Any body shop So Cal area convert '65-66 notchback to 2 plus 2?

Can you post the article or shop? i heard this can be done on 67 and 68 notchbacks but i have never seen a technical article or anyone that know how to do it. i saw one on ebay that claimed to be a notchback to fastback conversion...but that was ebay so who knows.

 

If you find the article on the internet post the link i would like to read how this is done. I think in the long run it would be very expensive to do that type of conversion. A lot of welding and fitting...new parts...and some bondo to even it all out. Good luck it sounds like some major surgery.

 

I read the same article. It is in an old Mustang Munthly Magazine. "MUSTANGS UNLIMITED" in Georgia does them. What they do is find a wrecked 2+2 Fastback and cut the Roof off along with the tops of the Rear Quarter Panels. The conversion is not that cheap. You also have to factor in the Price of all the Interior Pieces. You would be better off finding a very nice Driver 2+2 Fastback, the Pricing would be the same or even less.
David.

 

I would venture to say that you'd be much better off finding a fastback than converting a coupe. You are correct in assuming the door glass would need to be replaced. The only way it might be feasible from a financial standpoint, would be if you had a fastback donor (presumably with unibody damage beyond a repairable state) with the roof in tact and all of the interior parts usable and you could perform the work yourself, but you'd be left explaining why the VIN has a "07" where there should be a "09" for the rest of the car's life. The fastback quarters extend up to the roof, but the roof is different, obviously, as is the trunk lid and all of the interior structure behind the top of the quarter and the underside of the roof. There's also the deck panel (portion between the trunk and the rear glass). Speaking of rear glass, that's not cheap either. I'd be surprised of you were able to find a donor fastback that was in such a state of disrepair that it had to be scrapped, but still had everything you needed in decent enough shape to transfer.

Labor rates in So Cal are constantly escalating, which means it's tough to do something so extensive and be able to come out ahead.

I remember the car on ebay that was mentioned above (or at least a coupe to fastback conversion) and it was ROUGH. The seller specialized in project cars. Anyone can cut the roof off of two cars and weld them back together and spray 4 different colors of primer on it and make it look okay... ish... from a distance in a small picture, but taking that to the finished car and having the glass and interior fit and the doors shut properly and look straight is an entirely different issue.

But more important than cost or time, to me, would be structural integrity. Mustangs are unibodies and as such rely significantly on the roof structure for strength. That's why there are so many significant differences between the unibodies of coupes and convertibles. You would have to cut the rear pillars and the inner structure when switching roofs. If every layer of that structure is not fully welded with a sound weld during the reinstallation of the new roof, you will have compromised the stregth of the unibody. The amount of temporary bracing required during the switch would necessitate the entire interior being gutted and put back.

There are plenty of deals to be had on fastbacks in LA/OC. You should watch craigslist if you're serious about wanting a fastback. My buddy picked one up a little while back for $6000 that needed paint and came with boxes of spair parts. He put a paint job on it and cleaned it up and he's into it less than $10K (see pic below). He gets offers of $20K all the time. It's a C-code, but that would be more desirable than a fastback with a "07" in the VIN that designates coupe.

 

You may want to find a Towne & Country top for the convertible instead of a convertible frame. They are a little hard to find but they lift off easily. I remember a company from a few years ago that was making tops like these but I can't remember the name. Hopefully someone here will chime in with the name!!

 

Please consider the value of what you will have when finished (for resale or insurance purposes) Often these types of cars have liitle value and this should play IMHO into making your final choice as what to do,

When these cars come up for sale they almost have to be given away (not exactly but you get the idea) .... not something that is comforting for most owners.