Daniel Alborn

Hey all, I have access to a 2 door-post 1965 cutlass as a parts car. It is rusty around the windows and floors and has no hood or fenders, but the doors, quarters, and roof are solid. My 65 f85 4-door deluxe sedan is pretty damn solid, with a little bit of rot around the bottom of the windshield and rear window, as well as some door corner bubbling and a crusty trunk.
The 2 door has the patch panels I need, But I feel awful for cutting up a 2 door to save my 4 door. Do I need to just get over it? Or maybe I should conjure up a scheme to repair and drop the 2 door body onto my mechanically pristine frame.
Less a bodywork question, and more of a moral one
Thanks guys,
Daniel

Kennybill

It's a no brainer for me. I would save the 2 dr post using the 4 dr for parts. Lots of 4 Dr's have given their "lives" to save 2 doors just like many 88/98 have given their 425/455 engines to make A bodies into big block cars. You have a better chance to break even money wise if you sell a 2 dr vs losing money for the 4 dr. Jmo.

Majic Jack

My vote would be to save the two door and use the four for parts.

classicmuscle442

If you can save the two door and want to, do it, took me a long time to sell a four door car that was very nice,

Daniel Alborn

I'm going to swing by the yard next wednesday and make sure the car isn't too far gone. The owner of the lot is very old and his prices seemingly haven't changed since the 90s, everything is cheap cheap cheap. He definitely seems to prefer the cars go as whole units, so i'm expecting his price to be under a grand.
Did olds put the vin anywhere besides the door sill and cowl plate? I need to figure out whether or not I should swap the 4 door vin onto the 2 door.
Beige car is mine, black is what I wish mine was

JATA

Daniel Alborn

There is a lot of consideration going into the cost of making the 4 door presentable.
4 door - what's already installed:
Purchase price: 2100
Patch Panels: 300
Used Drag th350: 350
Dual exhaust system: 240
All new brakes: 230
Wheels and tires: 300
Still Needs:
Seat covers: 330 x2
Carpet: 150
Headliner: 100
1x Armrest pad: 45
Headliner: 100
Total price ~4600 for a presentable car. Add in 1000 for a basic/home urethane paint job when I get tired of beige.
The 2 door would be the same, plus the ~$1000 price for the shell
$5600 spent on a 4 door is harder to stomach than $6600 on a 2 door. But I do enjoy driving the 4 door, it's a bit of a sleeper at the moment. I might need to go ask around on of the local car clubs to see what they think.