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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Spring Grove, PA
Posts: 26
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SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
69 c10 LWB
Anyone done it? Tips for doing it? Want to SWB convert my truck but don't have the room to take the cab off. I can't find any issue in just doing it behind the cab, making two L shaped cuts, and then welding it together/fish plating it. Just trying to get second opinions to figure out if it's a good idea or not. |
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#2 |
Account Suspended
![]() Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 6,873
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
Easy to do behind the cab with leaf springs but the area to weld is tight up against the rear cab mount (the straight part of the frame) and difficult to make sure the cut still retains the frame level when looking along the frame left to right.
Harder with coils because of the same issue and you also have to in-rivet the trailing arm crossmember, slide it forward and re-attach it, 4 of the rivets are on the upper rail which makes re-attachment difficult because the cab is in the way. Best bet is to raise the cab a foot or more over the frame (if you have room to park it and work on it you have room for raising it), support it on jack stands or something and cut it in the center where its nice and flat. |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Spring Grove, PA
Posts: 26
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
Well the trailing arm cross member is coming out anyways and I'm pretty sure I can get to it easily, since the suspension will be off anyways and I think without that there I should be able to reach everything pretty easily to do the cutting/welding right?
I may even ditch the trailing arm member and just make a new piece out of thick square tube right behind the cab, so I keep the rigidity but I can get rid of the stock looking crossmember. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 547
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
Your modifications to the cross member sound harder than removing the cab.
With your idea of replacing the crossmember with square tube, would you have to make shorter trailing arms? Instead of removing the cab, I might try tipping up just the back and gaining some extra working room.
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Project Engine Stand 1972 SWB conversion: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=673914 1970 Nova: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708161 |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: upstate sc
Posts: 2,095
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
A straight cut will work just fine if you are a good welder... it's not like your going to haul anything heavy lol...I would add a 3/16 or so strip on the bottom I side of the rail.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Spring Grove, PA
Posts: 26
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
Trucks going on bags, sorry forgot to mention that. So no trailing arms at all. Doing a 4 link. I'm a bit skeptical about a straight cut. But without the trailing arm member I should be pretty much good to do the L cuts anyways. I'd rather make it strong as hell than not make it strong enough.
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#7 | ||
"I ain't nobody, dork."
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
Posts: 8,936
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
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'cuz chicks dig scars... My 1972 GMC 1500 Super Custom (Creeping Death) "long term" build thread. The Rebuild of Creeping Death after the wreck Quote:
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Mocksville, NC
Posts: 1,747
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
I just completed a shortbed conversion on my truck by cutting behind the cab. I incorporated a 2.5" step up in my frame when I shortened it, so I had to do it behind the cab due to clearance, but the process would be the same with or without the stepped frame. I have photos and details in my build thread (see signature). I based my conversion on the one done by 65standard here where he does a straight cut on the frame just behind the rear body mount. If you are replacing the crossmember anyway, that is a significant portion of the work that you will be doing regardless of where you cut the frame. To me, cutting and rewelding the frame was actually pretty easy, it was relocating that crossmember that was a PITA.
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Builds: Green Gus the 68 C10 ; Sullii the 72 1500 - Instagram: @dr.hewitt - C10 Concept/Development Photos: Master Thread |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Spring Grove, PA
Posts: 26
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
Hewittca, thanks man looking at yours makes me feel way better about mine. The straight cut is looking more and more appealing, that way I can just chop 12 inches out where it's straight, and weld it, fishplate it and be done.
But yeah that's the plus side to doing bags, no trailing arms to worry about mounting so I can just get rid of the stock member altogether, and make something to add that rigidity back to the frame. |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Spring Grove, PA
Posts: 26
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
My only point of worry in the straight cut was strength, since I know in 65 standard's thread he pointed out C10 frames are thinner than c20 frames, I just don't want it to be too weak.
Opinions? |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: upstate sc
Posts: 2,095
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
Has anyone ever.been around structual I beam welding ??? Let me.assure you we don't put a goofy z cut in the I beam ......i just finished a bridge last year spanning 30 feet utilizing 8
22lb per foot I beams and the engineer specified straight cut welds with 1 fish plate. We are driving dump trucks and propane trucks across it daily. So trust me.... a straight cut is fine for.this |
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#12 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: hickory, ky
Posts: 1,278
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
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#13 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Spring Grove, PA
Posts: 26
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
Quote:
Yeah they're nice, but I'm not buying any bolt on parts for this build. My goal for the build is to fabricate as much as possible myself for budget reasons and just for fun. I like the full porterbuilt builds with all the bolt on stuff and brothers parts, but I wouldn't feel right unless I did as much as I could myself. The main plan for the build is budget build but done right. Hopefully when I'm done you won't even be able to tell the frame was welded together. |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: hickory, ky
Posts: 1,278
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
Ok I will give you that. I am doing the same thing on my 67 LWB and don't have the room as well. I still do not intend to remove the cab, but my cut and weld is going to be under the cab, not behind it. Some one on this board used these frame stiffeners from Early Classic Enterprises and did a nice conversion. I think about 40 bucks or so? Anyway, its the same concept as the Brothers kit, except you don't have somebody holding your hand all the way through, telling you where to drill and cut. If you have enough fabrication skill to cut and weld a frame, then you can use something like this . that is what Im going to do. the down side is relocating your back cab mount.
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 547
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
__________________
Project Engine Stand 1972 SWB conversion: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=673914 1970 Nova: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708161 |
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#16 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 20,004
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
X3, make your life easier
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1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man |
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#17 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Billings Montana
Posts: 183
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
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#18 |
Account Suspended
![]() Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 6,873
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
So if your putting a fish plate in cut up the piece you cut out to make the fish plate, you can section it lengthwise and they fit nice with a upper and lower flange
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#19 |
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![]() Join Date: May 2013
Location: WEST PALM FLORIDA
Posts: 1,174
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
You dont have to take the cab off , but you do have to remove the back 2 cab suports to do it wright , under the cab , and I would do a z cut with radius , lots of threads on this board
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68 Long Fleet , ly6 , turbo 350 , 3-5 drop , original paint , front discs 67 Small window , 7 foot bed , tweaked 6.0 LSX 2004R Medium Olive 58 Apache fleet , 235 , offy intake , dual exhaust , 4 on the floor , red/white 69 Long Fleet , Custom , 6.0, 4l60 , AC , Medium Olive |
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#20 |
Account Suspended
![]() Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 6,873
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
I was going to add the removal of the cab supports too...you get really close to them and they pretty much are exactly where you need to weld. I did it once to save some time and my weld did get onto the rear cab support, I didn't like that but it did work. Just sloppy.
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#21 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Red Lodge Montana
Posts: 240
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Re: SWB Conversion Behind Cab?
I did one under the cab but left the cab on. Lifted the rear with a jack. I also used the early classic stiffners. Nobody had a "kit" when I did mine a long time ago.
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