1966 Coronet 4 door sedan to 2 door sedan changeover

[JimM]

I picked up a 1966 Coronet 440 4 door sedan that is pretty nice and I'm considering this car for the 4 door to 2 door sedan changeover, anybody got some information on doing this and all the parts that I'll need to do the job. I have a first rate body man to work with so the labor thing will be taken care of correctly. I really want to know what I'm getting into and if the donor parts will be problematic to find. Thanks for the input. Jim M.

 

[Cranky]

You will need the post from a 2dr post car to replace the one on the 4dr car. They are completely different. The rest is sheet metal and only comes from another Coronet but the post from a Belvedere will work. It's a lot of work but doable not to mention you'll need the doors from another post car.

 

[747mopar]

Cool idea, I've seen it done before so it's definetly doable. Sounds like cranky's got it covered. Post pics of the progress. Good luck

 

[chignikred]

dont start a changeover until you have all the right parts in hand. If you can salvage the 2 door sedan, Observe all the construction details in midsection.

 

[kb67mopar]

Dont forget you need doors with frames to go along with the post, rear windows etc. if you find a post car why not just refurbish that?

 

[696pack]

You can find 66-67 2 door sedan cars in good condition for WAY less than you will have in this conversion. Do yourself a favor and look around and save youself time, agony and money.

 

[tpodwdog]

wouldnt it be easier and CHEAPER to just buy a 2 door ?

 

[JimM]

wouldnt it be easier and CHEAPER to just buy a 2 door ?

You might be right, actually you probably are right. What I have is a very nice 4 door that I got in a purchase with another car. The other car is worth what I paid for both of them so I don't have much in the Coronet. The body guy isn't scared of this conversion and in the end it will probably end up as a car that I occasionally will take drag racing but be street legal. I could make a little bit selling it but nowhere near enough to get a solid two door sedan which seem to be getting a little tougher to locate in rust free unmolested condition. Am I unrealistic to think that I can find the parts and do the actual work for maybe four to five thousand? This won't be going to a body shop, my friend and I will do the work in my shop. I really appreciate your input and opinions. We'll see where this takes me.
Jim M.

 

[696pack]

The cost will depend on what the parts cost you. There is hardly nothing repoed for 66-67 B bodies as far as sheet metal goes so you will have to find a donor 2 dr body anyway. You can find some nice rust free bodies for these cars in the $4-5K range or less and you won't have the unknown cost of converting a 4 door.

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This might be the answer for you, it is on your side of the country.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/3405492307.html

 

[whitepunkonnitro]

You can simply section the rear door to form the front part of the quarter panel,move the existing post back to the 2 door position, and then add window frame to a pair of hardtop donor doors. Sounds like a neat project...post pics as you go along.

 

[Cranky]

whitepunk, you need to take another look at this. It's not that simple and in case you missed post #2, the 4dr post is 'totally' different than what you need to make this work right. Heck, you would be better off using the bottom half of a hardtop door jamb and mate the upper half of the 4dr jamb to it. You would then at least have a place to weld the quarter panel to it. I'll post some pics later if you don't understand what I'm talking about. I have both 2dr post and 4dr post cars sitting at my shop to take pics of....

 

[JimM]

whitepunk, you need to take another look at this. It's not that simple and in case you missed post #2, the 4dr post is 'totally' different than what you need to make this work right. Heck, you would be better off using the bottom half of a hardtop door jamb and mate the upper half of the 4dr jamb to it. You would then at least have a place to weld the quarter panel to it. I'll post some pics later if you don't understand what I'm talking about. I have both 2dr post and 4dr post cars sitting at my shop to take pics of....

Cranky, the pictures would aid in this discussion significantly, I'm thinking at this point a decent of sedan doors would really help out so that is what I'm on the hunt for right now as well as the other parts. If I had to start out with hardtop doors that would be OK too.

Thanks everyone, keep the information coming, it is good to hear from all of you that can help out on this one. Jim M.

 

[moparmarks]

I don't know about the 66/7 but a few people had done it to a 62/5B. 2-door sedans start out as 4-doors. The factory adds the 2-door quarter assy to the 4-door body.
I too ask the question. Is it worth it to cut up a 2-dr sedan? I have a 2-dr sedan shell that is missing most everything and needs floors and trank pan. No title but has nice quarter assys. Would be a good doner but all the labor to do the job, I don't know.

 

[Cranky]

First pic is of a factory built 2dr post car. I'm pretty sure a hardtop jamb looks the same and could probably be used if you had the upper section. The second pic is of a 4dr post. Upper section looks to be the same but the lower section is totally different.

This pic is also of the 2dr car and the 4th pic is of the 4dr.

 

[moparmarks]

H/T jams have a slot for the window to roll down.

 

[Cranky]

It depends on the car...and if you can find a nice 2dr post. Yeah, they are out there but in my area, it's not that easy to find 66-67 post cars. I had another 66 post car and I wish now that I had saved the posts and at least the forward section of the quarters. The rest of the car is pretty much junk. ALL the floors were gone and even the roof was rusted around the edges and I ended up selling it for 400 bucks. Another problem was the doors were already gone. The guy bought it to build a 2dr post wagon. I hope he realized how different the jambs are. Sure, you can use the 4dr jambs but they will require a bunch more work. It all just depends on what you have available.

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H/T jams have a slot for the window to roll down.

The windows on the post cars roll down too....or am I missing something? They are not like the 68 and up post cars that have the pop out rear windows.

 

[moparmarks]

Well you have to change out the B-post back. Can't use the 4-dr B-post. Most just cut the rocker right in front of the jam and make the splice there.

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No your not missing anything. Here is the H/T jam.

 

[Cranky]

Oh Ok! Been awhile since I've been around a hardtop and was thinking about the window track I guess....

 

[kb67mopar]

I don't have most of my photos available but here is one from my thread of a side shot for reference.

 

[696pack]

It depends on the car...and if you can find a nice 2dr post. Yeah, they are out there but in my area, it's not that easy to find 66-67 post cars. I had another 66 post car and I wish now that I had saved the posts and at least the forward section of the quarters. The rest of the car is pretty much junk. ALL the floors were gone and even the roof was rusted around the edges and I ended up selling it for 400 bucks. Another problem was the doors were already gone. The guy bought it to build a 2dr post wagon. I hope he realized how different the jambs are. Sure, you can use the 4dr jambs but they will require a bunch more work. It all just depends on what you have available.

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The windows on the post cars roll down too....or am I missing something? They are not like the 68 and up post cars that have the pop out rear windows.

Yes they roll down but only part way and the back windows have a frame around them. If I remember correctly the hardtop windows pitch either forward or backwards as they roll down and roll down completely unlike the 2 door sedan rear windows.