lwb to swb frame chop many pics - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Ram-Man · 03-18-2007, 07:13 PM

I did decide to cut down my lwb to a swb. I just think the shorts are more of a cruising hot rod than a long. Just my opinion. I followed the tech article from Early Classic. Here are some pics of what I did and maybe this can help out someone else out. I am not done I still am going to get the frame inserts from early classic for support where the welds are. I spent alot of time planning it out and after it was cut in two I spent about 2 hours measuring and realigning everything. First thing I did was built supports around the areas to be cut so once I cut it I could slide it back together. It worked really well but it does take some time to line and square everything up. When they say measure twice I think I measured about 50 times before I started any welding. Very time consuming but I am withing 1/32" of an inch from when I started. When I welded I did about an inch at a time and alternated back and forth between the 2 sides to reduce the risk of warping. All in all I am very pleased with the results so far.

Ram-Man · 03-18-2007, 07:14 PM

more pics

Ram-Man · 03-18-2007, 07:15 PM

and more

SHORTBEDBOB · 03-18-2007, 07:17 PM

Awesome job! Looks professional! Nobody will ever know it was a lwb.

Ram-Man · 03-18-2007, 07:18 PM

Welcome to the board shortbedbob.

GREASEMONKEY72 · 03-18-2007, 07:20 PM

looks like alot of fun work..haha..looks real good though

53sparks · 03-18-2007, 07:31 PM

I cant believe you did that! the long wheel base bedsides are not that much more! what did you have to do something that didnt cost much money this weekend?

68 short step · 03-18-2007, 07:38 PM

congradulations you are a man now..... looks great, are you putting a reinforcement plate in there? or is that the ECE thing your referring too?
nice job

Ram-Man · 03-18-2007, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68 short step

congradulations you are a man now..... looks great, are you putting a reinforcement plate in there? or is that the ECE thing your referring too?
nice job

ece sells preformed plates for reinforcement that fit inside the frame channel for $50.

WinDancer · 03-18-2007, 08:10 PM

Great job! One of the things that makes your ride special is the changes you make. Not for anyone else- just for you.
Looks like you got good penetration with your welds, can't see any voids at all.
I bet you feel better for the remaining build after this mod

*72CSTC5* · 03-18-2007, 08:38 PM

I hope you chamfered the frame for better weld penetration with you grinding the weld smooth.or you will possibly have problems there. Was there much penetration of the weld on the inner portion of the frame?

Ram-Man · 03-18-2007, 08:57 PM

If that those welds break I will hang up the welder. I welded both sides and the inside welds wont be ground off and I will be putting the ece channels on the inside.

SCOTI · 03-18-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ram-Man

If that those welds break I will hang up the welder. I welded both sides and the inside welds wont be ground off and I will be putting the ece channels on the inside.

Ok, why spend $50 for reinforcement plates when you just cut some out of the truck?

Obviously you have a sawzall & a welder so you have the tools. Slice the cut sections in half (length-wise) to reduce the heighth slightly. Grind the weld bead on the inside of your frame rails smooth to snug everything up tight. Center the 'reinforcements' to the splice & weld both the ends & the middle seam (drill a few holes for some plug-welds too). Or use the cut sections to 'box' the frame in that area.

Just a thought . . ....

*72CSTC5* · 03-18-2007, 08:58 PM

O, okay I was just asking to make sure you were safe. Why don't you build your own bracing for inside of the frame and then box that area maybe?

Ram-Man · 03-18-2007, 09:03 PM

The ece channels are bent to fit inside of the frame channel. They look like a nice piece. At $50 for the pair I thought it was a good deal. I need to order some other things from them anyway. Thanks for the concern but I feel pretty confident of the welds especially when I get the channel on the inside.

jeffspower · 03-18-2007, 09:10 PM

I have owned two 4x4's that were made into shortboxes by someone prior to me buying them. Both were done the "wrong" way with a straight vertical cut & no reinforcement. I put both of those trucks thru hell without any problems. IMO, the work you have done will hold just fine- and looks great!

RACINJASON22 · 03-18-2007, 09:04 PM

GR8 job Ram-Man looks awesome. If its swb you want I say go for it. Too bad you didn't talk yourself into it before the frame looked that good though.

Goodguytrucks · 03-18-2007, 09:08 PM

Great Job !! I am planning on doing the same thing to my longbox...What kind of welder and wire did you use?

71chevylowrider · 03-18-2007, 09:10 PM

Great work, & really nice pictures.

Rokcrln · 03-18-2007, 10:02 PM

No fair your cab is not in your way!
You might want to grind down the inner welds so the ECE plates can be plug welded to the web of the frame. That is the route I plan on going. I was going to do the step cut but with the cab in the way I think I will just go the same way you did. Plus I need to order new body mounts anyways

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Ram-Man · 03-18-2007, 10:13 PM

The cab wasn't in the way but it sure was hard to work around all that paint

On the ece site they put the channel in to form a box.

**jerry moss** · 03-19-2007, 12:08 AM

thats exactly how the local welding/fab shop does frames. they even did their own shop truck---F-250 super duty 4x4 diesel--when it was BRAND new. Z-cut with no plates---plates kill the flex in the area where installed and cause the frame to crack in front or behind the plates. i'm sure that isn't an issue with a 2wd frame but on a 4x4 it can be a problem.

Ram-Man · 03-19-2007, 06:58 AM

I did taper the butts in for the welds but you are only dealing with a little over 1/8" of metal so its not alot. I am not going to grind the inside smooth the ece plates create a box.

**Hart_Rod** · 03-18-2007, 10:16 PM

I think I might use the 45 degree cut too on my CrewCab frame. Once I figure out which frames I'm going to use.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...06#post2081206

Rascal_one2001 · 03-18-2007, 10:32 PM

When you ground it down before welding did you make the edges have a little point to them >< so that when you ground it smooth you didnt grind away alot of the strenght. my brother and I did a frame shortening on an old plymoth and we did some testing and found out the test piece that we ground a point on each side ended up being stronger than just welding the 2 edges together.

Edit : Never mind most of this one I missed that someone else already asked about this. Sorry

03-18-2007, 07:13 PM	#1
Ram-Man Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 943	lwb to swb frame chop many pics I did decide to cut down my lwb to a swb. I just think the shorts are more of a cruising hot rod than a long. Just my opinion. I followed the tech article from Early Classic. Here are some pics of what I did and maybe this can help out someone else out. I am not done I still am going to get the frame inserts from early classic for support where the welds are. I spent alot of time planning it out and after it was cut in two I spent about 2 hours measuring and realigning everything. First thing I did was built supports around the areas to be cut so once I cut it I could slide it back together. It worked really well but it does take some time to line and square everything up. When they say measure twice I think I measured about 50 times before I started any welding. Very time consuming but I am withing 1/32" of an inch from when I started. When I welded I did about an inch at a time and alternated back and forth between the 2 sides to reduce the risk of warping. All in all I am very pleased with the results so far. Attached Images

03-18-2007, 07:14 PM	#2
Ram-Man Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 943	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics more pics Attached Images

03-18-2007, 07:15 PM	#3
Ram-Man Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 943	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics and more Attached Images

03-18-2007, 07:17 PM	#4
SHORTBEDBOB Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: GREAT MEADOWS NJ Posts: 69	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics Awesome job! Looks professional! Nobody will ever know it was a lwb.

03-18-2007, 07:18 PM	#5
Ram-Man Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 943	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics Welcome to the board shortbedbob.

03-18-2007, 07:20 PM	#6
GREASEMONKEY72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bakersfield,CA Posts: 7,893	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics looks like alot of fun work..haha..looks real good though __________________ -steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME

03-18-2007, 07:31 PM	#7
53sparks Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: mn Posts: 92	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics I cant believe you did that! the long wheel base bedsides are not that much more! what did you have to do something that didnt cost much money this weekend?

03-18-2007, 07:38 PM	#8
68 short step Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: tulsa OK Posts: 3,070	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics congradulations you are a man now..... looks great, are you putting a reinforcement plate in there? or is that the ECE thing your referring too? nice job

03-18-2007, 08:10 PM	#10
WinDancer The Original HotRod KnifeMaker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tenino, Washington Posts: 811	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics Great job! One of the things that makes your ride special is the changes you make. Not for anyone else- just for you. Looks like you got good penetration with your welds, can't see any voids at all. I bet you feel better for the remaining build after this mod __________________ Dave 69 GMC SWB 2WD 454 Turbo 400

03-18-2007, 08:38 PM	#11
72CSTC5 Account Suspended Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Deer Park, Tx. Posts: 2,524	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics I hope you chamfered the frame for better weld penetration with you grinding the weld smooth.or you will possibly have problems there. Was there much penetration of the weld on the inner portion of the frame?

03-18-2007, 08:57 PM	#12
Ram-Man Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 943	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics If that those welds break I will hang up the welder. I welded both sides and the inside welds wont be ground off and I will be putting the ece channels on the inside.

03-18-2007, 08:58 PM	#14
72CSTC5 Account Suspended Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Deer Park, Tx. Posts: 2,524	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics O, okay I was just asking to make sure you were safe. Why don't you build your own bracing for inside of the frame and then box that area maybe?

03-18-2007, 09:03 PM	#15
Ram-Man Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 943	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics The ece channels are bent to fit inside of the frame channel. They look like a nice piece. At $50 for the pair I thought it was a good deal. I need to order some other things from them anyway. Thanks for the concern but I feel pretty confident of the welds especially when I get the channel on the inside.

03-18-2007, 09:10 PM	#16
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics I have owned two 4x4's that were made into shortboxes by someone prior to me buying them. Both were done the "wrong" way with a straight vertical cut & no reinforcement. I put both of those trucks thru hell without any problems. IMO, the work you have done will hold just fine- and looks great! __________________ '68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car

03-18-2007, 09:04 PM	#17
RACINJASON22 GEARHEAD Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CENTRAL,PA Posts: 2,284	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics GR8 job Ram-Man looks awesome. If its swb you want I say go for it. Too bad you didn't talk yourself into it before the frame looked that good though. __________________ 72 SWB 2WD MY PROJECT 72 LWB 4X4 FUTURE PROJECT SUBSCRIBE HEREBOARD VENDORS HERE NORWOOD MEET SURVIVOR!



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03-18-2007, 09:08 PM	#18
Goodguytrucks Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boyle, Alberta, Canada Posts: 126	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics Great Job !! I am planning on doing the same thing to my longbox...What kind of welder and wire did you use?

03-18-2007, 09:10 PM	#19
71chevylowrider Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 1,015	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics Great work, & really nice pictures.

03-18-2007, 10:02 PM	#20
Rokcrln Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Winters Ca. 95694 Posts: 4,843	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics No fair your cab is not in your way! You might want to grind down the inner welds so the ECE plates can be plug welded to the web of the frame. That is the route I plan on going. I was going to do the step cut but with the cab in the way I think I will just go the same way you did. Plus I need to order new body mounts anyways Kevin LFD Inc. Attached Images

03-18-2007, 10:13 PM	#21
Ram-Man Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 943	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics The cab wasn't in the way but it sure was hard to work around all that paint On the ece site they put the channel in to form a box.

03-19-2007, 12:08 AM	#22
jerry moss Born Psycho Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: brentwood,cal,usa Posts: 4,915	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics thats exactly how the local welding/fab shop does frames. they even did their own shop truck---F-250 super duty 4x4 diesel--when it was BRAND new. Z-cut with no plates---plates kill the flex in the area where installed and cause the frame to crack in front or behind the plates. i'm sure that isn't an issue with a 2wd frame but on a 4x4 it can be a problem. __________________ jerry moss 72 cheyenne super K20- tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,tow hooks,bumper guards,toolbox,aux. fuel tank,posi front and rear,plus other goodies!!! SOLD 69 suburban K20-tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,4 inch all spring lift,4 speed, 14 bolt full floater, dana 44 HD,warn winch,posi front and rear,tow hooks,plus other goodies. 73/80 chevy/gmc K20 SB400,turbo 400,205,tilt,a-c,gas hog. 77 K/5 cheyenne blazer-daily driver/beater. SON HAS IT NOW BRENTWOOD,CALIFORNIA

03-19-2007, 06:58 AM	#23
Ram-Man Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 943	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics I did taper the butts in for the welds but you are only dealing with a little over 1/8" of metal so its not alot. I am not going to grind the inside smooth the ece plates create a box.

03-18-2007, 10:16 PM	#24
Hart_Rod ************* Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 17,859	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics I think I might use the 45 degree cut too on my CrewCab frame. Once I figure out which frames I'm going to use. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...06#post2081206 __________________ Rob - https://www.instagram.com/hart_rod_c10 As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another. Proverbs 27:17 FOR SALE: DBW pedal bracket - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=651123 FOR SALE: Hood Brackets http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=679945 1987 Silverado SWB - 34.5K original miles http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=801834 1969 SuperBurb - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=200387 1968 Farm truck - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=358692 1968 SWB - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=551258 1948 Chevy - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=122164&page=3

03-18-2007, 10:32 PM	#25
Rascal_one2001 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 308	Re: lwb to swb frame chop many pics When you ground it down before welding did you make the edges have a little point to them >< so that when you ground it smooth you didnt grind away alot of the strenght. my brother and I did a frame shortening on an old plymoth and we did some testing and found out the test piece that we ground a point on each side ended up being stronger than just welding the 2 edges together. Edit : Never mind most of this one I missed that someone else already asked about this. Sorry __________________ 1985 1500 454, 4l80e, 12 bolt, 5/6 drop, 20s Last edited by Rascal_one2001; 03-18-2007 at 10:35 PM.

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