Register now to get rid of these ads!

Customs 61 Impala Sport Sedan

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by falconvan, Jun 25, 2021.

  1. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    You're right; there's not. It's more of wanting to see if I have the skills to pull it off successfully than not liking the 4 door.
     
    loudbang and BigDogSS like this.
  2. I have helped on one of these conversions. The best way to do it is 2dr doors AND B Pillar. GM spot welded these in. then the rear door becomes the skin for the back
     
  3. 49C3E103-FE4D-47B2-9BFD-042FC0BDE317.jpeg
    Ive seen this one naked. Converted more door.
    I understand your conundrum. I have a more door merc and a two door parts car.
    You just have to decide it you want to do the work and if the final result is worth it.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2021
    falconvan likes this.
  4. 4 door hardtop 1961 impala SS clone! The unicorn that has been discussed for years around here!....several have believed they saw one back in the day, we can never get definitive proof, except Chevy brochures...
     
    mr57, Moriarity, loudbang and 2 others like this.
  5. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    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. 1961-chevy-impala-4-door-no-post-sports-sedan-1 (2).jpg door section.jpg
     
    41 GMC K-18, brEad, DBruce and 2 others like this.
  6. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    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. 3EC2875B-4BAF-43F0-9B16-834F93DAF0EE.jpeg 8B8906CF-0710-4301-92B5-D0EBBDE664C0.jpeg D07BF3B0-3413-4589-8B9B-E78D1D58CABE.jpeg
     

    Attached Files:

  7. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    Ok, I like that better. CC379828-7B4D-408D-92DF-6043229704BE.jpeg
     
  8. How bout suicide rear doors.
    That would look cool on a HT.
    Keep the door handles.
     
    loudbang and falconvan like this.
  9. lippy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 6,825

    lippy
    Member
    from Ks

    Since your doing bodywork anyway.................. lol lippy
     
    falconvan and loudbang like this.
  10. deuceman32
    Joined: Oct 23, 2007
    Posts: 459

    deuceman32
    Member

    I think you might find that the trim on the tops of the side glass is actually chrome plated steel, at least it is on my 61. (2dr hardtop). Is your plan to make the front doors the same length as a production 2 door hardtop? The repops are $66 per side at Show Cars;
    [​IMG]
     
    falconvan and loudbang like this.
  11. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    Great info, thanks! That's the goal; from what I can tell the difference in length between a 4 dr hardtop front door and a 2dr hardtop front door is 10".
     
    loudbang likes this.
  12. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

  13. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    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!
     
  14. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    Next video is up!
     
  15. mrspeedyt
    Joined: Sep 26, 2009
    Posts: 989

    mrspeedyt
    Member

    i had a 62 cad ‘sedan de ville’ four door hardtop. same exact roof and window line as the ‘coupe de ville’ two door hardtop. only difference was the length of the front doors and placement of the B pillar.
     
    DBruce, falconvan and loudbang like this.
  16. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    Interesting! I think either Olds, Pontiac, or Buick had a 61 or 62 two dr hardtop that used the same bubbletop as the Impala. I saw a transplanted roof from one done on a 61 Belair and it looked pretty well done.
     
    41 GMC K-18 and loudbang like this.
  17. BigDogSS
    Joined: Jan 8, 2009
    Posts: 979

    BigDogSS
    Member
    from SoCal

    Wow! Great job! On both the metal work and the video!
    FYI --> in 1961, the Bel Air was also available in a 2-door BubbleTop roof.
    All three (Buick, Olds, Pontiac) did use the same BubbleTop roof in 1961 as Chevrolet. They also used the "Cadillac" roof on the upper scale models for Buick and Olds.
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2021
    loudbang and falconvan like this.
  18. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

  19. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    The plan is to lengthen the front regulator track and have a longer piece of glass cut, and shorten the rear. I’ll probably mock the glass up with some 1/4 plywood to trial fit it.
     
  20. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,136

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    I've had good luck with 3/16" Masonite for mocking up window patterns.
     
    DBruce and falconvan like this.
  21. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    Works great for door panels, too.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  22. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    It’s coming along pretty good, got the B pillar figured out tonight
     
  23. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

  24. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    Last video of the week; heading out of town for a few days.
     
  25. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    Getting close to wrapping up side 1
     
  26. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    Hoping to be finished with welding and grinding on this side after this weekend
     
    41 GMC K-18, Okie Pete and loudbang like this.
  27. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    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? s-l1600 (3).jpg s-l1600 (5).jpg s-l1600 (7).jpg
     
  28. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    Side 1 metal work done!
     
  29. Pat, wonderful project. I did a 64 2 dr post years ago. Took 3 cars to get one finished, typical northern rusted out vehicles. While I am certain that you have checked the rear body mounts, I thought it might be prudent to mention how those boxed in mounts collect everything and rust away sagging the vehicle in those corners. I noticed in a trunk shot that it appears there is something going on with the right mount popping thru into the trunk. Might just be the camera shot but worth a modest mention to save you the aggravation later down the road.
    Challenging build, glad it is you doing it and not me. HA :)
     
    41 GMC K-18, loudbang and falconvan like this.
  30. falconvan
    Joined: Apr 2, 2008
    Posts: 1,128

    falconvan
    Member
    from festus, Mo

    Thanks! I appreciate you taking the time to check out the video. Absolutely agree on the body mounts but thankfully these are all in good shape. The guy I got it from had wire brushed the whole underside of the car and hit it with POR-15 several years ago.

    Your 64 sounds cool; I'd like to see a few pics of it. You get so many people who are like, "If you want a 2dr why not just buy one instead of doing all that work?" They don't get that the point IS doing all the work. It's not that I'm just dying to own a 2dr 1961 Chevy so I'm going to take the easiest route to get there. It's the process; the planning, the calculating, the exercising and increasing of your skills to reach the end and feel the satisfaction of accomplishing a difficult project. That's wherein lies the enjoyment for me. Yeah, I could probably afford to take out a loan, go to a classic car lot and buy a finished 2 dr. But for me, the enjoyment is in the process of the build. Then I'll take it to one of the classic car lots, put it up for sale on consignment, and someone else can buy it and enjoy it while I build the next one.
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2021

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.