my quest: 4 door into a 2 door sedan

[metalicpea]

that sounds sounds like a really cool idea! it was hard to picture at first, but it sounds like an awsome idea. what year dart would you use???

I have a 68 so im fond of those years....i just need to hone my welding skills before i go after that one. its looking good so far.

[Arillious]

that sounds sounds like a really cool idea! it was hard to picture at first, but it sounds like an awsome idea. what year dart would you use???

I have a 68 so im fond of those years....i just need to hone my welding skills before i go after that one. its looking good so far.

don't tell anyone i told you this , but the first time i ever welded was about a month ago when i first got my welder  . i practiced making beads on a strip of mild steel. did that for about fifteen minutes... the next time did some welding was on this project TODAY!

will post pictures of what went on today. car is actually coming along just fine

P.S. 68 is also my fave year dart   

[Arillious]

pictures of the new quarter piece (rear door skin) tack welded to the car. In the third picture the post is not welded in, I just placed it to see what it looks like.

[Think3205]

damn dude, it's comming a long nicely... good job, i like it! maybe someday when we run out of original 2 doors you can make a business of turning 4 doors into 2 doors,

[jamesdart]

i really want ot go outside and take some measurements and get an angle for you to set the post at, but i just keep forgetting. maybe tomrrow

[bbscamp]

I would suggest getting some actual 2 doors, if you can't buy them....can you just borrow them?   You can set the post in, with the 2 doors in place.  That will locate the post exacly were you need it.  then, with the doors closed, tack, then weld the posts in.  If it takes you a little longer time wise.....take the time.  Get er' done right the first time.

What are you going to do for rear "door" glass...did you mention that before? 

[warthog]

67-69 Dart post doors. Both are listed heres the link to one of them.....http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/67-68-69-Dart-Valiant-Signet-Two-Door-Sedan_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ140702QQihZ011QQitemZ320236640239QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[Arillious]

thanks Warthog!!! great find. i just sent the person a message asking if i could purchase both doors. *fingers crossed*

heres an update on the car............... the genious who had the car before me decided to repair what appears to be some minor quarter panel damage with a 1/4 inch or more thickness of bondo. so now i have the pleasure grinding (not sanding, but grinding) the bondo off, slowing the progress of my work! 

heres a pic

[Arillious]

got some doors!!!!! cant wait till they get here. cleaned the rest of the bondo off of the quarter. my work area is covered in bondo dust! so much was packed onto the damn car! now i get to sand it down to clean up the metal. will update this post later when i get the camera back from my gf.

[metalicpea]

seeing you get this thing in order makes me feel like my set backs with my dart were only minor...i would love to see this thing get done. anything i can do to help keep me posted.

[The 1]

Looking good,But whats going on with that primer challenger in the first picture?

[Arillious]

Looking good,But whats going on with that primer challenger in the first picture?

that and my barracuda are my prized pride and joy possessions. the challenger was running but i decided to convert it to a 340 4 speed... so im looking for a clutch pedal assembly and the other clutch linkage stuff... it also needs some body work, and i'm working on making a 70 clone out of it. need the 70 rear light panel sheet metal though. while i'm having fun hacking and slashing my gf's car i'm searching and collecting parts for my cars. the barracuda on the other hand needs tones of rust repair (quarter panels, truck floor, parts of the frame rails, driver side floor, probably some parts of the cowel and fire wall, wheel wells. both cars will be bad mama jammas when they hit the street!

[Arillious]

seeing you get this thing in order makes me feel like my set backs with my dart were only minor...i would love to see this thing get done. anything i can do to help keep me posted.

thanks. yea there seems to be allot to get in order, but I'm having fun.

[kams]

could this be done on any a body 4 door to 2 door sedan, I am looking at a 73 scamp 4dr with 6 manul 3 speed, but will go 340 4 speed with it and change out he front for a 70-72 duster, make 2 door sedan scamp?

what do you guys think?

[Arillious]

as far as i know the post is simply welded in so if you find all the spot welds and drill em out, sure the sky's the limit. however this conversion aint easy or for the faint of heart. i however injoy the crazy transformation, modding, cutting, welding... a way to hone my metal working skills if you will. if i were you i would try to find a 2 door (sedan if thats what you want), but if sedans were only made in 67-69 then by all means make a 73,72, or what ever 70 sedan! be prepared to have fun using that plasma cutter, welder, sander, measuring tape, etc.

[kams]

I have a 67 dart port with no title right now it was 273 auto model 170, I would build that one but it seems like to much work even though it is really rust free, good floors, innner fenders, quarters, drivers door is a little messed up though! was going 340 or 360 with 5 speed trans not sure yet!   Any thoughts would be great

thanks urt

[Arillious]

I have a 67 dart port with no title right now it was 273 auto model 170, I would build that one but it seems like to much work even though it is really rust free, good floors, innner fenders, quarters, drivers door is a little messed up though! was going 340 or 360 with 5 speed trans not sure yet!   Any thoughts would be great

thanks urt

im guessing its a 4 door. i wouldn't consider it a waste of time, however it depends on what you want. the 4 door could be an awsome parts car or and awesome 2 door candidate. your in a better position than i am in however. i cant get rid of my 4 door because it has sentimental value to my gf.... you on the other hand can probly do what ever you want. but noticing the transformation that your making is a great feeling. i would say do it because you have so much freedom to do what you want, and not feel bad because its a 4 door......
DO IT CAUSE ITS FUN!!!! and its a car and you already have it i'm having fun

[NYrr496]

Wow. You're doing a nice job. Since you have the Cuda, I almost would have made a pro touring 4 door Dart. Woulda been cool.  Anyway, I saw an Impala SS years ago, you know those were 4 doors, some dude shortened it, welded the fronts of the front doors to the back of the back doors. It actually worked out perfectly. I can't remember what he did for glass.

[Capt Jack]

I saw one not long ago ( a different make and type of car) to a station wagon, where someone had sort of used this idea, but instead of 4 to 2 door, it was done sort of like a crew cab PU.

used 2dr doors on each side, halved and suicided the doors and had half doors on each side that opened the opposite way.

must have been a nightmare to do, but sure looked cool

this is major league.  love seeing the one-off stuff done well

[Arillious]

just a little update:

my GF left the camera in a friends car so cant take pictures till she gets it back 

still waiting on the doors, the guys said hes going to ship them thursday or friday  . so for now im workin on treating cancerous areas of the car. man i cant stand rust

[Dart Guy UK]

Stunning work and a lots of it, It makes great sence to go with the correct doors. What will be interesting for is if the doors fit or not against the A piller, if they do then the windshield angle is the same for 2dr and 4dr which would make my life easier gettting front glass  makes me glad to have a post car already I think 

[70 Dustpan]

Stunning work and a lots of it, It makes great sence to go with the correct doors. What will be interesting for is if the doors fit or not against the A piller, if they do then the windshield angle is the same for 2dr and 4dr which would make my life easier gettting front glass  makes me glad to have a post car already I think 

yes, that will give him grief.the glass is different.

The roof lines are the same on a 2 dr post car and a 4 dr cars.

[70 Dustpan]

i may be wrong about the glass.if i am, sorry.
but i thought the a pillar was at a diff. angle,maybe it's just the rear.

The 2 dr hard tops ( non-post ) are different, but the post cars and 4 door cars have the same roof lines. So same front and rear glass.

[BigSlim]

 

[jeepers007]

So, lets talk about the bracing and support for that modified back door shell you tack welded in.   

What are the plans there?

The glass might not be too bad.  You might be able to cut the old glass to fit.  Are you planning on making the rear windows roll-down?

[Arillious]

So, lets talk about the bracing and support for that modified back door shell you tack welded in.   

What are the plans there?

The glass might not be too bad.  You might be able to cut the old glass to fit.  Are you planning on making the rear windows roll-down?

ill use the inside of the rear doors for the interior framework. I'm not sure if the rear glass will roll up or down... to shave some weight i might have it to where the windows are in place permanently... who knows... and just as a little update i took the piece out that i tack welded to clean up some factory 4 door engineering residuals . the doors are still on their way. they were shipped last Thursday  from MN through greyhound. like i said before my beautiful and wonderful gf left the camera in her friends car, so when i get it back ill show you guys what i mean by "4 door residuals".

stay tuned guys for updates... just waiting on some parts... and thanks for all the great feed back and help so far

oh also, what gauge sheet metal do i use when I'm repairing rust spots on the car???

[Think3205]

depends on where you are talking about, i think the outer skins are about 20 gauge and the firewall is 22 gauge, but don't quote me on this as i'm not sure. just a guess... 

[Arillious]

what is normally use when repairing panels? the lower the number the thicker the metal??

[Think3205]

yup, the lower the number the thicker the metal. i'm using 22 gauge on the fire wall and i was going to try and get away with it in a few other spots as well...

[BigSlim]

http://www.engineersedge.com/gauge.htm

I think that I ended up using 17 or 18 gauge for my floor panel patches, .045 sticks in my mind. I'm sure that 17/18 gauge would be fine for body work as well. I have a Goodmark 1/4 panel that I could measure if you would like.

GET THAT DAMN CAMERA BACK!!!!  WE NEED PICTURES!!!