shortening a fleet box

[67cst]

who here has shortened a 8' box to 6' ? im bringing mine to a rod shop in a couple weeks, he wasnt sure how long it will take to do, hopefully no more then a couple days, do you guys know how many hours roughly it takes? cause im paying by the hour and was just curious...thx

Derek

[lux hauler]

ebfabman should be able to help you with this one. he's posted lots of info on cutting the frame.

[larouchedem]

Derek,

Fyi - the "6 foot" bed is actually apx 20" shorter than a long bed. Apx 12" or so in front and 8" in back. The bed would need to be taken completetly apart to do it right, imo. Cutting in front of wheel wells wouldn't be tough, but cutting behind the wheels looks pretty labor intensive to me.
There's also the issue with the ribs in the floor,
if yours is a steel floor. They stop a little behind the front panel, and the floor bends down at the rear to blend in.

I took 9.75" out of the front of my long bed.
It looks pretty good, imo. I jokingly say it's a medium bed. I looked at taking 12" out in front to make wheelbase same as a short bed, but it would look odd [imo] as the bed would be much shorter in front of the wheels than behind. Mine is actually a little shorter in front of the wheels, but you can't notice it with the naked eye.

I cut my bed sides apx 1/2" from front and
TIG welded it back together a little at a time so I had little warpage, and very little bondo was needed to blend the front edge in and make it smooth. The inner panel was more complicated to do than the outer, btw.

I took the 9.75" out of the frame under the cab. I had to change the front bed mount on the frame, but my rear frame is 2x3 box tubing, so it wasn't much of an issue compared to the other frame work I did. I also boxed the frame in the center with 1/8" plate, up to about the front of the cab.

What you are looking at is a big job. I hope the fellows do you well. I'd say you are looking at a bunch of cost.....
Good luck.
Dave

[Mike C]

I agree with Dave. Just cost prohibitive. Either buy a short bed or buy new bedsides for a shorty and then your floor could be modded. In the long run, the body shop labor will eat you up to make a short bed from a long bed.

[67cst]

i priced out boxsides, 850 a side, so fk that, i have the original box, its really solid, like NO rust, so im going to give this a shot, its got a wood floor so im not to concerned...who else has done this?

[PICKMUP]

I also think that is really good advise. Buy short bed sides...it will be cheaper and a lot better job. Cut a long floor down, if you have to. When you take a section out in front and behind the wheel well, it really comes back together pretty easy...two welds across the floor and all of the supports line up like original.
This is a bad picture that I have posted before. It shows a short floor sitting on top of a long floor, for comparison.

[67cst]

need i remind you guys that this is a low buck project, i dont have 1700 hun + tax to drop on bedsides thats what i get em for new around here, so im gunna get it shortened, this is just going to be a daily driver not a trailer queen

[PICKMUP]

Please let us know what it cost, how well it was finished inside and out, and basically how they do it...and if you are satisified, when it is done.

[67cst]

i will forsure pickmup, ill try and get pics as its beeing done..

Derek

[Super Chevy]

Notice how the body line curves down during the length of the bed and behind the wheels on the bottom angle up,looks like itll be VERY laber intensive and mabe have to be sectioned to make the lines match up, it would work on a 73+ easy, but behind the wheels looks pretty tough,good luck the truck pictured is mine

[Classic Heartbeat]

67cst, Where do you get $875.00 per side for shortbed fleetside bedsides? Check out this link to my website and you will get a more realistic price for the bedsides. http://www.classicheartbeat.com/sheetmetal2.htm
WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[mikep]

He's in Canada Wes. Thems Canadian Dollars!

[Hooter]

Enough tires PIKMUP?
LOL!
and the all look like they have usable tread on them too!

[Classic Heartbeat]

Oh! I didn't notice that.. Still even with the exchange rate that seems high.... Thanks mikep... WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[PICKMUP]

Wheels, tires, custom interior, dropped suspension, new & used truck parts...Hey, I'll sell anything to try and support my habit---trucks! Around Olympia you have to try everything & anything if you are going to sell truck parts. Remember, there are more truck parts dealers than espresso stands!

[sgtjed]

stupid question,but why dont you just shorten the frame and buy a used short bed box and use on the shortend frame?
sounds like its going to cost way more than you think to have them shorten the long bed to fit onto the shorten frame.
or maybe i am not understanding what it is you are trying to do.


ah! nevermind i just read your sig, why not just sell the long bed and buy a short one? are they that scarce in canada?

[67cst]

sgtjed
i allready have a shortbed frame, the cab and front clip are on it, now i need a box, if you find me a short fleet box in my region id be more than happy o buy it, they are un heard of here

[sgtjed]

didnt mean to sound smart in my last post,just dont know whats available in your part of the world.

i guess shipping one there is too costly also. i think there was some beds for sale here in the parts board,but will probably cost way too much to ship there from arizona.

btw i havent heard of anyone shorting the box itself,just know of some guys shorting the frame and adding the shortbox. good luck on your project as i have no clue about it.

[67cst]

yeah thats okay, ive heard of guys shortening boxes, when i called the steet rod shop and asked them if they do it they said yes with no hesitation so i dont think i was dreaming anything... ill keep ya guys posted....

DEREK