longbed to shortbed project...possible?

[rchadhaney]

Hello.

I recently bought a 1987 chevrolet silverado with power windows, locks, tilt, cruise, 4x4, auto with 350 TBI. The body is shot (needs both fenders, grills, cab corners, rockers, and new bed).. My dad owns a body shop and he has shortened several 67-72 pickups and made them shortbeds (just shortened the frame and then had a shortbed)

I want to do the same thing to this truck. Is it possible? I have never seen a shortbed of this style up close. Is it possible or likely that I would be able to cut the frame and shorten it and put a shortbed on it?

67-72's are pretty easy you just shorten the frame under the cab and at the end of the frame..

I also have a 79 blazer would it be easier to lengthen this frame and put a shortbed and cab on it?

I really want a shortbed 4x4..

Thanks, guys.

[82c10]

Originally Posted by rchadhaney

Hello.

I recently bought a 1987 chevrolet silverado with power windows, locks, tilt, cruise, 4x4, auto with 350 TBI. The body is shot (needs both fenders, grills, cab corners, rockers, and new bed).. My dad owns a body shop and he has shortened several 67-72 pickups and made them shortbeds (just shortened the frame and then had a shortbed)

I want to do the same thing to this truck. Is it possible? I have never seen a shortbed of this style up close. Is it possible or likely that I would be able to cut the frame and shorten it and put a shortbed on it?

67-72's are pretty easy you just shorten the frame under the cab and at the end of the frame..

I also have a 79 blazer would it be easier to lengthen this frame and put a shortbed and cab on it?

I really want a shortbed 4x4..

Thanks, guys.

yes, you can shorten a 73-87 longbed pretty easy

[Slonaker]

I don't understand why people want to do this. SWB 73-87s are easy enough to find that you don't need to go to all the trouble.

Here is some info on doing it...

http://73-87.com/7387garage/chassis_...lwb_to_swb.htm

Slonaker

[Blackstone]

Originally Posted by Slonaker

I don't understand why people want to do this. SWB 73-87s are easy enough to find that you don't need to go to all the trouble.

Here is some info on doing it...

http://73-87.com/7387garage/chassis_...lwb_to_swb.htm

Slonaker

I agree. I'm about to convert mine and have found that even in rust country, clean, short wheelbase donor trucks are fairly easy to come by.... plus they'll have the smaller gas tank that I believe will be required. Within a week, I've been able to locate a rolling frame for $200 and a complete, rust-free donor truck for $500.... They're out there.

[gflo383]

I did the conversion for a few reasons.

1: i had a long box truck and had almost nothing into it and it is clean
2: i am a gear head and LOVE to modify stuff
3: I couldnt sell the longbed truck for more than $1000 and a SWB truck in the same condition would have been 2-3x that cost.

4: my truck already had the smaller fuel tanks
5: my box was sold as soon as i put it on crais list
6: i found a new mint shortbox with in a few days for the same price i sold my LWB for
and 7: im a little crazzzzzyy, i was told not to do half the stuff i did to my camaro, and now i get a few compliments and even a "wow how'd you do that"

i say dont be discouraged, go for it. It you come across a SWB 4x4 ingood shape for a decent price thats another story, ive looked and the nice ones are $5,000 on avg. i may be looking in the wrong state though, mn has ALOT of rusty trucks.

[Srubydo1986]

you guys would hate me for this but at one time i had a 72 short bed truck bought it for a hundred bucks truck was rusted all around used to be a forest truck for the goverment. After i got it home all i did was rip the motor and trans out and scraped the rest. Did feel bad for the truck tho cause i knew some were truck could have been restored.

[rchadhaney]

Hey thanks guys... I'm a newb to this forum and love it. I'll be getting pics of my trucks shortly.. So what does everyone think about putting a late model short stepside bed on it? like 88-98 bed. I've seen a couple done.

[Low84]

Originally Posted by rchadhaney

Hey thanks guys... I'm a newb to this forum and love it. I'll be getting pics of my trucks shortly.. So what does everyone think about putting a late model short stepside bed on it? like 88-98 bed. I've seen a couple done.

LWB to SWB......yes

88-98 bed on a 73-87 ..........no. These body lines don't really match up too well, and personally I think 73-87 chevy's have some of the smoothest flowing body lines of all.

Just my opinion though, if thats what you want to do. Go for it!!

[86swb]

Originally Posted by Srubydo1986

you guys would hate me for this but at one time i had a 72 short bed truck bought it for a hundred bucks truck was rusted all around used to be a forest truck for the goverment. After i got it home all i did was rip the motor and trans out and scraped the rest. Did feel bad for the truck tho cause i knew some were truck could have been restored.

Yep, that was a no-no!

[Slonaker]

I don't like the look of the later model stepside bed on a 73-87. It works, sort of, on the 67-72s, but the lines don't match up well enough on ours.

Slonaker