Pics of my long-to-short transformation

[vortech71chevy]

I love this truck, but its just a bit too long!



I picked this truck up for next to nothing, running and driving, fairly straight, with only a few issues. Seriously, I traded it straight up for a Dart that I paid $400 bucks for.



I added the wheels, drop spindles disc brakes all sorts of goodies... but I couldnt get past the long bed. Ive had some shorties before and this one was just destined for a chop.

I decided to cut it down. I have some fabrication skill, but Im certainly no pro, and I have little time and less tools. I wanted to take some pictures for an in-depth look at what it took. It was alot of work, but wasnt really that hard.

The following posts will be pictures and some explanation of what it took to shorten her up.

[vortech71chevy]

I know, the bed floor was rotten, and ugly, and worthless. I had every intention to replace it, but for the time being I wanted to keep at least something in place until I could plan out the bed floor. So with that being the case, I wanted to retain the floor until everything was chopped and done and I could take perfect measurements (in case I screwed this up!)

I started by measuring back 8" of the floor from the rearmost forward, cut the metal strips and tried to cut the wood. The wood sucked so bad though, it all ended up disintegrating. Oh well.

[vortech71chevy]

So the bed chop was done prior to the aftermarket bedsides being available... Now that they are, I highly recommend buying some of those bad boys. This could then be done in a weekend.

But, since I was gung-ho and had more determination than cash, I could not afford an original bed and had to cut my current sides.

I started by measuring 8" sections on each side. I wanted to leave the rear section assembled and remove it as on unit. This was pretty scary for a person like me, with minimal bodywork skill. It turned out better than I thought it would.

I was very, very, very careful and took my sweet time with this.

I cut 8" sections out and removed the rear section and set it aside.

[vortech71chevy]

Something super awesome about the rear frame is that you can just hack off the last 8". Super easy...

Side note, I've always liked the rear bumper for 67-72 rear bumper better. I bought new brackets and hardware for that style bumper, and there were existed holes in the frame to perfectly mount the bumper after the last 8 inches were cut off. Rad.

[vortech71chevy]

Once the frame was trimmed I could put the rear panels back on the bed. I was geting a little cocky because this was going so smoothly, and didnt take but a few hours to get to this point.

[vortech71chevy]

Same thing for the front half of the bed... except 12" came out. I roughly cut the floor first, then did the same side measurements, and the same method for cutting as the rear.

[vortech71chevy]

At this point I just had to take a step back and laugh... PS, the rear panel looks like crud because there was waaay more bondo in there than I thought. Whomp, whommmp.

[vortech71chevy]

I kinda thought about driving it around for a week or so like this just because it was hilarious.

[TJ's Chevy]

You could make it an "Extra cab" if you leave the gap there. lol Looks good!

[vortech71chevy]

Ok heres where things got kinda hairy and way less fun- the frame chop.

I decided to go with an idea i saw on the interwebs using a simble z style cut, instead of a straight cut. After all of my reinforcements though, Im not sure the complexity yielded results that were exceptionally stronger that if I had done a straight cut.

Yes, I know, a Z type cut will be stronger than a straight cut, but I took 3 foot long 1/4" steel plates and welded them on both the inside and outside of the frame over the Z cut.

Sorry guys, but my gaurd unit got activated for a local emergency at this point and my project got its deadline moved way up, and I took far less pictures here. I will go take pictures of the finished frame project later tonight.



I removed the bed and found the 12 inch section in front of the trailing arm crossmember, and spent hours measuring the cuts. I was super freaked out to screw this up.

The frame was supported completely at this point so that my measurements would remain consistent and I could make sure everything ended up even, square, straight and level where it needed to be when I was done. I learned the rear cab mounts needed to be removed along with the forwardmost bed mount brackets.

[vortech71chevy]

[vortech71chevy]

To mate the two frame halves together, I used a few cargo straps to suck the from and back half together and hold tightly. This is where I immediately noticed that all that time carefully measuring was worth every bit. My frame halves fit together perfectly, no gap, and after measuring i determined that everything came out just right. I couldnt have been happier.

I forgot to mention that I beveled the cut areas so that I could get a good deep weld and have a solid finished product.

This part was extremely motivating, because it was the first sight of my shortened chevy!

[vortech71chevy]

Like I said, Ill have to grab pictures of the finished, welded frame. I promise Ill do it! came out really great actually.

I also took the opportunity to add my c-notch here with the bed off, and I cleaned up the frame a little.

[OldChevy61]

Very nice work

[vortech71chevy]

This part was wierd man... I set the bed back on, and some magical heavenly music just started playing and I had to step back to bask in the shortbed glory!

[scuderia]

Originally Posted by vortech71chevy

This part was wierd man... I set the bed back on, and some magical heavenly music just started playing and I had to step back to bask in the shortbed glory!

sweet! Nice job.

[LostMy65]

I keep debating whether to use a sawzall or an small angle grinder with a cutoff blade.

[vortech71chevy]

I used a small cutoff wheel and went real slow and it turned out great

[Palf70Step]

That is some nice work, and quick too. Good luck/God speed with the call/up deployment.

[vortech71chevy]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That is some nice work, and quick too. Good luck/God speed with the call/up deployment.

Thank ya sir, but I did this chop almost a year ago and I'm just getting around to posting it haha.

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by vortech71chevy

Thank ya sir, but I did this chop almost a year ago and I'm just getting around to posting it haha.

I missed that part. Still it is GOOD!

[ol_skool_chevy]

Very nice dude................you did a really nice job. Its a whole new looking truck i think

[Mathew21]

Nice work!

[LT1 Burb]

Nice job, that took some guts.

[vortech71chevy]

Originally Posted by LT1 Burb

Nice job, that took some guts.

Thanks man! It was much easier than I thought, Ive been thinking about picking up a 71/72 again and doing the same thing since longbeds can be had for a steal all day long...