Longhorn Bed Seam - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jec · 05-25-2006, 09:35 PM

I am preparing my Longhorn Bed for paint and will be installing new bed wood soon. I have owned this truck for seven (7) years and have always thought it would look better without the bed seam. For those not fimiliar with the Longhorn Trucks, the factory built them using a standard 8' bed and added an additional 8" to the front of the bed leaving a vertical body seam.

I do not want to hurt the value of having an original truck and a filled seam is not factory, however, I am thinking it is a definite improvement.

Opinions?

Of course, if the seam is filled it will be done professionally using a mig welder (.023" wire). It will never come back in the form of a crack, etc. in the body filler. Welding sheet metal can be a little tricky sometimes.

Has anybody else ever done this or seen a Longhorn with smooth sides?

roj2323 · 05-25-2006, 09:43 PM

i like the idea but why weld it? you could just lead the seam which will give you the look you want, it won't crack and if for some reason you want to someday restore the truck then you can melt out the lead to recover the seam. just a thought.

ondrew

67_C-30 · 05-25-2006, 09:46 PM

I've often thought about that same thing. It would look cleaner and flow better, but it would also do away with something that makes a Longhorn stand out. To me it would look like you made a Longhorn instead of having a real Longhorn, even though it would be. I don't think I could bring myself to do it since the Longhorns are such a unique truck, but you gotta do what you want with your truck.

Longhorn Man · 05-25-2006, 09:48 PM

I have to agree with 67C-30... When i first got my old longhorn, I considered this exact same thing, but my neighbor simply said... "No one will understand what makes a Longhorn, a Longhorn."

chevy_fatman · 05-25-2006, 10:13 PM

Castiron9 · 05-25-2006, 10:47 PM

From a fellow LONGHORN owner keep the seam...I think that is what distinguishes it from a regular longbed..

jec · 05-25-2006, 11:13 PM

Well, this is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping to get. Its hard to talk to "normal" people about these critical issues.

"If I have to explain why 67-72 Chevy Trucks are special, you would not understand."

The board never lets me down!

longhorn70gmc · 05-26-2006, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castiron9

From a fellow LONGHORN owner keep the seam...I think that is what distinguishes it from a regular longbed..

I am a Original type person and love the seam but, I higly respect your thoughts and in the end, what matters is, Your happy! Nice bed by the way. It even has a tool box! My old bed and new bed doesn't. Goodluck!
Respectfully

jec · 05-26-2006, 08:00 AM

Longhorn70gmc,

You don't know half the story on the toolbox. The rust-free doors for these are extremely rare. I got one from a guy in Texas and still had to make some minor repairs.

Still looking for a really pristine one.

jec · 05-27-2006, 09:46 AM

The feedback received so far is great, however, I am still wondering about one thing.

Has anyone ever seen a Longhorn with the bed seams filled in?

**john** · 05-27-2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jec

The feedback received so far is great, however, I am still wondering about one thing.

Has anyone ever seen a Longhorn with the bed seams filled in?

To help answer your? The seam is what makes the longhorn standout so I hope I never see a filled one, but its your truck. Enjoy.

BET68 · 05-27-2006, 01:52 PM

From A Longhorn Owner, Don't FILLThe Seams !!! Just My Weird Thoughts!!!

stllookn · 05-27-2006, 06:58 PM

Dude....KEEP THE SEAM! I agree with all the Longhorn owners. I have lots of respect for Fizzle...he does some awesome work...but he is one of those that CAN'T leave anything stock...LOL! And thank God for guys like that but it's your truck and you have to live with it. There is a member with a lowered and chopped Longhorn...don't know if he shaved the seam but that thing is looooonnnnnnngggggg and loooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Longhorn Man · 05-27-2006, 09:02 PM

nope, al didn't fill his seam. I remember he was talking about when he was pointing the line out to some people, and telling them that it is an uncommon truck, and they looked at all the rest of the metal work and they weren't sure if he was blowin smoke, or was seriouse that it was stock like that.

05-25-2006, 09:35 PM	#1
jec Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Middletown, Ohio Posts: 131	Longhorn Bed Seam I am preparing my Longhorn Bed for paint and will be installing new bed wood soon. I have owned this truck for seven (7) years and have always thought it would look better without the bed seam. For those not fimiliar with the Longhorn Trucks, the factory built them using a standard 8' bed and added an additional 8" to the front of the bed leaving a vertical body seam. I do not want to hurt the value of having an original truck and a filled seam is not factory, however, I am thinking it is a definite improvement. Opinions? Of course, if the seam is filled it will be done professionally using a mig welder (.023" wire). It will never come back in the form of a crack, etc. in the body filler. Welding sheet metal can be a little tricky sometimes. Has anybody else ever done this or seen a Longhorn with smooth sides? Attached Images

05-25-2006, 09:43 PM	#2
roj2323 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Somewhere Posts: 985	Re: Longhorn Bed Seam i like the idea but why weld it? you could just lead the seam which will give you the look you want, it won't crack and if for some reason you want to someday restore the truck then you can melt out the lead to recover the seam. just a thought. ondrew

05-25-2006, 09:46 PM	#3
67_C-30 I have a radical idea! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweet Home Alabama! Posts: 6,513	Re: Longhorn Bed Seam I've often thought about that same thing. It would look cleaner and flow better, but it would also do away with something that makes a Longhorn stand out. To me it would look like you made a Longhorn instead of having a real Longhorn, even though it would be. I don't think I could bring myself to do it since the Longhorns are such a unique truck, but you gotta do what you want with your truck. __________________ '67 C-30 Dually Pickup 6.2 Turbo Diesel, NP435 ‘72 C-10 SWB , 350 4bbl, TH350 '69 C-10 SWB , 250 L6, 3 OTT '69 GMC C3500, dump truck, 351 V6, NP435 '84 M1009 CUCV Military Blazer 67 C-30 Turbodiesel build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=254096 My trucks http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ediafilter=all Member of the 1-Ton Club! Last edited by 67_C-30; 05-25-2006 at 09:53 PM.

05-25-2006, 09:48 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Longhorn Bed Seam I have to agree with 67C-30... When i first got my old longhorn, I considered this exact same thing, but my neighbor simply said... "No one will understand what makes a Longhorn, a Longhorn."

05-25-2006, 10:13 PM	#5
chevy_fatman Where's my beer? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I live in the state of denial.... Posts: 5,621	Re: Longhorn Bed Seam __________________ Paul How do you make the invisible, visible?.........You take it away.

05-25-2006, 10:47 PM	#6
Castiron9 72 LONGHORN OWNER Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Wash. Posts: 963	Re: Longhorn Bed Seam From a fellow LONGHORN owner keep the seam...I think that is what distinguishes it from a regular longbed.. __________________ 72-SUPER CHEYENNE/20 LONGHORN 70-C/30 DUALLY

05-25-2006, 11:13 PM	#7
jec Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Middletown, Ohio Posts: 131	Re: Longhorn Bed Seam Well, this is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping to get. Its hard to talk to "normal" people about these critical issues. "If I have to explain why 67-72 Chevy Trucks are special, you would not understand." The board never lets me down!

05-26-2006, 08:00 AM	#9
jec Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Middletown, Ohio Posts: 131	Re: Longhorn Bed Seam Longhorn70gmc, You don't know half the story on the toolbox. The rust-free doors for these are extremely rare. I got one from a guy in Texas and still had to make some minor repairs. Still looking for a really pristine one.

05-27-2006, 09:46 AM	#10
jec Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Middletown, Ohio Posts: 131	Re: Longhorn Bed Seam The feedback received so far is great, however, I am still wondering about one thing. Has anyone ever seen a Longhorn with the bed seams filled in?

05-27-2006, 01:52 PM	#12
BET68 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: BREVARD NC Posts: 156	Re: Longhorn Bed Seam From A Longhorn Owner, Don't FILLThe Seams !!! Just My Weird Thoughts!!! __________________ NAMASTE B&E 1971 LONGHORN C-30 1969 LONGHORN C-20 1968 DUALLY 1970 STEP SIDE PROJECT 1972 CST C-20 1980 M-80 MALIBU FOR SALE 1974 NOVA FOR SALE:

05-27-2006, 06:58 PM	#13
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	Re: Longhorn Bed Seam Dude....KEEP THE SEAM! I agree with all the Longhorn owners. I have lots of respect for Fizzle...he does some awesome work...but he is one of those that CAN'T leave anything stock...LOL! And thank God for guys like that but it's your truck and you have to live with it. There is a member with a lowered and chopped Longhorn...don't know if he shaved the seam but that thing is looooonnnnnnngggggg and loooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)

05-27-2006, 09:02 PM	#14
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Longhorn Bed Seam nope, al didn't fill his seam. I remember he was talking about when he was pointing the line out to some people, and telling them that it is an uncommon truck, and they looked at all the rest of the metal work and they weren't sure if he was blowin smoke, or was seriouse that it was stock like that.



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