heads on the Grand Prix, might as well do it on this one too!! :)

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Originally Posted by falconvan

Yeah, you'd end up with the wider C pillar and smaller rear glass like the white one but with 2 doors like the blue one. I'm thinking part of this would be easier than a 2 dr post conversion because the area of the open side windows will remain unchanged. The hardtop side glass upper channel wouldn't change, you'd just be lengthening the door glass and shorting the rear door (quarter) glass.

Definitely intriguing, I'm going to bring home the front doors from the other car next time I'm up there and put some more thought to it.

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Intriguing indeed. I am sitting here at work comparing those 2 side by side pics and realizing that while I've seen many of those cars.. I've never paid attention to them, especially the body lines and style! my brain isn't hip to your idea completely :LOL: but I am trying to digest it in smaller bites (lol) it will surely be different and folks like me will be going "huh?" there's something about that car.. or is there?? Maybe it'll just be seamless and no-one would ever know it was ever changed!! Confused yet? I am! :eek::eek::LOL::D

if you know somebody who can draw a little get them to do you a chip foose rendition of your car as a two hardtop conversion .. it should be pretty easy as the car has mostly straight lines .. i doodled in car drawing when i was younger but i could see a lot better then ..

Many moons ago I got in on one of those more door to a two door deals, but it was on an Olds Vista Cruiser wagon! He had the doors off (I believe) a 2 dr. hardtop Delta 88 or 98. We went back to the salvage yard he got the door from and cut out the appropriate door post section and some extra sheet metal off the quarter panels and went to work. It was a heck of a lot of time, very little expense, and the end result was a very unique 2 dr. hardtop station wagon. I don't see any reason you couldn't do it on your more door hardtop, go for it! After all, unique is what we seek but bizarre is what we are!

It looks like the front door would have to be lengthened about 10" to make it the same as a two door door. The only other immediate weirdness I see is that the back edge of the four door front door is V shaped to accommodate when the rear door opens.

I did a little surgery on paper and it looks like the body lines would end up in about the same place.

I cropped you other photo so I could do an "almost" side by side.. well at least on the same page. This is really (to me) an interesting concept/idea.
I hope you can go after it, I for one will be sure to following along. 8-)

How about windows? Would you have to make a special windows for the doors? What would you do with the back window, would you make it so I could roll down?

( Edit, never mind I reread some earlier posts)

I think all I would have to do is have a longer front glass cut and shorten the rear glass & possibly the regulator track. The upper glass channel should stay the same. the hardtop glass has a stainless channel attached all the way around it to seal against the gasket on the upper channel so that would have to be modified with the glass. Could probably make a mock up in plexi and then have the real glass cut when you get it right.

Yep, I can see the vision.

Just an idea.. what if you just used the long doors from the 2 door coupe but cut away the B pillar frame? And then used the window "frame" section from the 4 door at the back to seal / support the glass sections..

It'sa thought?

If I had a coupe I definitely would. Both cars are 4 doors, this one a hardtop and the parts car is a 4 door post.

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Originally Posted by falconvan

If I had a coupe I definitely would. Both cars are 4 doors, this one a hardtop and the parts car is a 4 door post.

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AH.. good point! As you were. LOL I'll go back to lurking now.. LOL

Lol! Well they do both have 2 doors; 2 sets of 2 doors.

So looking at this in a little more detail. The B pillar looks easy enough to move and the metal work on the doors I’m not too concerned about. It’s the little detail stuff on the windows I’d have to figure out. These hardtop windows have stainless trim attached to the glass that seats into the hardtop seal. The back trim has to be shortened which looks easy but the front windows would need a piece added in. Not sure how I’d do that and make it look nice. Same with the stainless trim cap on top of the door. It holds the window fuzzie so it needs to be there.

I’m going up to my buddy’s place next Saturday to strip some stuff off the parts car. I’m going to bring back a door and will get a better idea if this is going to work or not.

How about using the B pillar off the donor car you will be getting the doors from?

The donor car is a four door post. I think moving the B pillar on this will be easy enough; it’s just how to lengthen that stainless trim around the glass I’m a little confused on. Can you weld that stuff and polish without it looking like it was welded together?

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Originally Posted by falconvan

; it’s just how to lengthen that stainless trim around the glass I’m a little confused on. Can you weld that stuff and polish without it looking like it was welded together?

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It'll take the right equipment ( probably TIG) and someone who knows how to run it, but yes, if it is stainless, it can be welded then ground and polished. I'd be willing to bet that a MIG with the proper wire could do a fine job also.But you'll need some "scrap" pieces to practice with too. Practice makes perfect right!?!?

Another thought.. find the door glass with frame used.. it'sa Impala.. there has to be some out there right?

My .02 is to use tig and either stainless rod, else a sliver from the donor frame as filler rod. I could probably do it myself, but making it dead perfect, probably not.

Good ideas; I’ll bet any GM hardtop from that era would have a similar trim on the glass.

Ok, I like that better.

Video progress!
https://youtu.be/vlSbxdLOhuA

Hey Pat,
Ya' done great on the video!! As you were talking about the problems my mind immediately went to "...how about using a section out of the middle of the donor door?" I think your approach of using the skin, moving the end piece back, then filling in the inside gap is a killer idea! It's gonna be cool, and the coolest part is you telling folks it's a unique 2-door hardtop with a 4-door roof! Thanks for posting!

Thanks, Roger! I had the same idea at first but then I thought 2 horizontal weld joints in the door skin that close together would really be hard to do without warping the sheet metal.
Fingers crossed that it works; I’m committed!

Hey all, I’m starting up a You Tube channel called Savin’ Junk where I’m going to post videos on this and other car builds along with other projects and how to’s. So if you watch this video again or any upcoming videos, please hit “like” and “subscribe “ below the video!

Next video is up!

https://youtu.be/EEYuxJ3hlEU

It’s coming along pretty good; got the B pillar figured out tonight.
https://youtu.be/KylYQYxxoVY

Progress!! Looking good!

Amazing! Really enjoy the videos.

Thanks, I hope everyone is cool with me posting this way. I’m not trying to just advertise for my channel; I like doing it this way more than posting a few pics and writing a description. Downside is you have to look at my ugly mug along with the car!

Next one is up: https://youtu.be/HeveJsc-qRw

The "noodling out" process comes through better on a vid than the more compact result from writing afterward, so can be a better explanation in a way.

Cool if the interest is there I’ll keep going this route

I like pictures in threads and that being said I'll add that I really enjoy your videos.
A wise man once said "A picture is worth a thousand words" and that is very true, but a video is 10 times better.

Last video of the week; heading out of town for a few days
https://youtu.be/pL0Ed31Sp4s

Getting close to wrapping up side 1
https://youtu.be/zVWn3RPgigg

Hoping to be finished with welding and grinding on this side after this weekend
https://youtu.be/HJh5DKXvEFI

Sorry for some really bad goofs in that video! Lol! Note to self; watch and edit before you post. Somehow I got part of it in slow motion and deleted the ending.

I'm kind of changing my mind on a few things here; I saw a picture of another 61 with a black interior and really liked it so I'm thinking of going that route. Maybe keep the same outside color, not sure yet.

I'm also tossing around some ideas of some kind of custom front grill. Maybe piece in something from a Mopar or Mercury from a similar year?

Side 1 metal work done!
https://youtu.be/Z9bJF3EPhdQ

Working on side glass
https://youtu.be/AxMo8YkXoFk