To cut, or not to cut? That is the question.

[68Stepbed]

I want some honest opinions. You won't hurt my feelings. Below is a current photo of my 68 stepside. I'm currently in a position that I could care less for power parking at car shows. For the past couple years, I've been more interested in events where some sort of driving is involved(Power Tour, cruises, autocross, etc.) In the autocross world, where I'm most active with the truck, wider tires are better. The problem is the rear stepside fenders don't allow much room unless some tubbing is involved, which comes to my dilemma. I'm having a hard time making the decision to cut the bedsides to install tubs. The reason is my bedsides are in near perfect shape and stepside beds are somewhat hard to find in good shape. I currently have 17x9.5 wheels with 275/55/17 tires, and they rub the inner bedsides bad enough that the paint is blistering. I really want to run 18x12 wheels and 335 tires, but I really just don't know if I will hurt the value of the truck if I cut the bed up.

What say you guys?

[WarMonger]

If you want to run the bigger, then cut. You have a nice truck now and I'm sure it will be a nice truck when you are done cutting it too. DO it.

[alsriv2]

In my humble opinion, you have a fantastic looking truck that should not be cut up. I would love to be able to own a truck like yours in the condition yours is in. However, it is your truck and you have to be happy with it.
My '69 has a mild tub job done by the previous owner, and while not done show quality and the wider tires do look cool, I wish the job had never been done.
If you do decide to do the tub job, please don't cut corners and end up with something that does not match the quality of the truck overall.

I wish you the best in your decision.

[hugger6933]

mini tubs!

[Ft.ValloniaStreaker]

Your in TN, lots of good old parts around. I'd say look around for a $4-500 step side and tub it as much as you want and swap as the mood suits you.

[Aruba1]

Don't do it man, don't do it! lol. With such as nice truck as your, I wouldn't do anything to it other than washing and polishing the paint.

[cypressbog]

I'd buy aftermarket bed parts, tub it as you wish and roll with that. Keep the current original bed for when you want to go back to original.

[Ruscal]

Since your truck is custom rather than restored to original you can do what you want to make it suit your purpose without hurting the resale value. Bed sides are re-popped, so you can reverse the mod, but I doubt you would want to go back since you enjoy the autocross scene. That is a good looking truck, by the way!
Enjoy,
Russ

[n33k0]

I wouldn't cut the bed sides. I'd run the truck as it is, push it to its limit and enjoy the ride. Sure, wider tires are better, but does that mean that what you have now won't work on the track at all? If you're going to the track for fun, I think you're all set with your current setup. If you're going to the track to be as competitive as possible, then maybe the tubs are necessary.

But what do I know, I just removed my 275's and put on 255's instead!

[CG]

"If the tire don't fit, you must cut it" ... Johnny Cochran

[67ChevyRedneck]

Cut it, it's just a stepside, right?

I would use a set of cut down fleet tubs for the new tubs. Make it look kinda factory.

[Smoothride]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1441406608

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1441406608

[Kyle@FTP]

It is a really nice truck!

Build a second bed and put them on quick pins with a plug for the lights. Or pop the bed off and add a sand bag rack for weight and go racing.

If those arent option, cut it up!

[cooperhw]

"Anybody can cut up a piece of crap. It takes a real man to cut up a good one". I vote to make that truck how you like it. I would cut a metal floor out of a fleetside square body (cheap and readily available) and use the factory inner tubs. I did this same modification to my stepside bed to allow it to fit over factory dual wheels.
Looking at my bed from the inside you can't tell the tubs didn't come factory.

[rattle69]

Go for it. It's your truck. The value decrease is only an issue if you sale it. The value might increase around the crowd your hanging with.

[GASoline71]

"Anybody can restore a classic... but it takes balls to cut one up."

Gary

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

For the past couple years, I've been more interested in events where some sort of driving is involved(Power Tour, cruises, autocross, etc.) In the autocross world, where I'm most active with the truck, wider tires are better. The problem is the rear stepside fenders don't allow much room unless some tubbing is involved, which comes to my dilemma. I'm having a hard time making the decision to cut the bedsides to install tubs. The reason is my bedsides are in near perfect shape and stepside beds are somewhat hard to find in good shape.

What say you guys?

My truck had a PERFECT, rust free bed so, when I decided to tub it, I bought a set of Chinese bedsides and fleetside wheelhouses from LMC (Lot's More Chinese Crap) cut those and painted them to match! If I ever decided to return the bed to a stocker I had a set of pristine original metal and some chinese stuff with holes in them.

After all, if you've got to cut metal it's lots better to cut cheap chinese knock-offs than the real stuff.

[RenoKeene]

Matt, your truck is one of my favorites. That bed is way to nice to cut up. Like others have said...build another box, maybe even a fleetside.

[original-71]

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

Matt, your truck is one of my favorites. That bed is way to nice to cut up. Like others have said...build another box, maybe even a fleetside.

x2

[kingstrider]

That's a beautiful truck. I'm not a fan of tubbed trucks but if its your thing then go for it. As a buyer that would probably be a turn off for me though.

[leftybass209]

Cut it! The worst thing you could do is force yourself to live with the truck in a manner that doesn't suit your driving style. The way you cut it, however, can make an impression good or bad. Personally I'd cut up two spare fenders and use them inside so it follows the shape of the outer fender. Ideally, that's the most visually appealing to me. Next best is to use fleetside inner fenders. The least visually appealing is a half round flat sheet that astheticlly doesn't match any contour on the trucks' body.

[boraxman]

I wouldnt cut it and I would be thinking something besides an old truck for these driving events..like a Miata, s2000 or maybe a vette

[67chevemall]

X2 Only way to go. Like buying a new dirt bike and putting the ufo plastics on to break up. Then when you sell you still have the brand new stuff.

My truck had a PERFECT, rust free bed so, when I decided to tub it, I bought a set of Chinese bedsides and fleetside wheelhouses from LMC (Lot's More Chinese Crap) cut those and painted them to match! If I ever decided to return the bed to a stocker I had a set of pristine original metal and some chinese stuff with holes in them.

After all, if you've got to cut metal it's lots better to cut cheap chinese knock-offs than the real stuf

[BugzC10]

If your that concerned with the future value of your truck with tubs...do as the other have recommended, cut and weld some aftermarket sides and tubs. Granted you will have the extra work of disassembly, painting and reassembly, but you will have the option to swap it out later...more work. Hell...cut it! You can find some original sides while you are having a blast on the racing circuit.

[BossHogg69]

Don't cut it! If you do, you could risk having your truck look like this...