Long bed to short bed conversion? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

03glide · 12-30-2003, 05:13 PM

I am sure this has been discussed but I'm not havving alot of luck searching. I am in the market for my first classic truck after 15 years of 1st gen Camaros. I originally would onlt consider buyin a short bed. After a couple weeks of looking I notice there are quite a few more long beds available and at better prices. What options are there for converting to a short wheelbase? I guess 1 obvious would be to change frames and beds. Are there any other possibilities? I've been lurking here for a few weeks and the level of expertise and quick respones on this board are amazing. I feel lucky to have found this place. Thanks in advance.
Brian

J.Lance · 12-30-2003, 05:49 PM

Early Classic Enterprises sells a kit to use when shortening a LWB to SWB. To over simplify it, 12" are taken out of the center section of the frame and then welded back together. The kit comes with braces that are welded to the inside of the frame rail. Actually, that may be the whole kit. Either find a short bed to put on it or shorten the long bed. You can guess which would be easier. There was an article, I believe in Truckin magazine, not too long ago. Was pretty good on details for shortening the frame. Good luck.

Jason

dinnut · 12-30-2003, 06:00 PM

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

complete story on how they did it!

03glide · 12-30-2003, 06:20 PM

That's exactly what I was looking for! Thank you.
Brian

Gene · 12-30-2003, 07:12 PM

Now all you have to do is find a short fleetside bed donor.

corn · 12-31-2003, 12:41 AM

the strongest (but not easiset) way to do the frame is to Z it out. Cut the frame on a vertical scribe, cut a 12" section off of the front half top section & 12" off of the rear half bottom section. Make sure you cut at the frame centerline. weld the front & rear halves together at the cut seams. Weld a plate to the inside of the splice & you have a VERY strong section. Here's a picture I did in photo suite to better show what Im trying to say. Does this make any sense at all?...corn

Kid · 12-31-2003, 12:53 AM

Cornfed63 shows a good explanation, thats how I did mine, then put new bed sides on the shortened (longbed) bed floor. Cutting your frame that way also keeps your frame straight.

03glide · 12-31-2003, 10:24 AM

Makes perfect sense. thanks

cag17 · 12-31-2003, 10:51 AM

I have a couple of shortbed frames if you don't want to cut up the long bed that you have

03glide · 12-31-2003, 12:00 PM

Haven't bought a truck yet. Being able to shorten opens up a lot more trucks.

cag17 · 12-31-2003, 03:24 PM

If you don't want to cut up a frame and I have two or three shortbed frames if you are interested in the Jonesville area.

dubie · 12-31-2003, 04:06 PM

Quote:

the strongest (but not easiset) way to do the frame is to Z it out. Cut the frame on a vertical scribe, cut a 12" section off of the front half top section & 12" off of the rear half bottom section. Make sure you cut at the frame centerline. weld the front & rear halves together at the cut seams. Weld a plate to the inside of the splice & you have a VERY strong section. Here's a picture I did in photo suite to better show what Im trying to say. Does this make any sense at all?...corn

Just like this one that ebfabman did

dubie · 12-31-2003, 04:08 PM

Then he welded it up and fish plated the back

Nice clean job, he's our resident welding GOD

corn · 12-31-2003, 06:20 PM

VERY NICE! Thats exactly how I would want it if it were mine. Im not real thrilled with the slant cut seam, Im sure it would hold up just fine but it doesnt look quite as strong...corn

12-30-2003, 05:13 PM	#1
03glide Sell it before it's finished Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 630	Long bed to short bed conversion? I am sure this has been discussed but I'm not havving alot of luck searching. I am in the market for my first classic truck after 15 years of 1st gen Camaros. I originally would onlt consider buyin a short bed. After a couple weeks of looking I notice there are quite a few more long beds available and at better prices. What options are there for converting to a short wheelbase? I guess 1 obvious would be to change frames and beds. Are there any other possibilities? I've been lurking here for a few weeks and the level of expertise and quick respones on this board are amazing. I feel lucky to have found this place. Thanks in advance. Brian

12-30-2003, 05:49 PM	#2
J.Lance Too many is never enough! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Idaho Falls, ID Posts: 455	swb Early Classic Enterprises sells a kit to use when shortening a LWB to SWB. To over simplify it, 12" are taken out of the center section of the frame and then welded back together. The kit comes with braces that are welded to the inside of the frame rail. Actually, that may be the whole kit. Either find a short bed to put on it or shorten the long bed. You can guess which would be easier. There was an article, I believe in Truckin magazine, not too long ago. Was pretty good on details for shortening the frame. Good luck. Jason __________________ Jason 1968 K10 SWB Fleetside 1971 K2500 GMC LWB 1968 K20 (later frame, donor body) 1972 C20 LWB parts truck 1993 K2500 Suburban, tow rig, 454, 4L80E NEW!! 18' Siem's car hauler 2004 Honda Odyssey (family man!)

12-30-2003, 06:00 PM	#3
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	http://www.earlyclassic.com/techarti...tapr03pg1.html complete story on how they did it! __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

12-30-2003, 07:12 PM	#5
Gene Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 2,914	Now all you have to do is find a short fleetside bed donor. __________________ 1971 SWB 4X4 Build BOARD MEMBER #5448 BOOMER SOONER!!!!

12-31-2003, 12:41 AM	#6
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	the strongest (but not easiset) way to do the frame is to Z it out. Cut the frame on a vertical scribe, cut a 12" section off of the front half top section & 12" off of the rear half bottom section. Make sure you cut at the frame centerline. weld the front & rear halves together at the cut seams. Weld a plate to the inside of the splice & you have a VERY strong section. Here's a picture I did in photo suite to better show what Im trying to say. Does this make any sense at all?...corn Last edited by corn; 09-16-2007 at 06:24 PM.

12-30-2003, 06:20 PM	#4
03glide Sell it before it's finished Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 630	That's exactly what I was looking for! Thank you. Brian

12-31-2003, 12:53 AM	#7
Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 702	Cornfed63 shows a good explanation, thats how I did mine, then put new bed sides on the shortened (longbed) bed floor. Cutting your frame that way also keeps your frame straight. __________________ The kid Build threads: 51 Jimmy http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=154951 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=219902 http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...uck/index.html 68 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=50348

12-31-2003, 10:24 AM	#8
03glide Sell it before it's finished Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 630	Makes perfect sense. thanks

12-31-2003, 10:51 AM	#9
cag17 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 140	I have a couple of shortbed frames if you don't want to cut up the long bed that you have __________________ Bowtie Club of the Carolinas

12-31-2003, 12:00 PM	#10
03glide Sell it before it's finished Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 630	Haven't bought a truck yet. Being able to shorten opens up a lot more trucks.

12-31-2003, 03:24 PM	#11
cag17 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 140	If you don't want to cut up a frame and I have two or three shortbed frames if you are interested in the Jonesville area. __________________ Bowtie Club of the Carolinas

12-31-2003, 04:08 PM	#13
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,853	Then he welded it up and fish plated the back Nice clean job, he's our resident welding GOD Attached Images __________________ My name's Tim and I'm a truckaholic My 56 Chevy shop truck build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=562795

12-31-2003, 06:20 PM	#14
corn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: here Posts: 5,789	VERY NICE! Thats exactly how I would want it if it were mine. Im not real thrilled with the slant cut seam, Im sure it would hold up just fine but it doesnt look quite as strong...corn

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