Thread: 61 impala sport sedan

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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.

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.

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?

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?

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!