Another 2dr conversion - 1962 Plymouth

Picked up this '62 Belvedere awhile back and decided to do another 2dr sedan conversion. I had access to a clapped out sedan for the quarter sections and traded for some rust free doors.

Today I removed the seats and trimmed down the donor sections. Tomorrow I'll remove the ds doors, bolt in the 2dr sedan door and test fit new quarter section. Will begin removing sheet metal in original rear door jam also to match what is supposed to be like for the 2dr sedan.

This was my first attempt. 63 Plymouth wagon. Wish I had kept.

A lot done this am.

wow! great project. Is it really as easy as you're making it look? Not taking away from the work you're doing, just wondering how many nice solid four doors could have been saved over the years by doing this conversion. Love the look of the early B Bodies.

I think it's too easy. I've run across many of both and unfortunately years ago never thought about. Most of the sedans were soooo rusty and probably scrapped unfortunately and the 4drs gave up the parts. Hardest physical part of this conversion is the time consuming spot weld drilling and that's not even hard just time consuming.

I'm doing a 63 Plymouth after mine for a buddy. He couldn't find a true 2dr sedan he could afford that was solid.

Have done a little more trimming and fitting the last couple days. Have cut out where the rear door jam was. Did this to open up that area as it would be on the sedan. Spent extra time on getting drivers door aligned so could fit the donor quarter piece in and have it lined up so gaps are correct. Now that have everything fitted correctly I'll take it all apart again and sofa blast the donor quarter, door and drill the spot weld holes on the interior perimeter.

lookin good!

Coming along.

fantastic work. your wagon looked killer

More work today.

Wow, look. A three door.

Great work so far! I have a pair of 64 conversion panels I saved, I want to do this conversion.

I like it!

Stan

All welded in and body work roughed in. Looking pretty good. Need to fix a dent at door line still.

Nicely done, what a great project!

Was busy today. Took apart passenger side, bolted in door and aligned donor section

All welded up.

All done with the conversion. Now time to strip trim and massage rest of car in prep for paint.

Great job! You're a talented guy as you make it look easy.

Darn it you've now got me out looking at my 4 dr 62 (the one you sold me the door panels for) wondering if I should do the same thing.

Keep up the good work. Anxious to see it finished.

I'm getting ready to do my buddies 63 Plymouth I sold him. Picked up some doors and quarter sections. It blows everyone's mind that stops by and checks out. I got tired of trying to find and afford an original 2dr locally or even somewhat close. If I could find another solid 4dr I'd buy and stash away until found another wasted donor car (donors are even hard to find)

Thanks guys.

X2

Started on another one. This ones a 63.

Had to make a pair of ht doors into sedan. Bottoms and other spots on sedan doors turned into nightmare

So what do you do about the title or putting license on a car that has been converted? How do you explain to the police officer that runs your tag and it comes back to a 4 door car but it's now a 2 door.

Never had an issue with. Title/registration still says 4dr. If ever pulled over I guess keep a picture or two of project in glove box to show em was a 4dr... If they ask.

I guess a guy could have inspected also to have title show 2dr but not sure how that would play out if sold down road. Ethically one would want to pass on to others down the road it was converted. Me personally, I leave title as is.

Some progress on the 63.

Very cool!!!
Pat

great job....

For what it's worth, I sold a 65 Belvedere 4 dr to a local guy two years back. He did the 2 dr conversion. Did a very very nice job on it, detailed the entire engine and undercarriage, all new interior and the body in primer, only to run into problems and had to sell it.

He listed it on eBay. Told me he got a lot of gas from potential buyers, claiming they would have troubles registering in their state(s). No idea how true that may be, or it they were just blowing, but it did slow down the sale. He ended up selling it outside of eBay to a guy in Florida who didn't care a bit about the title saying 4 door.

I've a 64 Dodge 330 that's been converted, and haven't been concerned about the title situation. I'll do it again down the road I'm sure.

Nice job ,that is going to be a sweet car !!

I really don't see what the big deal is, the car and VIN match, what law is violated by changing the number of doors? Unlikely the traffic stop is based on the number doors on a car driving down the road. As far as enay buyers, they likely were looking for hook to beat down the price. You could also just throw the two replaced rear doors in the trunk upon selling, and call it a DIY 4 door. In Florida they ask for color of the car upon registering it, the clerk didn't like any of my answers that included rust, natural or clear, as car was stripped at the time. I suspect the car color now is brought up on the LEO's automatic license plate recognition cameras, surprised if it now includes a door count.

I don't see issue either and agree that a potential buyer brining up it was a 4dr are definately wanting to beat down price, otherwise if they were turned off by it they wouldn't even be trying to buy.

But, all being said I called and asked dmv their opinion out of curiosity.. Basically told not a problem, leave as is or come pick up a form, have it inspected and verified by officials and they would change title to reflect it now as a 2dr. So went and picked form up, had inspected and received many compliments on car and now car registered as 2dr and new title on way reflecting the same.

Did run into one issue that was quickly changed into a non issue. Officer mentioned while going over car he noticed the VIN plate was missing it's rivets and started to raise a stink. Had to inform him the early b bodies had VIN plate spot welded in place versus rivets and holes were for alingment only. His comment, wow I learned something new today.

Back on main subject, have good quarter patch section going into passengers side for conversion. But, drivers side donor outer quarter metal is junk and outer wheel house pretty jacked up. Seems like was hit on opening and was "fixed" poorly in past and has lots of hidden rust. So after consulting with owner of car we decided better to put a new complete AMD quarter on drivers side and a new wheel house. Excited about this cause new quarter looks amazing and going to make conversion a snap.

Picked up some parts for my 62. Have had the cross ram but scored a great pair of stage II Max wedge heads today. Been on shelf for years after getting hardened seats, new guides and more. Were painted to protect and that it did.

Getting close to sealing up the drivers side on the 63. New inner frame welded in and fitting new quarter.