LWB to a SWB, a couple questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dubie · 08-01-2002, 10:16 AM

I have been throwing this idea around for a while now, but I always forgot to bookmark the page whenever all the info was given out.

Can anyone tell me how hard it would be to cut the frame on my 72 LWB with rear coils, and make it into a swb?? My truck is never going to be sold or used as a show piece, so cutting the frame is no big deal to me.

If anyone can help, it would be much appreciated.
Thanks

dubie · 08-01-2002, 12:22 PM

I know there are a few guys here that have done this mod before. Can anyone shed some more light on this for me?

dubie · 08-01-2002, 01:10 PM

I beleive this truck had it done, but for the life of me I can't remember who owns it.

lost wages · 08-02-2002, 02:02 AM

ive done it, you take 12 inches out of the frame under the cab and 8 inches off the rear most part of the frame. You will also have to relocate the body mounts and shorten fuel and brake lines. its not to bad.

jiggs · 08-02-2002, 02:40 AM

a few more things: driveshaft shortening or changeover to one piece, and removal of the forward most box mount on the frame. When you cut the frame make a diagnal cut on the frame. perferably a 45 degree cut. Also use a fishplate on the inside. Never weld vertically on the frame, it screws with the grain structure of the metal and weakens it.

dubie · 08-02-2002, 09:05 AM

What about the rear trailing arms, does anything have to be changed with them? Do you guys happen to have any pics of your frame cuts you could post?

palallin · 08-02-2002, 10:20 AM

Another member here is contmplating grafting a swb rear frame (currently a trailer) onto the front frame of a lwb to make a swb out of it. That should simplify things (eliminating the need for the cuts behind the wheel and elimnate the need to relocate mounts). My thought on this is to use the rear cab mounts as the anchor point for measuring, cutting both frames just forward of the trailing arm cross-member.

Any thoughts?

lost wages · 08-02-2002, 11:37 AM

you dont have to do any thing to the trailing arms, short and lond are the same, ill dig up some pics later. the way i cut it was down three inches, over 6 inches and down three more, have to do this twice for each side.

ebfabman · 08-02-2002, 11:56 AM

check out this thread...........

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ight=cut+frame

dubie · 08-02-2002, 12:43 PM

SWEET!!! thanks for that eb. How hard would this be with the cab still on the frame?

ebfabman · 08-02-2002, 12:50 PM

it could be done, but it seems it would be much easier with the cab off or up a ways................

08-01-2002, 10:16 AM	#1
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,853	LWB to a SWB, a couple questions I have been throwing this idea around for a while now, but I always forgot to bookmark the page whenever all the info was given out. Can anyone tell me how hard it would be to cut the frame on my 72 LWB with rear coils, and make it into a swb?? My truck is never going to be sold or used as a show piece, so cutting the frame is no big deal to me. If anyone can help, it would be much appreciated. Thanks __________________ 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

08-01-2002, 12:22 PM	#2
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,853	I know there are a few guys here that have done this mod before. Can anyone shed some more light on this for me? __________________ 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

08-01-2002, 01:10 PM	#3
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,853	I beleive this truck had it done, but for the life of me I can't remember who owns it. __________________ 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

08-02-2002, 09:05 AM	#6
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,853	What about the rear trailing arms, does anything have to be changed with them? Do you guys happen to have any pics of your frame cuts you could post? __________________ 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

08-02-2002, 10:20 AM	#7
palallin Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: St. James, MO Posts: 1,238	Another member here is contmplating grafting a swb rear frame (currently a trailer) onto the front frame of a lwb to make a swb out of it. That should simplify things (eliminating the need for the cuts behind the wheel and elimnate the need to relocate mounts). My thought on this is to use the rear cab mounts as the anchor point for measuring, cutting both frames just forward of the trailing arm cross-member. Any thoughts? __________________ '69 Longstep K-10: 327/SM465/T-221/Closed Knuckle Dana44/12-bolt.

08-02-2002, 02:02 AM	#4
lost wages Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: jefferson city, mo Posts: 1,364	ive done it, you take 12 inches out of the frame under the cab and 8 inches off the rear most part of the frame. You will also have to relocate the body mounts and shorten fuel and brake lines. its not to bad.

08-02-2002, 02:40 AM	#5
jiggs poker face Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Posts: 218	a few more things: driveshaft shortening or changeover to one piece, and removal of the forward most box mount on the frame. When you cut the frame make a diagnal cut on the frame. perferably a 45 degree cut. Also use a fishplate on the inside. Never weld vertically on the frame, it screws with the grain structure of the metal and weakens it.

08-02-2002, 11:37 AM	#8
lost wages Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: jefferson city, mo Posts: 1,364	you dont have to do any thing to the trailing arms, short and lond are the same, ill dig up some pics later. the way i cut it was down three inches, over 6 inches and down three more, have to do this twice for each side.

08-02-2002, 11:56 AM	#9
ebfabman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 2,488	check out this thread........... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ight=cut+frame

08-02-2002, 12:43 PM	#10
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,853	SWEET!!! thanks for that eb. How hard would this be with the cab still on the frame? __________________ 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

08-02-2002, 12:50 PM	#11
ebfabman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 2,488	it could be done, but it seems it would be much easier with the cab off or up a ways................

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