anyone cut a long box into a short? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Johngear67 · 06-01-2003, 08:13 PM

hey, i am not afraid to try this but would like to know if anyone has done this and what would you say to help with the process.
thanks

Brad · 06-01-2003, 08:25 PM

If you're asking if one could make a lwb fleetside into a swb fleetside, the answer is no. Or, "maybe" if you wanted to do ALOT of mudding and fabbing. Simply put, the body lines won't match up if you cut it in half vertically and reweld them together. 66 on down you could do it - one of the guys on the board has a friend who's doing this.

Gene · 06-01-2003, 08:38 PM

Are you talking frame cut or bed cut or both? I have done the frame cut along with some others on the board. All I can say is dont cut too much off the rear frame if you want to use a stock bumper setup. I cut 6 inches but others have cut 8 successfully.

GMC 3 · 06-01-2003, 09:55 PM

was also wondering about this since swb fleet beds are hard to come by, especially where i am from. I was thinking that the easiest way to do this ( and best looking cuz of the body lines) would be to dissassemble the bed, cut down the floor and put back together with swb bedsides. i believe repro bedsides go for about 400-450 a piece. i will probably be trying this in a few months, so any feedback would be hlpful thanks

GMC 3 · 06-02-2003, 09:56 PM

any one think this would work?

tom hand · 06-02-2003, 10:41 PM

It has been done...but it is not for the faint of heart. There were pictures posted on this board of some body shop that did it. The bed sides have to be cut in front and behind the wheel well and some sectioning has to be done in the back to make it match up. Somebody on here has to have those pics.

dinnut · 06-03-2003, 12:16 AM

i saw those pics too... a lot of people cut the frames and order new beds... they sell new bedsides and all. i saw those pics on here about that guy cutting up his box.

67cst · 06-03-2003, 02:00 AM

i cut my frame down to a swb but i also parted out the original long fleet box and found a short step box

nu2-72 · 06-03-2003, 04:51 PM

One of the local body guys here has done it but not like you think. He cut 14"s from behind the wheelwell. Everything on the truck stayed the same from the axle forward. The rear tires ended up like 6"s to the rear of the bumper. Really an odd truck to see. Wish I could get a pic on here.

dinnut · 06-03-2003, 06:31 PM

zoomy might be able to photochop it...

progress · 06-03-2003, 08:26 PM

nu2-72, Cutting 14 inches off the back and leaving the wheel base the same would be just too bizzare! You have to get a picture of that.

I have measured my long bed and plotted the lines of the curve and tried to figure out how to easily shorten that bed...very difficult! Cutting the front of the box (12 inches) is not as bad since the curved side of the box is nearly flat there. The rear of the box needs to be cut 6 inches and the curve is very tough to match since the side curves down and the lower edge curves up from the wheel well. You could try to just cut it off flat but the tail light mounting surface would be too big by about 1.5 inches or so...it would look out of proportion. You would need to cut pie shaped sections out the both the lower side of the box and the upper side in two two places! It gets very tricky. When you figure out the easy way....please let me know!

68_GMC_910 · 06-03-2003, 08:37 PM

this truck is a longbed with a bunch cut off the back... something like 14" I think... I have no idea, it's been a while since I read that article in Peterson's 4 wheel and off road... I've got it lying around here somewhere... anyway, here's a pic. enjoy.

dinnut · 06-03-2003, 08:39 PM

thats pretty cool loooking actually

Number98 · 06-05-2003, 09:25 AM

I hope this link is right, anyway a guy just posted a website that has info and pics on this subject.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=55421

06-01-2003, 08:13 PM	#1
Johngear67 The Mighty Blue Bottle Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Canada Sk Posts: 134	anyone cut a long box into a short? hey, i am not afraid to try this but would like to know if anyone has done this and what would you say to help with the process. thanks __________________ 1967 Chevy C 10 Custom 350 780 cfm 467 lift 278 dur ported&pollished 2400 stall 350TH B&M shifter 175 shot of nitrious

06-01-2003, 08:25 PM	#2
Brad Out of the carpool lane. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Clark Co, WA Posts: 5,672	If you're asking if one could make a lwb fleetside into a swb fleetside, the answer is no. Or, "maybe" if you wanted to do ALOT of mudding and fabbing. Simply put, the body lines won't match up if you cut it in half vertically and reweld them together. 66 on down you could do it - one of the guys on the board has a friend who's doing this. __________________ 1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten...

06-01-2003, 08:38 PM	#3
Gene Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 2,914	Are you talking frame cut or bed cut or both? I have done the frame cut along with some others on the board. All I can say is dont cut too much off the rear frame if you want to use a stock bumper setup. I cut 6 inches but others have cut 8 successfully. __________________ 1971 SWB 4X4 Build BOARD MEMBER #5448 BOOMER SOONER!!!!

06-02-2003, 10:41 PM	#6
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	It has been done...but it is not for the faint of heart. There were pictures posted on this board of some body shop that did it. The bed sides have to be cut in front and behind the wheel well and some sectioning has to be done in the back to make it match up. Somebody on here has to have those pics. __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

06-03-2003, 12:16 AM	#7
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	i saw those pics too... a lot of people cut the frames and order new beds... they sell new bedsides and all. i saw those pics on here about that guy cutting up his box. __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

06-01-2003, 09:55 PM	#4
GMC 3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Philadelphia, pa. U.S.A. Posts: 87	was also wondering about this since swb fleet beds are hard to come by, especially where i am from. I was thinking that the easiest way to do this ( and best looking cuz of the body lines) would be to dissassemble the bed, cut down the floor and put back together with swb bedsides. i believe repro bedsides go for about 400-450 a piece. i will probably be trying this in a few months, so any feedback would be hlpful thanks

06-02-2003, 09:56 PM	#5
GMC 3 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Philadelphia, pa. U.S.A. Posts: 87	any one think this would work?

06-03-2003, 02:00 AM	#8
67cst i love summertime Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kelowna BC Posts: 4,302	i cut my frame down to a swb but i also parted out the original long fleet box and found a short step box __________________ 1967 shortbox stepside Chevy, 365 hp 327, th400. GLOVE BOX LIGHTS FORSALE, click link for info http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=273724

06-03-2003, 04:51 PM	#9
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	One of the local body guys here has done it but not like you think. He cut 14"s from behind the wheelwell. Everything on the truck stayed the same from the axle forward. The rear tires ended up like 6"s to the rear of the bumper. Really an odd truck to see. Wish I could get a pic on here. __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide

06-03-2003, 06:31 PM	#10
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	zoomy might be able to photochop it... __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

06-03-2003, 08:26 PM	#11
progress Gotta luv a clean shave Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 226	nu2-72, Cutting 14 inches off the back and leaving the wheel base the same would be just too bizzare! You have to get a picture of that. I have measured my long bed and plotted the lines of the curve and tried to figure out how to easily shorten that bed...very difficult! Cutting the front of the box (12 inches) is not as bad since the curved side of the box is nearly flat there. The rear of the box needs to be cut 6 inches and the curve is very tough to match since the side curves down and the lower edge curves up from the wheel well. You could try to just cut it off flat but the tail light mounting surface would be too big by about 1.5 inches or so...it would look out of proportion. You would need to cut pie shaped sections out the both the lower side of the box and the upper side in two two places! It gets very tricky. When you figure out the easy way....please let me know! __________________ Welding while you wait...you can help if you like and it...might even save you a little as long as you don't mess things up! We make house calls too...just like the old days!

06-03-2003, 08:37 PM	#12
68_GMC_910 what would Neal do? Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 150	this truck is a longbed with a bunch cut off the back... something like 14" I think... I have no idea, it's been a while since I read that article in Peterson's 4 wheel and off road... I've got it lying around here somewhere... anyway, here's a pic. enjoy. Attached Images __________________ 1968 GMC 910 Long Step 250/3onTree 1969 Chevy C10 longfleet, 350/350

06-03-2003, 08:39 PM	#13
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	thats pretty cool loooking actually __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

06-05-2003, 09:25 AM	#14
Number98 Prestige Worldwide Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Worldwide Posts: 2,552	I hope this link is right, anyway a guy just posted a website that has info and pics on this subject. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=55421

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