Technical 63 Belair 2 door conversion

Here's a roached out 2dr '63 in your area for $1000 (probably less since they say "want it gone"). That could be a good donor to your conversion project. It's a hardtop though, so maybe not.




https://springfield.craigslist.org/cto/6044482102.html

 

A hardtop would add a ton of complexity to the project. And for the record, I like the hopped up 6 cylinder. I just don't see that combination of pieces as being a "gasser".

 

Let's not lose sight of the fact that our friend , after a relatively complex 2 dr. changeover, wants to hack the wheel openings out, and make the tires stick out, like in the 70's.
I just wanted to remind those who are encouraging him here.
I think the 70's cars he remembers were probably ET bracket cars, of which there might have been about five in the world of any historical significance .

 

Well if you allready have the tires...

 

Charlie Chops 1940 is right about there not being any Gassers out of 59-'64 Chevys back in the day. But the Super Stocks were jacked up for traction too and took on that classic gasser attitude. Interesting project doing the conversion of a 4 door into 2 door


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

The best looking bubble top clone I've seen was a 62 with a 59 Impala roof. The roof line winds up looking lower then the clones with 61 roofs. I sure wouldn't mind having either one.

Gary

 

Sent from my Z981 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I'd just find a 2 door. Converting to a 2 door would make more since if the cars were near extinction. Way too much work when you could just buy the 2 door and save yourself ALOT of work and time and have the car you want quicker. It'll also save you the "what have I got myself into" abandoned project.

Sent from my A520L using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Personally I'd leave that one alone and go find a neglected two door to build my gasser/fx car out of. You don't need or even want a runner you just need a reasonably solid body and decent frame and a title or good paperwork that you can get a title with.
That would leave you the family heirloom to drive or cruise and a hot rod project that doesn't kill off the family heirloom if or when the work gets to be too much. You also have the 4 door to cruise in and not be sitting there saying "awh shit what the hell did I do" when things just don't go together as planed .
I full and well understand the want to with the car you have but my personal experience and being 70 with 46 years of hot rod experience behind me says building a new car rather than cutting up the old car is a lot wiser idea.

 

drugs are bad mmmm k

 

None of this belongs on a traditional hotrod forum

 

Low Budget hit it right on the head, not only do the look classy but easier for the entire family to ride with ya'. After all, our goal should be getting everyone out having fun.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I think this may fall into the "not worth the effort" category, nothing wrong with a more door. Get a tu-door if you can't live with the nice 4 door that you already have looking awesome. Just my two cents!!

 

I say your plan throws the sentimental/family heirloom value out the window. Just get a two door.

 

I f----g hate the word 'gasser' and this is why. Not trying to s--t on your dreams dude, I love 63 chevys, I love gas class cars from the 60's, but those two don't intersect, ever. X-frame chevys are stock/super stock cars, customs, lowriders, and they're cool when they're original. Your car looks sweet as is man, just leave it alone. Especially if you're leaving a six banger in it.

As far as the two door conversion thing, I've done it, it sucks, don't do it. If you need 'garage time' there are 63 2-doors out there that need tlc, just save your pennies and buy one.

 

Do not do this. Few things look worse.

 

Hack it up. Our 'Sitting and Rotting' thread can always use more material.

Seriously. Got the skills and tools? Do it. And finish the job right and completely
...or just restore and fix up it as the 4 door that it is, 'cause as a long held and valued family heirloom, you will refuse to part with it.
So if you don't get your rear in gear fix to it up one way or the other,
Or if you hack it up to make it a '2 door' and then don't finish it, its just going to end up sitting around and rotting into the ground anyway.
Like a million others have.
If you're serious, stop diddling around cobbling in stainless steel scrap.
Properly formed repair panels for your Chevy aren't that hard to obtain.

A '63 Chevy 4 door is by no stretch of imagination a 'Traditional Hot Rod".

 

Well, It does need the left rear door painted , so might as well make into a 2 dr while he's at it.

 

Embrace the doors. You have a nice economical family cruiser and trying to make a two door gasser out of it is a mistake. Wrong car for that.

 

I disagree, chopping up cars to suit your own needs and tastes is part of hot rodding.

 

If you need a donor sedan I saw one on Wichita C/L. I cant remember maybe a 62. I'll try and find it. Lippy

https://wichita.craigslist.org/cto/6051228305.html

 

I don't see the reason to take out your frustrations on a nice car. Lol in all seriousness I'd go with a different car for a gasser older cars always "look better". But then again I feel sorry for every car that has ever been turned into a gasser as I despise the look. The lower the better in my book.

Sent from my XT1585 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Gasser look cars definitely have place in traditional hot rodding. However, in all reality, I think they've jumped the shark already. Take a look at the F/B GASSERS page, if you don't believe me.

 

Couldn't agree more. 30 years from now when some kid wants to make a gasser out of his honda civic and do a 2-door conversion he'll post it here.

 

Cut up a decent 62 post to 'help' make a 63 4-door a 2-door?? I fail miserably to see the logic. Complete waste of two cars. Not one piece of sheetmetal interchanges 62 to 63.

 

talk to the salmon. it's easy to swim down steam, hard to swim up stream. if you want to swim up stream streach it and add two more doors, limo style!

 

1963hoopty I am sorry you posted your question on this forum. Not because I think you have a bad idea. I am an avid hot rod and custom guy. Been building cars for myself and customers for over 40 years , over 200 cars! your project is an easy one. follow Squablow's examples and google converting 4 door cars to 2 doors and look at all the post on other forums and video's . this is evidently a restoration forum here led by a bunch of "experts" who would not know how to customize a car if their life depended on it. And next time state that you want to fashion the looks of your car as a 60's drag car, since most people on here do not understand that the term Gasser is a early 60's slang term referring to the Gas coupe/sedan and roadster street class's formed by NHRA in the late 50's ! And yes 63 chevys competed in those classes with souped up 6 cylinders at that. Larry

 

Larry, I, for one appreciate your experience and enthusiasm. But I don't see the point of bad mouthing a bunch of HAMBers here , many of whom have already figured out that this ain't gonna happen.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/any-chop-top-62-64-chevys.972634/

 

Is this what you are looking 4 it has a 250 .PM me if interested I have two many projects