56 convertible trunk panels

[c.c.rider74]

I have a56 convertible accually a convertible that has been grafted on to a hardtop .original car was in poor shape.my question is this,is there any reason beside cosmetics that the trunk sides are different for the convertible.

[smooth 56]

I don't think so I'm building a 55 hard top and everything I have bought or replaced has been for HT or convertible. Think they were built with the same body just more bracing or support.

[c.c.rider74]

Got a chance to get into the shop today.I wwas told that a hardtop was the best donor.However after looking at rear trunk assemblies on ebay it looks like a sedan was used and I think there is a difference in contour at the top where the hinge supports meet the sidewall.thanks smooth 56 for comment.

[smooth 56]

My 56 is setting rite next to the 55 when I get home I will look.I think the difference is the length,I had to replace both sides of my hard top.Got any pics that will help me see what you have.My 56 is a 210 there is a big difference between a hard top and sedan in the trunk area.

[c.c.rider74]

Took some pictures of trunk,had some trouble getting them from my phone.Like i said i think it is a sedan floor and trunk?You can see at hinge area where they cut a pocket for supports and side wall contour is different.I think wheel wells need some work also.I was trying not to cut everything apart for cosmetic reasons but i am thinking about taking quarters off to work these areas and replace quarters.Did you do just the trunk panels on your hardtop?

[smooth 56]

Yep your rite it a 210 sedan. Yes I had an old donor car by chance that I cut the panels out of.Like you said taking the quarters off will make things a lot easier for you to do that repair.So does the top fit good? because the HT and vert have a little more space in the trunk area in front of the wheel well also the top on HT and vert is a little shorter than a sedan.

[LEE T]

I'm not sure how much of the wheel house is different, but the front of it is flatter on top to accommodate the top frame and drain channel. These pics are all 57 and 56 convertible


http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/random%20conv%20off%20ebay/49d33bc2-cb34-4e41-bcc2-6419efd8da54_zpsdc6rhbas.jpg

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/random%20conv%20off%20ebay/2f1f2497-5973-4d47-b12d-a29882f3eb7a_zpssy0jv2si.jpg


The right side trunk wall has a cosmetic difference in one rib compared to the HT


http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/56chevypeagreenconv/8fc8a96c-f96c-4fef-b44c-b2fbe0c12117_zps0iqangcu.jpg


The left side appears to me to the same as HT cosmetically, but I know some of the trunk henge parts are different, so the wheel house might also be different in that area.

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/56chevypeagreenconv/9bd31f81-c31b-4e8c-a7fe-31908ba2f795_zps096etkmr.jpg


Personally, I wouldn't want to try it with a sedan side wall.

[c.c.rider74]

The top frame was in place when I bought the car and reached the front windshield frame fine,but when it was down it seemed to be hitting wheelwells and not going all the way down.That's why I was going to rework them.This car was started along time ago maybe 30 years or more everything has been brazed in(before mig or tig were common in shops).There was a blister in body filler high up by quarter window area so I ground into it to see what was going on there,what I found was a slice there that was used to shrink top of sedan quarter it was brazed together and that's why it blistered.I know these cars were all the same wheel base but what you said about wheelwells position makes sense.I think the next thing to do is get the new quarters and get the car set up to remove the old ones and see exactly what needs done.Thanks for your help .I'll up date as I progress.

[c.c.rider74]

Thanks for pictures I'm sure these will help me figure this out might take sometime .

[LEE T]

If you end up using a lot of that metal, I would take down to bare metal and get rid of all that brazing


I forgot that I had these 55 HT pics


http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/55HARDTOPQUARTERPANEL/2eea29e1-2820-41ec-b63e-68ae3e5a7150_zpso54pjk1k.jpg

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/55HARDTOPQUARTERPANEL/af91da48-fa27-4722-ac40-2b9b04d02e46_zpsfzkjl5mz.jpg

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/55HARDTOPQUARTERPANEL/e7689140-519d-400b-b31b-dc57b1d15037_zpssgg8fzw0.jpg


On the conv it looks like the side wall might be closer to the outer 1/4 panel than any of the other models to make room for the folding top, they just about touch at the very top


http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/Forum%20photos/302e8349-5873-4ef5-9363-219dafd9aba8_zpsvsvbkvbh.jpg

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/56%20blue%20and%20white%20conv/2167139e-b211-4c9d-bd13-4da62be0863e_zpspvguxeex.jpg


And it looks like the trunk henge braces are probably shorter--front to back at least


http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/1956%20Chev%20convertible/ac1c525c-21f0-4725-ab27-536420518210_zpsnuv0eypo.jpg


http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/from7/1956%20Chev%20convertible/b5515d7d-21a9-4a4a-ae4e-86cc93eb1471_zpsrx9fuqzh.jpg

[LEE T]

I watch ebay for stuff like this quite often, and I don't recall seeing a completed conv with sedan side walls and everything operating properly---not to say it can't be done--- but I have seen several failed project cars with them. Going cheap is not always the cheapest way to go, just something to think about. You also need to keep resale value in mind, and a new set of conv side walls will more than pay for themselves IMO. I have never had a need or desire to try it, so I could be wrong, especially if you are a metal shaper.

[c.c.rider74]

I know what you are saying thats why I asked the original question to try and figure out what was going on here and with some help found out its a sedan and figure out the differences.I work at GM and we build alot of floor assemblies some people think a spot weld is just a simple weld many of them fail thats why they do destructive testing on planels so I am reluctant to start taking car apart and replacing everything,trying to keep it rigid without squeaks and rattles. I know it can be done.So I have come to the conclusion that I need to remove the quarter panels to see exactly what is going on here.Its not about the money to me its about making it the best i can.I think this project was started by someone who was trying to cut corners and save money.thanks for the help.7

[c.c.rider74]

Hello,been awhile since I've posted anything,work and family matters kept getting in the way.Resumed work on my convertible making some progress.have installed new trunk floor,panels and tailpan.I have a few questions concerning locating x member in frame (old frame was gone from car but x member was included)I measured stagger in front floor mounts seem to be 1-1 1/4" (floor has been patched.Using stock front motor mounts and installing 700r4 transmission when I put rear transmission mount on x member (aftermarket) it touches transmission pan and is too far foward,don't know if some one else has experience this?what I was wondering is if someone could give me a measurement of the distance of the rear spring mounting bolts access hole to x member flange inside of frame rail.Right now I have about 1/2".