Widening a step-side bed 6 inches

[cooperhw]

Well, I would have ordinarily posted these (and probably still will) in my build thread Meet Homer, but thought I might post these pics in their own thread as someone might search sometime in the future on options on how to make a step side bed wider to cover tires or in my case dual tires.
Now first off I want to issue a disclaimer by saying that this is not the right way, the only way, or even the best way to do this. This is just the way I chose to make my bed wider.
I only needed 4 inches for my tires to clear but wanted an extra inch on either side as some day Homer might get an altitude adjustment. Not sure, but maybe.
I would also like to add that I still have a boat load of work on this to clean it up and get it ready for paint, but not today.
My goal this weekend was to pull the bed out front near my welder, split it open, and widen it 6 inches.
Mission accomplished. Back in the backyard now.

[cooperhw]

A few more widening the tailgate. It's now a Chevivrolet. Spell check my a**.

[Bladeboy1998]

That seems like a really good idea! Keep it up

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by cooperhw

A few more widening the tailgate. It's now a Chevivrolet. Spell check my a**.

LOVE that short dually , gonna be a tow monster. I'm wondering how you are going to fix that chevivrolet tho LOL

Maybe cut out the iv and weld in a bowtie? CHEVROLET

I don't know, seems the more I say chevivrolet in my head the better it sounds. I think I may have brain damage! Certainly a conversation starter!

[LT4XTREME]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

LOVE that short dually , gonna be a tow monster. I'm wondering how you are going to fix that chevivrolet tho LOL

Maybe cut out the iv and weld in a bowtie? CHEVROLET

I don't know, seems the more I say chevivrolet in my head the better it sounds. I think I may have brain damage! Certainly a conversation starter!

Tell everyone it's the rare French version!!! LOL

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by LT4XTREME

Tell everyone it's the rare French version!!! LOL

Made me LOL, good ideas. I am not sure if it will stay. I may make an insert that covers the whole block of letters and weld a bow tie over that. Not sure. I do think it's kinda cool though.

I could say it was a Canadian model that went to Québec where French is the main language?

I wish the donor gate would have been even half way good, it would have made stretching it easier by only having one seam but it was toast.

Like I said before, I am really only doing this thread as sometime in the future somebody might be wanting to widen a step side bed and looking for ideas. I did an exhaustive search and found one that actually left the gate alone and made new pockets for it to close into. I was going to do that but the more I looked at it and prepared for slice and dice I talked myself out of that direction.

[Tinkermc]

that looks like an awful lot of work.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by Tinkermc

that looks like an awful lot of work.

You know, it wasn't that bad. I am off on Fridays so Friday, Saturday, and Sunday my goal to get that bed widened.
Mission accomplished.
Not much for sitting in the house on the weekend so I had to do something.
I was just telling my co-worker that I a dang glad to be back to work to rest up a bit and give my back a break. But, I enjoy tackling a project and getting something done. Makes me feel productive.

[cooperhw]

Little bit of update on the widening the bed thread.

I went up to my property last weekend and harvested a steel floor from a 79 square body fleet side long bed I had sitting there.
Tore into it yesterday and first thing I had to do was take 8 inches out of the middle;
I guess I should remind everybody that I am not posting these pics in this thread for any other reason than "someday somebody else might want to do this type of mod and it could possibly help them".

[cooperhw]

Yesterday the floor got narrowed.
Today it got welded into place and the tubs installed.
On the tubs I cut the outside edge away leaving about an inch and a half. Then once the floor was in and happy I cut the tubs to the correct width minus about 1/4" to 3/8" gap. This gap was there so I didn't have to fight the tubs in. Once the tubs were cut and bolted in underneath I installed the trimmed edge piece using it as a ledge for the leading edge of the tub to rest on. Then just welded it up.
Still have to make some new perches for the bed frame crossmembers to rest/bolt onto. Hopefully get it all bolted up tomorrow.
Anyhow, the new floor is in and STRONG. No more wood floor for me.

Little disclaimer; "Not sayin this is the only or best way to do this mod, just how I did it".

[In The Ten Ring]

I hate to tell you this but you do know that "CHEVROLET" is now misspelled on the tailgate. LOL

[68C15]

you're more than welcome to join me when I stretch the cab in my 67

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

I hate to tell you this but you do know that "CHEVROLET" is now misspelled on the tailgate. LOL

Yes. It now reads CHEVIVROLET. If I leave it I will tell folks it's "A French Version". Went to Canada.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by 68C15

you're more than welcome to join me when I stretch the cab in my 67

Well,,,, those cab stretch projects look like a serious time eaters to me.

I used to say I couldn't wire a whole car. My electrical friend asked me once "you can run one wire, can't you". To which I said yes. He said well, run 1 wire. When you get done, "RUN ONE MORE".
That's about how it is when you do these monster big projects. Looked as a whole a lot of folks would say I can't do that. But just one bite at a time they are doable.
I was getting ready to cut the back half off a car and install a back half chassis on a car I did years ago. I asked a guy who had just finished one "what's the hardest part". Without hesitation he said "first cut". Once you hack the frame in half you got no choice but keep forging ahead to put it back together.

[cooperhw]

Well now I am trying to cut a rear bumper to fit my widened step side bed. I think I will remove about 4.5 inches off each end near the stake pocket and then weld the end back on. I figure to blast off the cheap chrome and paint it anyhow, so why not.

What do you guys think? Narrow the bumper or not?

[Bladeboy1998]

I think it will give it more of a clean look, but it is a work truck, who cares?

[BigMike]

My dad chopped a 56 F100 4" and widened the cab 6". Instead of widening the bed he did each fender 3". It looked pretty sick. It was in the late 90's when he did that one, wish I had pics.

Can't wait to see the finished Chevivrolet

[treveiger]

Try it! worse comes to worse just make a new one . Do you have any side pictures?

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by Bladeboy1998

I think it will give it more of a clean look, but it is a work truck, who cares?

I kinda agree, especially in that I don't know for sure I will not change it out if I find something better. At least I have something hanging that allows me to measure to and from. It's hard when there's nothing but air to measure to.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by BigMike

My dad chopped a 56 F100 4" and widened the cab 6". Instead of widening the bed he did each fender 3". It looked pretty sick. It was in the late 90's when he did that one, wish I had pics.

Can't wait to see the finished Chevivrolet

Yeah I would like to see those pics too. I gave some thought to widening the fenders but on these beds )step sides) the fenders already stick out a ways and I didn't want to extend them more. I think if I had of used a 60 to 72 step side bed that would have been the way to go.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by treveiger

Try it! worse comes to worse just make a new one . Do you have any side pictures?

True enough. No side pics. maybe later.

[9teen69]

Nice work man! I think you should leave the spelling as is, definetly will confuse a lot of people.
The bumper doesn't look bad as is.
Keep it up!

[BenE]

I think the bumper is right the way it is. Just need to make filler pieces between the bumper and the rear fenders. Diamond plate, steps.

[Bladeboy1998]

I like the step bumper that is on the k20 stepside in the for sale section. The steps go all the way to the rear fenders. I'll see if I can get a pic.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by Bladeboy1998

I like the step bumper that is on the k20 stepside in the for sale section. The steps go all the way to the rear fenders. I'll see if I can get a pic.

I haven't seen that particular one but will look. I was just wanting to get an outside objective opinion.

thanks for all the feedback guys. I believe for now I will just let it simmer for a while and move onto something else.