C-20 LWB to SWB??

[DTerry]

After a year or so hiatus, I have been finally motivated again to start on my truck. Also due to a bunch of other projects going on, I just haven't had the time or the garage space. But I got my bed in the garage started the tear down and found that it might be a little rougher then I was hoping for. So that leaves me to a huge decision:

First off its a 1970 GMC C-20 LWB so it has the rear leafs. I like the SWB trucks and I think they just look cooler, IMO. Now to shorten the frame and the bed or just leave it a LWB.

The Frame:
I did some searching, and I got no real answer of weather or not shortening a frame with leafs is going to be a problem, because I guess there will only be 4 inches of frame behind the shackels on a c-10, (don't know if the c-20s would be any different). Also I'm going with a roll pan so no bumper brackets. Later on I think I'm going to switch to stock trailing arms and bags, but money doesn't allow that right now. Has anyone shortened a c-20 or even a leaf spring truck. Also will this effect the way it tows? I don't plan on anything crazy maybe just a 3500 lb car and trailer would be the max every once in a while.

The Bed:
The floor is pretty much shot, not all that rusty, but a lot of dents that would be a pain to fix. So i just going with some sheet metal. So i have to make new bolt wholes any ways. The sides are a little rough. New bedsides are out of the question even if they did make them for the LWB, but I can get patch panels to fix all that stuff. Now is cutting it down going to be that difficult? Any problems you see?


Thanks in advance.