cuting the bed on a lwb to make it a swb - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Nate003 · 10-13-2003, 01:26 PM

hi all, i know the frame on a swb is 20 inches shorter than a lwb, but i don't know about the bed length, but if i was to find out if it was 20 inches, could i just basically cut 20 inches off the front of the bed maybe 4 inches in so that the "front gate" is still on the front, then remove the middle piece i cut and weld the front of the bed to the back part removing 20 inches in the middle. I figure to cut it as close to the front as possible so that the body lines will match back up. Has anyone tried this, thought about this, or done this? It's just an idea right now, but i don't see why i couldn't do it, but that's why i'm asking, there is probally something i'm overlooking. any help or advice would be excellent. thanks everyone.

Nate003 · 10-13-2003, 01:33 PM

here's a pic to kinda show you guys what i mean, ofcourse this is a short bed, but i didn't have any pics of a long bed in a straight side view shot. but if you disregard that, those red lines are the spot where i'm talking about taking the middle piece out and then welding the bed back togather.

Custom 68 · 10-13-2003, 01:45 PM

Actually the rear is cut off too I believe it is 12 in front 8 in back. I have seen and heard of cutting the bed and yes it is usually just in front of the tires cause the back would be a B**h. I dont think you should cut all 20 inches to make the overall length correct it wouldnt look right. I think ebfabman did this but not sure.

Nate003 · 10-13-2003, 01:48 PM

well i know when you do the frame cut, it's 8 at the very end of the frame and then 12 from under the cab, but the bed i think the whole 20 is in front of the cab, i'd have to take measurements off a short bed to make sure the fenderwells line up in the right spot as a stock short bed.

/<eystroke · 10-13-2003, 02:03 PM

Both ends of a lwb bed need to be cut.
Here is a picture to show the difference.

Nate003 · 10-13-2003, 02:16 PM

that seems like way to much work for me, my other idea was to just buy the swb bedsides and cut the lwb floor to match.

Kid · 10-13-2003, 02:37 PM

Nate003, get the bed sides, then cut your floor. Piece of cake

SCOTI · 10-13-2003, 06:28 PM

Cut 12" off the front of the floor & 8" off the back of the floor. Sell your long fleet bedsides & buy some factory or repop shorty bedsides.

REPO1 · 10-26-2003, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SCOTI
Cut 12" off the front of the floor & 8" off the back of the floor. Sell your long fleet bedsides & buy some factory or repop shorty bedsides.

Wouldn't you lose the rear most cross member under the bed this way? I am not sure how this would work properly?

67cst · 10-26-2003, 08:06 PM

i brought my fleet sides to a local guy to do, at first he said about 900 bucks to do both, at the time we were happy with that because these sides were mint, about a week later when he began do get into it he said hell no, with the body lines how they are he said its a ton of screwing around and is not worth it one bit...and he is a real talented guy

REPO1 · 10-26-2003, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 67cst
i brought my fleet sides to a local guy to do, at first he said about 900 bucks to do both, at the time we were happy with that because these sides were mint, about a week later when he began do get into it he said hell no, with the body lines how they are he said its a ton of screwing around and is not worth it one bit...and he is a real talented guy

I am not considering the actual box sides, just the floor of the bed.

99-2door · 10-26-2003, 09:54 PM

Is it really that hard to find a short bed? I know it took me a while but I was able to find one local. Seems it would just be much cheaper that way.

Mudder · 10-26-2003, 11:35 PM

Why dont ya think about new bedsides, some cross rails and a wood floor?

jorgensensc · 10-26-2003, 11:45 PM

I agree with Mudder67

Wood Beds are awesome!!!

10-13-2003, 01:26 PM	#1
Nate003 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bremerton Wa Posts: 124	cuting the bed on a lwb to make it a swb hi all, i know the frame on a swb is 20 inches shorter than a lwb, but i don't know about the bed length, but if i was to find out if it was 20 inches, could i just basically cut 20 inches off the front of the bed maybe 4 inches in so that the "front gate" is still on the front, then remove the middle piece i cut and weld the front of the bed to the back part removing 20 inches in the middle. I figure to cut it as close to the front as possible so that the body lines will match back up. Has anyone tried this, thought about this, or done this? It's just an idea right now, but i don't see why i couldn't do it, but that's why i'm asking, there is probally something i'm overlooking. any help or advice would be excellent. thanks everyone. Last edited by Nate003; 10-13-2003 at 01:31 PM.

10-13-2003, 01:33 PM	#2
Nate003 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bremerton Wa Posts: 124	pic here's a pic to kinda show you guys what i mean, ofcourse this is a short bed, but i didn't have any pics of a long bed in a straight side view shot. but if you disregard that, those red lines are the spot where i'm talking about taking the middle piece out and then welding the bed back togather. Attached Images

10-13-2003, 01:45 PM	#3
Custom 68 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,937	Actually the rear is cut off too I believe it is 12 in front 8 in back. I have seen and heard of cutting the bed and yes it is usually just in front of the tires cause the back would be a B**h. I dont think you should cut all 20 inches to make the overall length correct it wouldnt look right. I think ebfabman did this but not sure. __________________ Dave 1968 Custom Chevy with turbo charged 5.3 gen III 4l80e swap 1967-71 GMC 3/4 ton long step 4x4 (not sure what year exactly?) "A good friend will bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "that was frekin awesome". "If it doesn't fit force it...If it breaks then it needed to be replaced anyway!"

10-13-2003, 02:03 PM	#5
/<eystroke Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Texas Posts: 265	Both ends of a lwb bed need to be cut. Here is a picture to show the difference. Attached Images __________________ '69 C/10 Short Wide 350/400/AC/Tilt/Tach

10-13-2003, 02:37 PM	#7
Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 702	Nate003, get the bed sides, then cut your floor. Piece of cake __________________ The kid Build threads: 51 Jimmy http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=154951 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=219902 http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...uck/index.html 68 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=50348

10-13-2003, 01:48 PM	#4
Nate003 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bremerton Wa Posts: 124	well i know when you do the frame cut, it's 8 at the very end of the frame and then 12 from under the cab, but the bed i think the whole 20 is in front of the cab, i'd have to take measurements off a short bed to make sure the fenderwells line up in the right spot as a stock short bed.

10-13-2003, 02:16 PM	#6
Nate003 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bremerton Wa Posts: 124	that seems like way to much work for me, my other idea was to just buy the swb bedsides and cut the lwb floor to match.

10-13-2003, 06:28 PM	#8
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,031	Cut 12" off the front of the floor & 8" off the back of the floor. Sell your long fleet bedsides & buy some factory or repop shorty bedsides. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

10-26-2003, 08:06 PM	#10
67cst i love summertime Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kelowna BC Posts: 4,303	i brought my fleet sides to a local guy to do, at first he said about 900 bucks to do both, at the time we were happy with that because these sides were mint, about a week later when he began do get into it he said hell no, with the body lines how they are he said its a ton of screwing around and is not worth it one bit...and he is a real talented guy __________________ 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

10-26-2003, 09:54 PM	#12
99-2door Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Broken Bow, OK Posts: 1,385	Is it really that hard to find a short bed? I know it took me a while but I was able to find one local. Seems it would just be much cheaper that way. __________________ 95 K3500 SRW 5.7L Vortec 4L80e 4.10 G80 2001 GMC C3 6.0 AWD, Volant, 3/5 drop TBSS intake, HP tuners, pullies, 05 efans, 05 front brakes, etc. 2003 Tahoe Z71 Silverado front clip

10-26-2003, 11:35 PM	#13
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Why dont ya think about new bedsides, some cross rails and a wood floor?

10-26-2003, 11:45 PM	#14
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	I agree with Mudder67 Wood Beds are awesome!!! __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE



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