Value Of A Converted LWB To A SWB

[ChevyDude]

Plasma!!!! Mine was a 307 almost no optioned LWB. Best thing about it was it had almost ZERO rust. I am building a hot rod and with the shortage of SWB in this Denver, Colorado area.....it made perfect sence to me to fire up the Plasma. Good old Glock!!!

[BHRS]

Originally Posted by ChevyDude

Plasma!!!! Mine was a 307 almost no optioned LWB. Best thing about it was it had almost ZERO rust. I am building a hot rod and with the shortage of SWB in this Denver, Colorado area.....it made perfect sence to me to fire up the Plasma. Good old Glock!!!

Do you have any pictures of the completed work on your truck? Are you/did you cut the box down too??? Or did you replace the long one with a short one???

I am also into Hot Rods and restoring it to original is just not for me. I want to keep the "original" look, but I want a clean engine compartment with old speed equipment, modern A/C, and a slightly lowered appearance. To me, a lowered stance looks better on a SWB than a LWB-it is just how the lines are and lowering makes the box look soooo much longer and out of proportion to the cab and nose.

Prior to buying my truck, the nicest SWB I found was for the same money as this, but with a six/3-speed, no options, bad body work covering a rear end collision, and rust in the rockers and fenders. Given the choice, I picked mine just because it was a no-brainer. I guess I could have kept looking and passed on my truck, but how many factory big-block SWB's are out there for 5k in this kind of shape? Not many right?

I guess the compromise is to find a SWB chassis and box and do a body swap. Anybody in the DFW area with a nice straight rust free SWB box and straight SWB chassis???

[corn]

Heres my take on it. If its mine & I want to cut it, Ill cut it. I like my long bed & its staying that way, Im just saying that we dont really have the right to get mad about what someone does to their stuff...

[streetstar]

My camaro --- just enclosing the pic to illustrate the fact that i am not afraid to cut - if the time and conditions are right

[Rokcrln]

If done right it is worth more than alot of factory SWB trucks I see that "are in great shape" according to the seller I took a LWB and did the SWB trick to it (and the bed) to show how it can be done and look good afterwards. Here are a few pics. Also I am not trying to fool anyone that is why I left the 5th and 6th stake pocket and did not bother changing the leading edge of the wheel opening's.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Boog]

You should see the bed floor too. This cat is good!

[BHRS]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

If done right it is worth more than alot of factory SWB trucks I see that "are in great shape" according to the seller I took a LWB and did the SWB trick to it (and the bed) to show how it can be done and look good afterwards. Here are a few pics. Also I am not trying to fool anyone that is why I left the 5th and 6th stake pocket and did not bother changing the leading edge of the wheel opening's.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Your build thread has been my inspiration for thinking about this. From your pictures it just looked very straight forward shortening the box. Doing the frame is a no brainer, it is the box that is the challenge.

I know you were able to "massage" the body lines with a little pushing and pulling up top, but how was the lower rear of the box? Below the trim line it tapers from the wheel well to the bumper, how did you deal with that?

I am not interested in misrepresenting the truck either, it is what it is...I just like the lines of a SWB.

Brian