turning a hatch into a notch

[PJB]

How hard would it be to turn a hatchback LX into a notchback and whats involved?

I saw a car in a magazine that had the conversion done and somebody was telling me a few nights ago that I should do it to mine.

Im thinking of eventually replacing the 1/4 panels anyway since one has some rust bubbles where it was already fixed once with new metal so if its not a huge deal to make it a notchback I just might have it done. Ive also considered replacing the roof with a solid one (no sunroof) because the sunroof is absolutely useless to me.

Basically I decided to keep the car and eventually get the body redone again because the guy that fixed it last time didnt do a very good job with the paint and theres some new rust bubbles.

I suppose people will tell me to just get a new roller but then thats alot more work than I want to deal with.

 

[jkstang78]

How hard would it be to turn a hatchback LX into a notchback and whats involved?

I saw a car in a magazine that had the conversion done and somebody was telling me a few nights ago that I should do it to mine.

Im thinking of eventually replacing the 1/4 panels anyway since one has some rust bubbles where it was already fixed once with new metal so if its not a huge deal to make it a notchback I just might have it done. Ive also considered replacing the roof with a solid one (no sunroof) because the sunroof is absolutely useless to me.

Basically I decided to keep the car and eventually get the body redone again because the guy that fixed it last time didnt do a very good job with the paint and theres some new rust bubbles.

I suppose people will tell me to just get a new roller but then thats alot more work than I want to deal with.

Well the mount of money your going to spend at a body shop to have the 1/4 fenders changed. You pretty much have to cut the back of the car right behind the doors and rework everything. It will be cheaper to just sell your car and buy a notch. It's gong to be a lot of work. Can't reuse the any of the rear windows, Can't reuse the interior parts.

Your tring to go from this

To this

 

[PJB]

Well like I said quarter panel replacement is in the future anyway so what would the difference between putting on different hatch 1/4's and notch 1/4's be?
Ive got a few friends that do bodywork so it might not be too expensive.

 

[TBapp3]

seems like a pretty big job to me but thats just my

 

[1990_LX]

That's way more work the swapping motors to a roller...

 

[Aetos]

Make it a t-top

 

[fiveohhfox]

big swap its really not worth it in the long run i myself wouldnt by a car that has been chopped in half the welded im sure the roof lins dimensions are different alot come into play here it is easier just to buy a notch and probaly cheaper

 

[1990_LX]

Don't forget about the package tray where the truck bolts and the bottom of the window rest. also, you need the whole frame around the window....

 

[TERROR]

foxbodys are a dime a dozen theyre not worth hanging new quarters on them.... maybe if you have a goog amount of money into cage/chassis work other than that no.. theres alot more work than just putting on notch quarters.

 

[1990_LX]

foxbodys are a dime a dozen theyre not worth hanging new quarters on them.... maybe if you have a goog amount of money into cage/chassis work other than that no.. theres alot more work than just putting on notch quarters.

Bingo.

 

[Chevy_Guy]

Easier and cheaper isn't any fun. It's usualy easier and cheaper to just go buy a car that is already build and done but most of us don't do that either.

 

[1990_LX]

Easier and cheaper isn't any fun. It's usualy easier and cheaper to just go buy a car that is already build and done but most of us don't do that either.

Building a car up and hacking up one body style to look exactly like the other kind of the same years are completely different things IMO.

 

[Chevy_Guy]

Building a car up and hacking up one body style to look exactly like the other kind of the same years are completely different things IMO.

It's not hacking if it's done correctly. Sometimes it's more about doing something to say you did it and less about what it is in the end. That's how this hobby we love got started. It was all about making things into something they never were to begin with. Working with what you have to make it what you want.

 

[1990_LX]

It's not hacking if it's done correctly. Sometimes it's more about doing something to say you did it and less about what it is in the end. That's how this hobby we love got started. It was all about making things into something they never were to begin with. Working with what you have to make it what you want.

I suppose, however take into consideration the fact of how cheap foxs are, you are spending a lot of money just to say you did it and probably have people question why for the reasons listed above. I can see chopping and customizing rat rods, however foxes are not on the same level if you ask me. Foxs are about plain-Jane looks and making them fast, not exactly making the bodies into something above and beyond stock form it's not. Either way, on a side note you're almost contradicting your own statement when you say "It was all about making things into something they never were to begin with." It's not like he is changing the body into something new and unique, he just wants to make it the same as one of the other production body styles of that time, which personally boggles my mind.:idk:

 

[Chevy_Guy]

I suppose, however take into consideration the fact of how cheap foxs are, you are spending a lot of money just to say you did it and probably have people question why for the reasons listed above. I can see chopping and customizing rat rods, however foxes are not on the same level if you ask me. Foxs are about plain-Jane looks and making them fast, not exactly making the bodies into something above and beyond stock form it's not. Either way, on a side note you're almost contradicting your own statement when you say "It was all about making things into something they never were to begin with." It's not like he is changing the body into something new and unique, he just wants to make it the same as one of the other production body styles of that time, which personally boggles my mind.:idk:

I agree with you 100 percent. However, that's why we all do this. What you would do and what I would do are of no importance to what the next guy would do, and they shouldn't be. I would never pick apart an idea that some one had just to try and talk them out of doing it. And I'm not saying that you picked apart any thing in an attempt to shoot his idea down in any way. You tried to give your opinion of why you wouldn't do it, as did others, and thats why we have a forum. I for some reason can understand the reason for wanting to do it. It's something that probabaly hasn't been done alot and would be fun to see a project like that from start to finish just to see it. It's really no different than throwing a 5.0 in a car that had a 4 banger. You could have just bought the 5.0 to begin with.

 

[fiveohhfox]

opcorn:

 

[1990_LX]

I agree with you 100 percent. However, that's why we all do this. What you would do and what I would do are of no importance to what the next guy would do, and they shouldn't be. I would never pick apart an idea that some one had just to try and talk them out of doing it. And I'm not saying that you picked apart any thing in an attempt to shoot his idea down in any way. You tried to give your opinion of why you wouldn't do it, as did others, and thats why we have a forum. I for some reason can understand the reason for wanting to do it. It's something that probabaly hasn't been done alot and would be fun to see a project like that from start to finish just to see it. It's really no different than throwing a 5.0 in a car that had a 4 banger. You could have just bought the 5.0 to begin with.

Swapping engines and changing the whole rear 1/4's and roof are one completely different calibers IMO. I'm in no way trying to pick apart his ideas, like you said just voicing my opinion and giving my reasons. I enjoy spirited debates like this.

 

[94Gt5.0]

Paul what the fuck dude lol. You really think that completely changing out the back half of a car is easier and less expensive than swapping a motor into a notch? A motor swap will take you a few hours to do, transforming your hatch into a notch will take weeks for a body guy to do, not to mention the money you will be paying someone to do it. Just enjoy your car as is, and stop trying to make a house payment out of it lol. Orr, sell your roller, and buy a notch roller which are a dime a dozen.

 

[Chevy_Guy]

Swapping engines and changing the whole rear 1/4's and roof are one completely different calibers IMO. I'm in no way trying to pick apart his ideas, like you said just voicing my opinion and giving my reasons. I enjoy spirited debates like this.

There different calibers depending on your skills. The guy that does body work every day would have no issues with a project like this but might not be able to change his own oil so a motor swap for him might be along the same lines as you or I trying to change the entire back half of a car. I am also in no way arguing as I know your not either. It's tough to have a debate on the interweb with out people getting all butt hurt.

 

[PJB]

Paul what the fuck dude lol. You really think that completely changing out the back half of a car is easier and less expensive than swapping a motor into a notch? A motor swap will take you a few hours to do, transforming your hatch into a notch will take weeks for a body guy to do, not to mention the money you will be paying someone to do it. Just enjoy your car as is, and stop trying to make a house payment out of it lol. Orr, sell your roller, and buy a notch roller which are a dime a dozen.

Like I said though Im thinking about putting new (used) 1/4 panels on it anyway and that seems like half the battle anyway.
Its got some bubbles on one of the 1/4's now and both have already been repaired. I was supposed to be buying a hatchback parts car with good 1/4's but I havent heard back from the seller.

I was told it was an easy swap so I wanted to see if that was true. Apparently its not.