Thinking about taking the platform out the back of the hearse... thoughts?

[Dru Jurisich]

I know it kindof does injustice to the idea of it being a hearse, but I'm trying to go practical; recently state law changed to require all passengers buckled, so that makes it a two-seater at the moment. Also, the amount of room I would get for speakers/storage area would be awesome. The platform in it currently is not the best shape either (eyesore), so it seems like more work if I wanted to redo the inside (new boards, new carpeting, headliner, etc. What do you think I should do? P.S. It's a 1990 Buick Lesabre Estate.

[Hotrod Dwayne]

It depends what your goal is for the coach. If you ever think you're going to sell it, then leave it alone. When people shop for a coach one of the 1st questions they ask is the condition of the casket area. I won't even go look at a coach if someone has gutted the interior. Look at all of them for sale online where some ridge-runner bought a hearse, gutted it, bolted in a couple Astro van bench seats, never finished any of it, and calls it a limo now & of course they want to sell it now that it's ruined & they threw away (or destroyed) all the impossible-to-find hearse parts & trim. There is no "going practical" with hearse ownership man... of course it's a 2 seater, it's a hearse. Yeah the older combination coaches had 1 or 2 jump seats. Maybe i'll just shut up because this just don't make sense to me what you're thinking... sounds like you need a van or a family car but you bought a hearse instead? I hope you re-do the casket floor & just enjoy it for what it is. You put some work into fixing up your coach & you'll love driving all the time. They take on their own personality & are an absolute blast to drive & enjoy.

[jlprigmore]

Sounds like a great plan especially if you have some good ideas brewing in the ole brain to make it better in your eyes. Once I get all the pieces to do my little top secret project I plan on hacking the platform up in the back of mine as well.

[Abnorml]

The worst thing to me is to see a 3-way gutted. That to me is terrible. As has been said before it's your hearse and you can do to it what you want. I hope to one day have a hearse with a seat in the back. The only thing is I have to find a hearse with no casket compartment, because I don't think I could remove the floor myself. If you do remove the floor make sure you do it right and don't stop half way through.

[Dru Jurisich]

Thought about it, and I decided to refinish the platform and keep it original. It'll be a two seater, but oh well. Coincidentally, someone that frequents my shop heard me talking about it (ended up being a professional auto detailer) and offered to help. New question - any tips on materials to refinish the wood platform? I kindof like the marble look ( not too practical to layer on top), but don't want a cheap plastic imitation look either.

[DEAD W8 MIKE]

Go to your local home depot or lowes and go to the kitchen department and ask to see their samples for counter tops, there are numerous surfaces to choose from in the formica line, or go to the flooring department and look at what they have available in the laminate wood or even real wood flooring. If you go with something like marble or lookalike you coach will be so heavy and slow your gas mileage will drop considerably, and you will just have to re-do it all again, wake up again and make a good decision. Keep your feet on the ground and your head out of the clouds.

[Deadgirl]

At first, I wasn't interested in anything that wasn't original, inside and out. But the '66 Caddie S&S I recently bought had the table removed and a back seat and speakers put in. I didn't mind as much as I thought I would, because the rest of the car is in better shape than any others I ever went to look at. I can see both sides of the "table or no table" issue.

[Dru Jurisich]

I've decided on a compromise - keeping the table and the inside mostly original (as far as design) but may be re-upholstering the whole shebang. I'm leaving town for a few weeks but dropping it off at the shop before I do (replacing all the weatherstrip seals and window seals - found out they were bad the other day with a hard storm). When I get back, I'm going to murder it out (flat black everything - exterior paint, interior carpetting/plastics, taillights, etc.) and then add skull accessories (suicide spinner knob, door lock knobs, tire valve caps, license plate frame/bolts, rear-view mirror, shifter knob, cup holder, possible homemade hood ornament, that's all I've been able to find). This is my current objective but maybe in the future when I have more time/finance I'm brainstorming about maybe converting the exterior to look like a zombie apocalyptic vehicle. If anyone has any tips or input, please feel free to shout it out (constructive criticism welcome too). Also if you know any places that carry a wide variety of skull accessories, that would be awesome as well. I know they make skull design windshield shades, but can't seem to find them anywhere. I figured with Halloween right around the corner, things would be easier to find, but apparently not so. Off to work, can't wait to hear back from everyone. Thanks for taking the time to read!

[Abnorml]

Post some pictures. I didn't go with skulls on my hearse, because it was done to so much. But do what YOU want to, and don't do it for other people. I have saw some skull stuff on ebay that are more realistic and not chrome. Don't just pick up anything with skulls and put in on your hearse. It might cost more, but it's won't make your hearse look cheesy. Just my thoughts.

[73mmhearse]

ive thought about building a foldup seat in the back kinda like the 73-83 chevy suburbans that way if you needed to hall your coffin around you still can. but id save the original table and gust build a new one.

[Highbars]

I am going to redo the rear floor in my '68 with Hickory. I cut down the tree after a storm took the top out of it.. I had the trunk sawed and the boards have been stick stacked in a shed for 10 years now... should definitely be dry by now

[Mr.Hearse09]

Heres an Idea that you could still keep the Floor Ive seen this done When you open the Side doors just cut the floor From side door to the other and Piano Hinge the floor this way you can make some seats and when you want to carry a casket just Lower the back seat down like you would in a station wagon ... as the Under storage compartment is hollow to the other side .. this way you can make some seats Wont be to cushy but you can at least have ur passenger s buckled in .. Hope this helps and you get the idea of wht i was talking about .. let me know

[Ari White]

Hey Dru,

I have a 1970 Caddy M&M that I redid the rear compartment in. It had nast rotten particle board and vinyl flooring that was too far gone to salvage. Ripped it all out and replaced with oak hardwood plywood. Kept and reinstalled ALL original hardware. 3 days of hard work but totally worth it. Check out my profile pics to see the before/after. I have also been toying with the idea of a volkswagen beatle seat that could be removed to bump my capacity up to 6 plus 1. Whatever you decide to do good luck and keep us posted!