Is it possible to turn a Regular Box into a Short Box??

[smoknbarrels]

can the frame still be utilized? I am guessing i would need a new box and new swing arms for starters...

Is it massive amounts of work? I already have the box off..and I've always wanted a short box.

[brak]

you can turn a LWB truck into a SWB truck, and there are several threads on this subject.

glock35ipsc wrote a good article on shortening the frame HERE

Several have commented on shortening the bed itself, do a quick search and you should find it

Personally, i would just pick up a shortbed frame (actually that's what i've done), and start from there. can probaly find one fairly cheap near you, and then just swap everything over.

[RACINJASON22]

With brak on the fact that it would be alot easier to find a short frame
and swap every thing over unless ther is going to be lowering notching custom frame stuff in general the you would be doing the cuting and welding anyway. A little work will save you money most of the time but not always, and skill level comes into play. REMEMBER you could sell your frame and/or bed when you get every thing swaped over to help make-up for the extra $$ you spend. What ever you decide post us pics of you truck we all love pics.

GOOD LUCK with your truck either way!

[smoknbarrels]

Wow that looks like tons of work, yea different frame would be a good idea. perhaps I will reassemble the truck and get a short box project..

[49studebaker]

If it were myself. Oh wait...it is. I have a long wheel base, I did not have access to a short wheel base. Actually have no Idea where I would even find one, so I took a day and shortened mine. If the chassis you have is in good shape, and you know someone that is a professional welder, I believe it's the best way to go. The link Brak supplied you with is exactly what I did. Your swing arms will be fine. I will be ordering new short bed, bedsides as the original 8 foot ones were hammered anyway.

[brak]

Originally Posted by smoknbarrels

Wow that looks like tons of work, yea different frame would be a good idea. perhaps I will reassemble the truck and get a short box project..

when i posted the first time, i didn't realize you were in Canada...
I'm not sure where you are in Alberta, but there's a very good chance you could find a short frame from somebody in Washington or Montana. Not sure how pentiful complete shortbed trucks are up there, but if it's anything like here, they are becoming scarce, unless you are willing to shell out a decent amount of $$$.

Personally what i would do, since it sounds like you have the truck torn down.
I would focus on the cab, front clip, suspention, and engine. you can do all this work while you are searching for a short frame, and if worse comes to worse, you don't find a frame by the time all aformentioned work is complete (unlikely IMO) you can throw everything on the Long frame and have a nice driver, or exlplore shortening your frame at that point.

[gotchevys?]

I am actually shortening a lwb now. I chose to shorten what I had instead of buying other because of saving money. You can save money by doing if you hgave the skill level to do the work yourself but not if you have to pay someone else. I have 2 current projects one of which will involve a good bit of money and the other is a 67 lwb that im cutting down is gonna be a ratrod/beater truck to play with while I finish my bigger project. Chopping the frame isn't bad but cutting down a fleetside bed is a bit more involved. Its kind of a pain in the @$$ getting the body lines to flow right when you weld it back up, but its not impossible if you have the skill and take your time.

Check out my thread for pics.http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=220663

[bagged91]

One other thing to remember if you do decide to chop down the LWB bed to a SWB bed. The wheel arch's are different on a LWB truck vs. a SWB truck. Not necceserarily noticable to a novice but if you know what you are looking at, it will stick out like a sore thumb. Look at the lower leading edge of the wheel arch on both style trucks, the LWB is "rounded" while the SWB is squared off...

[bowtieboy93]

there is a site on the internet of someone who took a lwb truck and made a swb outta it with detailed instructions and pictures but i cannot remember it so ill ask my dad when he gets home

[Slammed66]

Hey smokn Barrels ,

it can be done see here , IM in alberta as well where are you located??
youll need new box sides, the trailing arms are fine just have to shorten brake and fuel lines driveshaft , and ebrake intermediate cable and tail light wiring harness


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=186135

[smoknbarrels]

I'm in Edmonton, I just found out i can buy a complete brand new short box with all the deluxe fixin's for $3500 in red deer, so I think I'll be headed that way to pick one up this spring..
so I am going to attempt to shorten the frame, unless you know of a place i can buy a short box frame.
my lwb box has fenders in good shape so i may be able to sell and recoup gas money at least..