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#1 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Freedom Pa.
Posts: 1,335
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Long Bed To Short Bed Question
I am trying to decide to convert my 87 "Long Bed" to a short bed.
Have see all the articles and threads on the frame mod, But what are my options with bed? I would like to by all new panels and build a replacement short bed. Can this be done? Dez This To This |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Smethport, PA
Posts: 1,213
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
LMC Truck has all or the pieces to build a brand new bed. Stacy David on Gearz TV has done it on a couple of episodes and I think Trucks did too on The Spike Network's Power block.
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#3 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carmichael, California
Posts: 3,006
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Quote:
EDIT- I was wrong, LMC does sell the bedsides with either round or square fuel door holes.
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Anthony Last edited by 68c10owner; 12-23-2015 at 03:52 AM. Reason: Updating correct information |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 632
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
They used to offer the bedsides with or without fuel holes... wth? good know know, glad you pointed this out.
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carmichael, California
Posts: 3,006
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Ok, had to double check and it appears I was wrong. LMC does offer them with round or square holes. It must have been Brothers that sells them without the fuel door hole. Those are the only 2 square body catalogs I have and I know one of them sells them without the holes because I remember thinking that was strange but since I dont need bed sides I didnt really worry about it.
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Anthony |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carmichael, California
Posts: 3,006
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Just looked, Brothers is the one who sells them without holes but they do offer them in round or square hole as well. guess i better know what the hell Im talking about first, huh? LOL. sorry for the bad info guys.
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Anthony |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Beautiful BC, Canada, eh?!
Posts: 2,227
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Trucks! show did a '66, where they cut the box down. You should be able to find enough of the episodes on Powerblock's website.
There was a video (show?) series on YouTube where some guys shortened a square and cut down a box, but the episodes didn't completely finish it. They just cut off the front and back the correct amounts. With a welder and a cutting disk, you can do anything. It's just time. I was going to cut down my longbox, but found a local shortbox for less than the cost of replacement wheel arches for mine.
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Jose Ca
Posts: 2,871
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
I think cutting the bed down would be harder and more time consuming than doing the frame.
http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chas...lwb_to_swb.htm
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David Used parts build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=638991 My brother's Nova: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=727985 Rear suspension rework: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=750557 Instagram: myfabguy |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carmichael, California
Posts: 3,006
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Quote:
Cutting the bed own is a lot easier unless you are not handy with a welder. Easy to burn through sheet metal but this is not really a beginner fab job.
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Anthony |
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Jose Ca
Posts: 2,871
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Quote:
Welding the bed is one thing. Welding a long vertical line in sheet metal is a whole other animal. If you don't know what you are doing it would be real easy to warp the hell out of it. MARTINSR wrote a really good post in the body section demonstrating how he would lay out he lines and where to cut. If I find the post I will put a link up.
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David Used parts build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=638991 My brother's Nova: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=727985 Rear suspension rework: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=750557 Instagram: myfabguy |
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#11 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carmichael, California
Posts: 3,006
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Quote:
I dont know how the squares compare to the 67-72 trucks but I know you take 12" right behind the cab and the last 6-8",cant remember if its 6 or 8, from the end of the frame. Another option would be finding a short bed frame.
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Anthony |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Jose Ca
Posts: 2,871
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
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David Used parts build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=638991 My brother's Nova: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=727985 Rear suspension rework: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=750557 Instagram: myfabguy |
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#13 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carmichael, California
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Quote:
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Anthony |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Alameda, CA
Posts: 877
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
I agree that doing the frame right is far more important than the bed. An ugly bed is very unlikely to kill anyone. Do a Z and fish plates.
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1973 C20, 350/350 |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Jose Ca
Posts: 2,871
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
The first link I posted had all the 73-87 info. The second link is for layout, body work, etc.
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David Used parts build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=638991 My brother's Nova: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=727985 Rear suspension rework: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=750557 Instagram: myfabguy |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carmichael, California
Posts: 3,006
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
That first link didnt really offer much other than text on how to do it. There have been tons of threads on here about the conversion. Pictures tell 1000 words.
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Anthony |
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#17 | |
Happy to be here
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Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 39,023
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Quote:
With that said, if your set on cutting your down use the z cut as mentioned. Bedsides can be cut and welded, but if you have to ask my guess is you dont have the ability to cut and weld sheet metal that thin with out warping it.
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#18 | |
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![]() Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Freedom Pa.
Posts: 1,335
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Quote:
I acquired this truck 25 years ago for $100.00, with a knocking motor. Its a plain jane , heavy half but Its followed me around for years. Yes part of the family now. Even my wife has changed her mind about me selling it, Go figure? I guess I should have said in my OP that I may have access to a SWB complete frame. That was why I was going to build a bed. Swap it all out for a nice winter project. Still could go back to a long bed if I keep everything. Sounds crazy HUH? Desert Last edited by Desert1957; 12-23-2015 at 09:20 AM. |
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#19 |
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![]() Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Freedom Pa.
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Here is a pic before the drop. Frozen morning after I changed the wheels.
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Motor City
Posts: 9,194
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
I'm a shortbed guy but that one looks pretty good even as a longbed (especially with the rallys).
I'd leave it alone and pick up a short bed truck (or not). K
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#21 |
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Location: New Freedom Pa.
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
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#22 |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Carmichael, California
Posts: 3,006
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
It is a clean truck. Im a shotbed guy as well but I would drive the tires off of that one. I would just enjoy it and maybe look for another truck for a project. Grab that shortbed frame if you can and use it to build something. You can get cabs and other body panels on craigslist all the time. Or even another long bed that isnt quite as nice to cut up. THey tend to be cheaper to buy than the shortbeds.
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Anthony |
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#23 |
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Spearfish South Dakota
Posts: 407
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
cutting the frame is nothing. we have dozens of e450s that the frame has been cut and lengthened its standard practice in any truck build shop. And I wouldn't shorten it. If it were mine.
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#24 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Alameda, CA
Posts: 877
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Quote:
I agree that, done right, there's nothing wrong with shortening. That said, it does need to be done right. It shouldn't be your first welding project, and you shouldn't try to do it with a 110V MIG. It's a life safety issue, so it needs to be done by a competent welder with the right equipment.
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1973 C20, 350/350 |
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#25 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 1,181
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Re: Long Bed To Short Bed Question
Quote:
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