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Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe?

Posted By: dssaa

Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/04/24 10:24 PM

Looking at a 70 Roadrunner post car. We are thinking about a Superbird clone, but weren't all Superbirds Coupes? Never seen a post one. Is it possible to convert a post car to a coupe? How would I do it? If I am builiding a Bird, I want to do it so it looks as accurate as possible. Any insights would help.
Thanks
Dave in Colorado
Posted By: Neil

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 12:02 AM

Possible, but I'd imagine the door jamb and roof would need some metal work in order to get the glass to fit and work right. Personally I would just get a 2 door hardtop Satellite or Belvedere body instead and go from there.
Posted By: topside

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 12:33 AM

'68-'70 Coupes - all Belvedere 2-doors, early-'68 RRs - zero Belvedere HTs.
Coupes have a full B-pillar (rocker to roof), HTs don't.
Coupes had pop-out quarter glass hinged at the B-pillar, and different door glass & upper weatherstripping.
The differences can't possibly be worth doing a conversion.
All Superbirds were HTs, zero Coupes.
Superbird conversion also requires the nose cone & headlamp stuff, Coronet fenders & hood, back glass plug, etc etc.
Every once in a while a clone-Superbird project pops up for sale.
Posted By: dssaa

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by Neil
Possible, but I'd imagine the door jamb and roof would need some metal work in order to get the glass to fit and work right. Personally I would just get a 2 door hardtop Satellite or Belvedere body instead and go from there.


I have been looking and every Satellite I find is too rusted to even entertain building a Bird. I found this Roadrunner, pretty solid. I would prefer a Satellite or Belvedere, and keep the Roadrunner a Roadrunner....
Posted By: Stanton

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 02:42 AM

Removing the post is a piece of cake, its just spot welded in there like the rest of the car. However you're gonna need a few things ...

Rear roll-down windows and assemblies. The appropriate side panels. The proper top and bottom trim. Door windows for a hardtop.

There may be a few other tidbits but I think I covered most of it. Go for it !
Posted By: Stanton

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 02:44 AM

Quote
Coupes have a full B-pillar (rocker to roof), HTs don't.


Oh yeah ! Go tell that to my car ! The post is CLEARLY a separate piece.
Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by dssaa
Looking at a 70 Roadrunner post car. We are thinking about a Superbird clone, but weren't all Superbirds Coupes? Never seen a post one. Is it possible to convert a post car to a coupe? How would I do it? If I am builiding a Bird, I want to do it so it looks as accurate as possible. Any insights would help.
Thanks
Dave in Colorado
Coupe had posts, hardtops do not tsk
Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 01:11 PM

Quote
Removing the post is a piece of cake, its just spot welded in there like the rest of the car. However you're gonna need a few things ...



2dr. coupes are lighter than hardtops ... by more than what the roll up window mechanism weighs ... there is more in the body structure than the spot welded post to support that open space from the A pillar to the C pillar.
Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by dssaa
Looking at a 70 Roadrunner post car. We are thinking about a Superbird clone, but weren't all Superbirds Coupes? Never seen a post one. Is it possible to convert a post car to a coupe? How would I do it? If I am builiding a Bird, I want to do it so it looks as accurate as possible. Any insights would help.
Thanks
Dave in Colorado


The 2 door post is considered a coupe in the B body Mopar platform , what you want to turn that car into is a hardtop.

It's more that just taking out the pillar , I'd keep looking for a hardtop suitable donor.
Posted By: A12

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by JohnRR
Originally Posted by dssaa
Looking at a 70 Roadrunner post car. We are thinking about a Superbird clone, but weren't all Superbirds Coupes? Never seen a post one. Is it possible to convert a post car to a coupe? How would I do it? If I am builiding a Bird, I want to do it so it looks as accurate as possible. Any insights would help.
Thanks
Dave in Colorado


The 2 door post is considered a coupe in the B body Mopar platform , what you want to turn that car into is a hardtop.

It's more that just taking out the pillar , I'd keep looking for a hardtop suitable donor.


Quote
The 2 door post is considered a coupe in the B body Mopar platform ,



Not if you're Hemmings! laugh2 Saw this last night on the net confused And here I thought it was a '70 GTX Hardtop not a '69 hardtop post/coupe ??

Attached picture GTX HARDTOP COUPE 69 NOT 70 DUH 01.jpg
Posted By: poorboy

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 07:24 PM

Wow! Someone posted incorrect information online?? Even in Hemmings?

I'm shocked! What is the world coming to?
Posted By: A12

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by poorboy
Wow! Someone posted incorrect information online?? Even in Hemmings?

I'm shocked! What is the world coming to?


It's not incorrect information, it was posted on the internet so it must be true! wink
Posted By: jlatessa

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 10:02 PM

^^^^^^^LOVE IT..

Joe
Posted By: BDW

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/05/24 10:49 PM

Time for a dumb question.......
What's the difference between a post and hardtop, never hrd of this.
Only have an E-body.
Posted By: topside

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/06/24 12:22 AM

BDW - I explained that in an earlier response.
Posted By: BDW

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/06/24 12:34 AM

Sorry for the sidetrack, googled b-pillar.
Didn't know 2-door cars had the solid floor to roof deal?
Thought that was only on 4-door cars.
Posted By: Stanton

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/06/24 02:30 AM

Originally Posted by BDW

Didn't know 2-door cars had the solid floor to roof deal?


They don't !!!
Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: Can I remove the post from a Roadrunner and make it a Coupe? - 04/06/24 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by dssaa
Looking at a 70 Roadrunner post car. We are thinking about a Superbird clone, but weren't all Superbirds Coupes? Never seen a post one. Is it possible to convert a post car to a coupe? How would I do it? If I am builiding a Bird, I want to do it so it looks as accurate as possible. Any insights would help.
Thanks
Dave in Colorado



I've done this swap twice over the decades, seeing that you've source a few rusty hardtops, let them be the donor car for the parts you'll need, post side glass has to go, you'll need all the donor door internals/glass/guide frames/vent windows/etc as well....all the structure/braces/glass/etc from the quarter window, the roof channel moulding to hold the glass/roof seal from the hardtop, plus you'll need to cut/trim the upper portion of the rear door jamb so the qtr rubber seal and rear qtr glass can wind down, there a few other tid bits you'll need, so best to have a donor....stick with 69-70 donors, the 68 is slightly different in regards to glass window vertical seals/glass, guides in the doors and qtrs/ regulator mounting holes/etc...not worth the hassle dealing with a 68 model yea only

MikeG
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