how many inches longer is a longbed than a shortbed?
 

im cuttin my long frame on my 55 to short and need to know how much to cut out. anyone know?

Whoops! Cut it twice and it's still too short!
 

Gabet - The easy answer is that a short bed has a wheel base of 114.0 inches (center of wheel to center of wheel). The long bed has a wheel base of 123-1/4 inches ( or it did until you lit up that "hot wrench"!) Ha! Ha!

Best thing you need to get your hands on is a 1955 Truck Factory Assembly Manual by Chevrolet. They sell for around $25.00. I wouldn't walk into my shop with out one!

Good luck - and go slowly - and be sure to "box in the frame" at least 18" inches each way of the cut. Double check each measurement and be sure to "square it up" by measuring the frame across diagonally at all points (yep, you do need that reference manual!)

PS: HEY? Why cut it down? Why not turn it into an extended cab? ?:cool: :cool: ?

rico_bob (aka:Richard in MI)

Rico's Rods & Relics - "Treasure the Ride in Pride"
942 South Clare - Harrison, MI 48625 :D :bowtie: :D :bowtie: :D :bowtie: :D :bowtie:

I thought about doing the extended cab thing to my 55 3600 stepside too. I looked on the internet and found one. I think It totally takes away from the look of the truck. In my 1955 factory assembly manual it says the length of the frame is 178.05" overall for the short beds and 190.05" on the long. That is from end to end. I wouldn't use wheel base as a measure because 3100 and [3200 and 3600] trucks have different springs and weight pushing on the springs (which will change the wheelbase) depending on how much weight is pushing on it. we all know the long beds are heavier.

cut out 12'' not 9.25"

Why not just find a short wheel base frame? I'm in Sac/Stockton area and got one if you're interested.