Shortening a long wheel base?

[CUDA8U]

I am seeing a lot of these shortened trucks,is it easy to do? Can you buy a complete short box for them?

[Myself]

It's never been done, you can't even find a Youtube video on it....

Kidding!! Easy if you have some metal fab skills. You can buy a complete short box or cut the long box down.

[CUDA8U]

Originally Posted by Myself

It's never been done, you can't even find a Youtube video on it....

Kidding!! Easy if you have some metal fab skills. You can buy a complete short box or cut the long box down.

oooopps wrong post

[CUDA8U]

thanks

[Peanut74]

I bought the kit from Brothers truck but have not cut the frame yet. The reason I bought it was because all the cuts are straight and use a jig to make the frame cuts. This makes it a lot quicker to do versus laying out a notch frame cut and hoping both sides match.

As for the box I cut down the long bed fenders and will be buying a new 6' steel bed. After looking at the cost of a wood bed compared to a steel bed the difference was minimal so I decided on a steel bed since I will be using it to haul stuff.

[CUDA8U]

I am a welder by trade so I'm not worried about the actual cutting and welding.I just haven't seen any companies offering a "complete kit" for the box.I am assuming the rear brake lines will have to be shorter,obviously the driveshaft and exhaust will have to be altered. So I guess my question is ,who offers the best box kit to complete the project?

[Peanut74]

The only complete short bed kit I have come across is by Classic Parts USA. It is a wooden bed floor and a fleetside. The cost is a bit steep at $3,434 and the part number is CBED67SGF_1967.
Like you stated above you will need to shorten the drive shaft 12" and the same for the rear brake line. And of course the emergency brake cable.

[gmc684x4]

Stacey David on Gears has a great how to its even loaded up on youtube
LMC Truck Shortbed Conversion (s7 ep3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjlxpF8RL9Q
He gives good reasoning on why he does it his way

[rjs53]

A friend of mine is a welder. Has his own rig, can weld anything, just don't ask him to help tack sheet metal. No patience for tacking, he's got to run a bead. Warped the crap out of my door.

[Myself]

My little 115v mig is great for sheet metal.

[rjs53]

Millermatic is what I use. Ive had it for 13 yrs, its never failed me.

[mr48chev]

Several vendors sell the short box fleetside bed sides new if your front panel and tailgate are in good shape.

I've seen guys cut the long beds down but it takes a lot of patience when welding them to not warp the metal.

A few years ago one of the guys on here posted this when the same subject of frame shortening came up. Rather than straight down cuts and butt welding it he suggested overlapping it and then plating it on the inside.


TAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF THE NOTE THAT SAYS make cuts the length that your application needs.

Maybe someone remembers the thread it came from.

[Greasey Harley]

Hell yeah! Chop that sucker down, and buy a "C" notch kit too.
Make her short and low
...Add some bags and a 400hp engine, for extra points.

[MDPotter]

Southern Kentucky Classics sells complete short beds (sides, steel floor, front panel, plain tailgate, tailgate hardware, splash guards, bolts, for around $2,250 before shipping. You can even get bedsides without marker light holes or stake pockets if you want a clean look.

I'm shortening mine but not buying any kit for the frame shortening. You can buy a kit from Brothers which has shorter brake cables, shorter front to rear brake line, and templates for the cutting. It's pretty simple as you'll see in several build threads on here - take 12" out from the middle and 8" off the back, remove front bed mount brackets, relocate rear cab mounts, drill new bumper and bed mount holes in the rear, and shorten any brake and fuel lines you have.

[Warship2k15]

I noticed that gmc Paul’s sells a short bed kit wood or metal.Then you would buy the frame shortening kit from them or brothers trucks.
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[CUDA8U]

thanks guys the notch technique will definitely be stronger and a plate on the inside to box in the frame would make it super strong.

I plan on dropping it with 20" rims all around,my bro inlaw is an engine builder,he says 600hp is easy out of a 454,700r tranny and 3:73 rear. He built a 454 for his buddy and it has won a bunch of trophies.I plan on making it a cheyenne super in blue and white. Of course this is if I can't find a rust free swb ,I can find a lot of local trucks lwb so I may have to cut one up.

When I was 13-14 I had a couple odd jobs and bought 3 trucks and had every part I needed to build one totally rust free truck but we moved into town and had to sell them for nothing!!!

[CUDA8U]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Several vendors sell the short box fleetside bed sides new if your front panel and tailgate are in good shape.

I've seen guys cut the long beds down but it takes a lot of patience when welding them to not warp the metal.

A few years ago one of the guys on here posted this when the same subject of frame shortening came up. Rather than straight down cuts and butt welding it he suggested overlapping it and then plating it on the inside.


TAKE SPECIAL NOTE OF THE NOTE THAT SAYS make cuts the length that your application needs.

Maybe someone remembers the thread it came from.

Body shops here are $120 an hr so I don't think I'll bother trying to cut panels down.The chance of finding a box with rust/dent free panels would be close to 0. All the extra labor to try and cut/save old panels would be eatin up pretty quick.

[rjs53]

When I'm working on my truck, labor is cost is $0. I could be watching TV or doing yard work or hanging out with my wife, and I do all those things. But the wife can only take so much of me and my chores get finished so that's leaves time to enjoy my project. A guy like you should be able to knock the frame shortening out in an hour or so, and the panels are fun as well. Because everyone will see them and you can say you did the work. Which shows off your skills along with bow staff and numb chuck skills.

[69GMC2004]

Originally Posted by CUDA8U

I am a welder by trade so I'm not worried about the actual cutting and welding.I just haven't seen any companies offering a "complete kit" for the box.I am assuming the rear brake lines will have to be shorter,obviously the driveshaft and exhaust will have to be altered. So I guess my question is ,who offers the best box kit to complete the project?

Brothers has (or at least had) complete bed kits with front panel and tailgate/hardware for steel or wood bed floors. Worth looking into.

[Red71gmc]

Cooper Restorations in Marion Indiana has the complete short beds. He is a sponsor here in that section. I met him recently and he is a nice fellow.
I didn't think I would ever shorten my project truck but recently I have been debating on it.

[gmc684x4]

https://www.brotherstrucks.com/68-72...2SW/CHEVROLET/

[berudd]

They did an episode of Hotrod Garage where they used the Brothers kit to shorten the frame. It look very simple and getting the cuts right is simplified. For $400 it seems the best option. The 2200 for a bed kit above sounds great. I think the one from Brothers is 3500. If your a competent welder I’d say gut the current bed unless maybe it is in great shape and can be sold for a good price. Then do that and buy new.

[rjs53]

I did a straight cut on mine, but with good penetration I'm not worried. I also sleeved the frame with 2' of Chanel on each side. Its stronger than it ever was. I had to buy a piece of Chanel with a cut charge. Total $40.

[CUDA8U]

i ,may have found the perfect truck! A friend told me about a guy who has a 70 lwb,motor/trans rebuilt,frame all redone along with suspension and disc brake conversion,almost 25k invested and he is selling for 10k. It;s not a numbers matching truck so its a prime candidate for a short box .I am going to start pricing the missing items and see what it comes to,then go and have a look.I already know the paint will be 10k ish,the owner said he has a long box priced out from LMC $3200 (sounds low) in Canadian dollars.I'm not sure if there's a such a thing as a complete cheyenne super trim package for exterior or interior? As mentioned I want to clone a cheyenne super swb in blue and white.

[CUDA8U]

Originally Posted by rjs53

I did a straight cut on mine, but with good penetration I'm not worried. I also sleeved the frame with 2' of Chanel on each side. Its stronger than it ever was. I had to buy a piece of Chanel with a cut charge. Total $40.

I think a straight cut would be fine but I AM GOING TO BOX IN THE FRAME WITH 6"X3/16 flat bar on the inside,weld it up and grind it extra smooth ,then repair any paint damage to the frame.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK30C3yWvA4