[Dollar Bill]

Hi All,

New to the site as a memeber, but I have been researching it for a while. I have a 1964 Chevelle 300, body is in really good condition, but it is a post car. I live in northern California where the sun shines all the time, and anticipate having the windows down quite a bit, and I love that no-post look between the front and back windows. Has anyone ever removed the posts and turned it into a hardtop? Is it even possible? Thank you for any advice.

 

[757driver]

Anything is POSSIBLE. The question is: Is it PRACTICAL? I don't thinks so. Different doors, different roof, different quarter panels, different glass, etc., etc.

You would be miles ahead to find a HT in need of restoration and sell your post car to finance the project. Better yet, enjoy your car for what it is: a cool ride that turns heads!

Jerry:beers:

 

[mryanduv]

there are a LOT of us here in the rust belt that would do god knows what to get our hands on a beautiful post car like that. they are the ultimate in "hot rod." that body is probably the lightest of all the chevelles ever produced, so that made them a little more desireable in that respect. to your question... I guess anything is possible, but for the most obvious difference, the post car has the window seals in the door & around the rear window channel, whereas on the hardtop the windows close against the seal that's along the roofline. I kinda think that would be a major hurdle to cross, at least for me anyway...

 

[Andy69]

That looks like a mostly original car. If you really want a hard top, sell it and buy a hard top. Don't cut up an original. They aren't making these anymore.

You can certainly spend 3x what the car is worth, chop up what appears to be a mostly original car, and end up with a non original frankencar that's worth considerably less than a car that was built as a hard top to begin with, if that's your thing, but I wouldn't recommend it

 

[NickeyChevelle]

If you really want a hard top, sell it and buy a hard top.

Excellent solution.

 

[O'Man]

Agree with "If you want a hardtop...........'.

That said: I have seen / read about people make Shoebox 4 dr sedan Chevys into two doors (post cars?) and have it come out right but the work load is HUGE. You gotta be a GREAT welder / fab guy to pull something like this off.

 

[Andy69]

Agree with "If you want a hardtop...........'.

That said: I have seen / read about people make Shoebox 4 dr sedan Chevys into two doors (post cars?) and have it come out right but the work load is HUGE. You gotta be a GREAT welder / fab guy to pull something like this off.

It's a fairly simple procedure on a 55-57 Chevy. Simple being a relative term

The two door post cars are the same as the four door cars, all you need is a pair of two door post doors.

dunno about any other years/models though. And it's considerably more involved to make a HT out of a sedan.

 

[HKalin]

There's a lot of real nice post cars out there and some are real sleepers.

 

[malibuss427]

Looks nice the way it is, a shame to change it.

 

[modchevelle]

I like post cars. Leave it alone and please dont make it into a pro touring car with big wheels. Put a set of Cragar SS on it or torque thrusts and make Grandma happy.

 

[droptop396]

Great car. Please don't wreck it by trying to modify it or make it into something it isn't supposed to be. find a different car if this one doesn't appeal to you.

 

[jeffschevelle]

Short answer to the original question is NO. If it was a Buick, Olds or Pontiac then you could change it if you had hard top doors and side glass. But you cannot change a Chevelle, because the roof line and the quarter windows are completely different from a hardtop. Of course I guess you could pay someone to manufacture a set of one-off quarter glasses, regulators and tracks, and a set of one-off roof rail weatherstrip retainers. But then you'd have wasted tens of thousands of dollars.

Like the others said, if you don't like that stellar unrestored example, sell it to someone who will appreciate it for what it is, and then buy what you want.

Also, is that a V8 fender emblem I see on there? If so, all the more reason not to screw the car up. V8 2-door posts are quite rare, and a good example like this should be preserved.

 

[67since67]

also, is that a v8 fender emblem i see on there? If so, all the more reason not to screw the car up. V8 2-door posts are quite rare, and a good example like this should be preserved.

^^^^ x2

 

[Ark68SS]

Originally Posted by jeffschevelle View Post

also, is that a v8 fender emblem i see on there? If so, all the more reason not to screw the car up. V8 2-door posts are quite rare, and a good example like this should be preserved.
^^^^ x2

Original 283 car, more info in this thread-
www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=459650
BillL

 

[Dollar Bill]

I have been thinking torq thrusts the whole time actually. I like the original look, but want to have some modern day amenities, disc brakes, maybe a hydraulic clutch. Thought about AC, but I figure I can just roll down all the windows and drive faster.

 

[Dollar Bill]

It is a V8 emblem. It has a 283 in it. I've always told myself I don't want to chop up my Grandma's car, I really just want to restore it, and add some creature comforts. If I was to put a Tremec t-56 in it, would I have to ditch my bench seat, or is there a forward location for the shifter? I guess I need to jump in the restoration forum and just floods you veterans with questions.

 

[Postsedan]

I am so glad that everyone on here is on the same page......and giving great advice.....I own The 1969 SS396 300 Deluxe Post Sedan Registry.....I can tell you from first hand experience how hard it is to find these rare Post Sedans......no matter what year Post Sedan Chevelle they ALL should be saved and not cut up.

Please sell your Post Sedan Chevelle and buy another coupe, Please.

Dan

 

[Postsedan]

Bill,

I assume your a younger Chevelle enthusiast.......which is great! Take it from us older Chevelle guys, that have done all the crazy stupid mistakes already......take our advice, it's free.

I would Not remove that bench seat, you will learn to love that bench seat at an older age....and you will look back as we all do.....and ask yourself.....why did I do all of these things when I was younger?

In order to install a T56 trans, you will need to customize that bench seat and add a custom trans tunnel.

Dan

 

[Dollar Bill]

I appreciate the advice. The car is a family heirloom. My Grandmother owned it for 40 plus years, and when she passed there wasn't anyone in the family interested in doing a restoration. I am 35, and I have owned it for 6-7 years now, and am ready bring it back to life. My 13 year old son loves it, and we have already put hours in on it. It is nice knowing that there is a community of people who appreciate these vehicles, and are looking to share their experience. I asked the question about removing the posts, anticipating the response would be exactly what it has been, blasphemy to even mention cutting up a classic.

 

[Dollar Bill]

I don't mind altering the trans tunnel, but I don't want to lose the bench. So it is possible?