Long bed to Short bed conversion.

[Vandals909]

I have been looking for a 1968 short bed for about 1 year now. They are either to beat up for my liking or they are way out of my price range.

I'm starting to through around the idea of cutting down a longbed to a shortbed. I understand what it take to work the frame down to a short bed. Seems fairly simple really.

My question is the bed. I see a kit like this one
http://www.truckinweb.com/tech/body/.../photo_15.html

Would I be able to buy just the new shortbed, bed sides and use the long bed front of the bed and cut the floor shorter? Do the factory bedside unbolt like the aftermarket ones?

Figure if I can get a clean 68 longbed for $3k and then spend another $1,200 to do the shortening and buy bedside it might be worth it.


What do you guys think?

[OldSkool71]

I say go for it...and post the conversion of course...with lots of pics plzzzz...Here is my trucks conversion...from long to short....

http://www.earlyclassic.com/tech.asp...20No!-Shortbed

[Vandals909]

I'm seriously thinking about it.

I just want to know if I can buy the new short bed, bed side and unbolt the long bed bed side from the bed the truck comes with. then bolt on the new short bed, bed sides on the remaining parts left over from the original longbed?

could save on shipping as brothers is 20 minutes down the road from me.



What did ECE charge you to do the conversion? have any issues with it? Handling/ alignment?

Thanks

[OldSkool71]

I think the front panel would be ok...obviously the bed floor would need to be cut down to size...not sure...but sounds like it could be done...im sure someone here has done it or knows of it being done or not...best thing in the end you will have the exact truck you are wanting...and saving some money too...which is always a good thing....I bought the truck from them after it was completed....killer deal too...I love it...could not be happier.

[Vandals909]

Does anyone know if one aftermarket bed side is better then another. IE. Brothers vs ECE vs LMC.. etc...

Also when cutting the frame wondering if the 45 degree cut is better or the z cut ?


Thanks for the help guys!

[blazed870]

Noticed your from so cal. I'm in Bakersfield. I bought a 70 lwb for $2k. Then I had a guy cut it down, frame and bed for $800. The guy's name is Shane and he lives in Tulare right off the 99. Did the whole job in a week. Pm me if you want to contact him and see if he still does them.

[Vandals909]

Sent you a PM blazed870.

Still looking to see who makes the best sheet metal/ bed sides.

And if the long bed, bed sides could be unbolt and the floor cut and the short bed side bolted onto the old long bed.

[Ackattack]

you can un bolt the hole bed. There is a spot weld near the tailgate that will have to be cut.

Like stated above, you can also just cut the whole bed down to a short bed and save yourself a bunch of money over getting new aftermarket bed sides.

I'm guessing most companies (ECE, Brothers, etc) sell the same manufacturer's bed sides. Guessing Tri Pro or something like that.

[Vandals909]

I really don't feel comfortable cutting the bedsides, my buddy who welds for a living will help me with the frame work.

Blazed870's truck came out very nice.

[junkman]

I have a wood floor bed, and just cut the 12" off the front, and 8" off the back of the floor. I shortened the bedsides, but I don't see why you couldn't have just bolted some short sides on it. I did the 45 cuts on the frame. I'd say technically the z is stronger, but do you really need the shortened section of the frame to be 3 times stronger than all the rest of it? I think the 45 is much easier unless you have a plasma cutter or something. Everything went smooth except for the finding a complete freshly blasted and painted rolling swb trailing arm chassis, with all new bushings for $200 a couple days after having it back together.

[Vandals909]

Junkman can you post some photos of your cut down bed? Thanks!