creating a shortbed frame

[zooza]

I have a 72 longbed that i'm interested in cutting the frame and making a shortbed. Anybody got instructions or input on this project? i.e where to cut the frame exactly , how much to cut, and the strongest technique to place it back together.

[zooza]

HELOOOOOO. anybody there?

[truckintexas]

http://www.earlyclassic.com/techarti...tapr03pg1.html

[zooza]

thanks! It did help!

[ebfabman]

zooza, There is a better way to shorten a frame than is described in that article. Its called the "step" or "Z" method and if done correctly eliminates any alignment issues or any guess work when going back together. It makes a very strong frame also.

Here are some pics








One thing, you may want to reverse the "steps" if you want to keep the vin that the cab covers. Otherwise, it doesn't matter.

[vtblazer]

Maybe this will help also.
http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/framespecs.html

[truckintexas]

Yeah efabman is right........it would be a stronger and straighter weld joint.

Thanks for the pics efabman.

Also, vtblazer, thanks for the link to the frame data. I needed it badly.

[zooza]

thanks for the info .

[meathead95]

putter is in jackson ms he has a 72 swb truck on the parts board for 300 that would probably be the cheapest and easiest in the long run.

[dion]

Why ruin a perfectly good usable long bed truck? Aren't there any short beds in your area?

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by dion

Why ruin a perfectly good usable long bed truck? Aren't there any short beds in your area?

Longbed frames are a dime a dozen... so it really doesn't make a difference...

[zooza]

I'm gonna use the cab and clip in a short truck and I'm thinking about making it a shortbed cause hey Theyre just more desireable! My bud has a level floor and a great welder and I'm a machinist so It just makes sense.
This way i'll have 2 desireable trucks Maybe i could sell one and put the $$$ into the other one who knows?!

[chevjayfsd]

Shortening a frame is in no way ruining a long bed frame... Some people don't wanna spend the cash on buying a short bed frame, when they can cut their LWB frame for free, like Zooza said, Short beds are alot more desireable... And the best thing about it is you get to decide how much distance there is from the back of the cab to the front of the bed... I performed this operation on my truck, and it turned out perfect, i used the same method as EfabMan.

Go for it!!!
Jason

[zooza]

thanks for the input guys! I got my hacksaw and a file i'm ready to start butcherin'! LOL

[ebfabman]

Ruin a long bed truck.....well maybe, but if you want a short bed truck and you have a good long bed truck, and don't mind the work to convert it , wouldn't you then have a good short bed truck? I think the same goes in the opposite direction, If you have a good short bed truck and you want a long bed..........any way, I don't think you would ruin a truck going either way if its done right. Besides if some one has a perfectly good short wheelbase frame for sale........did a good short wheelbase truck get ruined???
Some of the best looking SWB trucks I've seen are shortened long bed trucks.

[dion]

I didn't mean to come across sounding like a jerk, it's just that here in San Diego I see just as many if not more short beds as I do long beds. They're not "as rare as hens teeth" around here and it's true that short beds may be more desireable to some people but not all.

I don't know how it is in other places but here in CA the slammed short bed thing is very over saturated and over done.

Like I said, I didn't mean to sound like a jerk earlier.

Zooza, good luck with your project, keep us informed!

[zooza]

Noboby thought you were being a jerk. everyone has their own opinion and in america its ok to share it! No problem here! Thanks for all the info and the input.... now wheres that hacksaw? lol

[1972C10]

We Used A Plasma On Mine But A Sawzall Or A Torch Will Work just as good.

[Swbman]

Man, I didnt realize that short wheel base frames were that difficult to locate in some parts of the country, to the point of having to have to cut a long frame down, around here I see them all the time, heck Ive gotten to the point where its got to cheap for me to buy another one, but you gotta do what you have to do to get what you want.Not knocking anyone for doing it,but at least to me seems like a lot work.

[1972C10]

Originally Posted by Swbman

Man, I didnt realize that short wheel base frames were that difficult to locate in some parts of the country, to the point of having to have to cut a long frame down, around here I see them all the time, heck Ive gotten to the point where its got to cheap for me to buy another one, but you gotta do what you have to do to get what you want.Not knocking anyone for doing it,but at least to me seems like a lot work.

I shortened Mine Not Due to lack of SWB Frames Just Anytime i would find one local they thought they had bars of gold or something I got me a clean LWB Frame shortened it and transfered my stuff over

Its really a piece of cake to cut a frame if its all dissassembled I put mine up on jackstands leveled it up and temporarily welded some sq tube across it in front of where i was going to cut so it wouldnt shift.

[zooza]

well, im already gonna have the body off the frame to fix the cab supports ( rust) so the next obvious step is shortening that pup! I was gonna put the air cab on the orange swb but thats double the work removing two cabs etc,

[Gene]

Here's my shortened longbed, I like others had trouble finding an affordable shortbed, so I shortened my longbed and then found a suitable shortfleet bed for it.

[54blackhornet]

I looked at a short frame and wide box, was thinking about converting my lab GMC, guy wanted $1200.00 for a bent frame end badly rusted box, no tailgate ?

[leddzepp]

Wow...10 year old thread from the dead.