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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: hindman ky
Posts: 40
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can a 68 long bed be cut down to fit on a short bed truck?
I have a 1968 c10 short bed truck and my bed needs replaced. I see some long beds and step sides for sale often, but rarely ever a short bed fleetside like I need. When I do see one for sale it is priced out of my budget. My question is if I get a long bed in good shape how hard would it be to cut it down and make it look right. I was wondering about the line near the top of the bed that droops down toward the back end if it would look right and line up with a piece cut out?
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 784
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Re: can a 68 long bed be cut down to fit on a short bed truck?
I think you know the problem already, that line that drops down towards the rear. Personally, I'd keep looking for a short stepside box.
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Rick -69 GMC 910 Long Box, 350 -98 Chev Silverado 1500, 350 Vortec 4L60e -08 Mustang GT Convertible |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 598
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Re: can a 68 long bed be cut down to fit on a short bed truck?
There's a bunch of different threads on the board about shortening long beds, just use the search function up at the top and you'll find them. The body line is not an issue, just takes a little prying and massaging during reassembly to get it to match up.
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#4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: daytonabeach
Posts: 22,956
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Re: can a 68 long bed be cut down to fit on a short bed truck?
they fail to tell you most attempts end badly with lots of dumpster relics
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71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY |
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#5 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Plainfield il.
Posts: 643
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Re: can a 68 long bed be cut down to fit on a short bed truck?
It's been done a lot. Search the forums and you'll see exactly how to do it.
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: hindman ky
Posts: 40
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Re: can a 68 long bed be cut down to fit on a short bed truck?
Thanks guys, I'll check it out. There are three long beds around here I just need to pick out the best one.
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#7 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Belews Creek , NC
Posts: 4,220
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Re: can a 68 long bed be cut down to fit on a short bed truck?
Measure 8 3/4 from front of rear pocket then cutout 8 inches from that point, seam back together. Measure back 8 3/4 inches from front pocket and cutout 12 inches from that point and weld back together. Lfd has a great tutorial on his build thread starting on page 8. 😉
It can be done with time and patience, I am about to do one myself.
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Larry It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new. "Project 68" paypal.me/ldgrant |
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#8 |
the boat guy
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: springfield mo
Posts: 2,339
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Re: can a 68 long bed be cut down to fit on a short bed truck?
You can buy new short fleet bedsides.
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67, swb, fleet, tach, throttle, 5.3, 4l60e, 3.73's, fuel cell, 5 lug, p.d.b., 4-6 drop. great little truck 66, stevens drag/ski 18' silouette, 350, 2.02 doublehump heads. comp extreme marine 278 cam, vette 7 fin valve covers, old polished edelbrock intake, velvetdrive, casale v-drive, adj cavitation plate. 28, model a rpu project, |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Mocksville, NC
Posts: 1,748
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Re: can a 68 long bed be cut down to fit on a short bed truck?
As mentioned above, this has been done many many times and documented quite well on the board. I am also in the middle of a shortbed conversion, and have a few threads that I am referencing quite a lot. For my truck, I ultimately decided to go with used original GM bedsides versus shortening my longbed sides for a few reasons. As you pointed out, the body line does drop as it goes back, and although you can massage the line to get it to line up, I can still notice a slight change in slope of the body line on trucks that have been shortened this way. Also, the longbed sides have the center stake pocket and a rounded leading corner on the wheel opening (versus the square corner on the shortbed sides). Regardless, shortened longbed sides still look good and here are links to a few of my favorite conversion threads:
blakeaz33's truck. This is the most typical approach to the conversion. He does a good job of documenting the process. Rkcrln's truck. This approach is similar to above except he had to get creative with the front cut line to eliminate the bedside fuel filler. 65standard's truck. If you want to preserve the original paint as much as possible, this is the approach to take. It does, however, require a bit more metal working skills. ![]() I Have No Idea's truck. This approach uses a shifted cut line for the rear section to help spread out the difference in the body line and make the transition less noticeable. ![]()
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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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