Longbed into shortbed? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

72Mountaineer · 02-20-2011, 07:51 PM

Is it possible to cut off the sides of a longbed AD bed and make it into a shortbed?

weldvair@embarqmail. · 02-21-2011, 09:15 AM

Yes, but you have to also change the wheelbase.

Don

72Mountaineer · 02-21-2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weldvair@embarqmail.

Yes, but you have to also change the wheelbase.

Don

And how do you do that?

weldvair@embarqmail. · 02-21-2011, 11:37 AM

Do a search on this site/do a google search......Don

**chev3600** · 02-21-2011, 12:44 PM

Shortening the frame is probably obvious and the bed can be shortened, it's just sheet metal. Make sure you cut the correct amount off as I think you have to remove material from both the front and rear of the bed to simulate a short bed. As weldvair suggested, you'll find much about this with a site search.
Posted via Mobile Device

Mike Bradbury · 02-21-2011, 12:55 PM

Not your year but this is pretty informative on shortening. It really depends on your fab skills, anything is possible.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=223158

classic1967chevy · 02-21-2011, 01:05 PM

mabye this will help you out with the frame

72Mountaineer · 02-21-2011, 01:13 PM

Thanks for all the replies and pics, but I think I was misunderstood. I have a shortbed truck, and I need a new bed. I found a very nice set of bedsides that are of a longbed. Can these longbed sides be shortened to use on my shortbed frame, and where do you cut? I have no shortbed template to compare to.

Mike Bradbury · 02-21-2011, 01:21 PM

Check the link I posted, it documents the cutting placements for the bed sides. New or original it should all be the same.
Your handle is 72 mountianeer but you posted this in the 47 to 59 board, What year are we talking about here?

classic1967chevy · 02-21-2011, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72Mountaineer

Thanks for all the replies and pics, but I think I was misunderstood. I have a shortbed truck, and I need a new bed. I found a very nice set of bedsides that are of a longbed. Can these longbed sides be shortened to use on my shortbed frame, and where do you cut? I have no shortbed template to compare to.

o ok 1 sec i got a few pictures of that as well

mr48chev · 02-21-2011, 01:29 PM

You will have to cut some off both ends of the bed to get it right. But if you have the old short bed as a pattern that shouldn't be too hard to figure out. It mostly depends on how good you are at welding metal back together without making a mess out of it.

BlueJeep · 02-21-2011, 10:45 PM

If it's a 3600 long bed you'll just have to cut the front of the box down, relocate the front stake pockets, and remove the middle stake pockets. If it's a 3800 bed you'd have to cut the front and the back down by about 3 feet....but if it's a 3800 bed don't cut it as they are worth some money.

With all that said, bedsides are cheap for 3100's compared to the finish work you'd have to do after cutting it down.

DG Racing · 02-22-2011, 05:03 AM

you can look at this also

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=323615

Jmageee902004 · 02-28-2011, 08:30 PM

Ive got two short boxes that id trade to you for your long box, haha. im going the other way with the swap

02-20-2011, 07:51 PM	#1
72Mountaineer Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where Mountaineers are free Posts: 402	Longbed into shortbed? Is it possible to cut off the sides of a longbed AD bed and make it into a shortbed?

02-21-2011, 09:15 AM	#2
weldvair@embarqmail. Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: st cloud, fl Posts: 266	Re: Longbed into shortbed? Yes, but you have to also change the wheelbase. Don

02-21-2011, 11:37 AM	#4
weldvair@embarqmail. Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: st cloud, fl Posts: 266	Re: Longbed into shortbed? Do a search on this site/do a google search......Don

02-21-2011, 12:44 PM	#5
chev3600 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 444	Re: Longbed into shortbed? Shortening the frame is probably obvious and the bed can be shortened, it's just sheet metal. Make sure you cut the correct amount off as I think you have to remove material from both the front and rear of the bed to simulate a short bed. As weldvair suggested, you'll find much about this with a site search. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1949/1954 with LS swap-yeah! http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/i...0/AD%20trucks/jumbled mess of unorganized photos

02-21-2011, 12:55 PM	#6
Mike Bradbury Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Diego California Posts: 1,316	Re: Longbed into shortbed? Not your year but this is pretty informative on shortening. It really depends on your fab skills, anything is possible. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=223158 __________________ I'd rather attempt something great and fail.. than try something ordinary and succeed. Norman Vincent Peale Project: Barn Raising http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414961 Project: 30 Be Low https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=830583

02-21-2011, 01:05 PM	#7
classic1967chevy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Nauvoo Alabama Posts: 269	Re: Longbed into shortbed? mabye this will help you out with the frame Attached Images

02-21-2011, 01:13 PM	#8
72Mountaineer Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where Mountaineers are free Posts: 402	Re: Longbed into shortbed? Thanks for all the replies and pics, but I think I was misunderstood. I have a shortbed truck, and I need a new bed. I found a very nice set of bedsides that are of a longbed. Can these longbed sides be shortened to use on my shortbed frame, and where do you cut? I have no shortbed template to compare to.

02-21-2011, 01:21 PM	#9
Mike Bradbury Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: San Diego California Posts: 1,316	Re: Longbed into shortbed? Check the link I posted, it documents the cutting placements for the bed sides. New or original it should all be the same. Your handle is 72 mountianeer but you posted this in the 47 to 59 board, What year are we talking about here? __________________ I'd rather attempt something great and fail.. than try something ordinary and succeed. Norman Vincent Peale Project: Barn Raising http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414961 Project: 30 Be Low https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=830583

02-21-2011, 01:29 PM	#11
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,426	Re: Longbed into shortbed? You will have to cut some off both ends of the bed to get it right. But if you have the old short bed as a pattern that shouldn't be too hard to figure out. It mostly depends on how good you are at welding metal back together without making a mess out of it.

02-21-2011, 10:45 PM	#12
BlueJeep Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Waukee, Iowa Posts: 1,608	Re: Longbed into shortbed? If it's a 3600 long bed you'll just have to cut the front of the box down, relocate the front stake pockets, and remove the middle stake pockets. If it's a 3800 bed you'd have to cut the front and the back down by about 3 feet....but if it's a 3800 bed don't cut it as they are worth some money. With all that said, bedsides are cheap for 3100's compared to the finish work you'd have to do after cutting it down. __________________ build threads: 86 Suburban 88 Jeep 6.0 swap 49 Chevy truck 54 Chevy wagon 86 Suburban lowered 4/6 54 Chevy wagon 49 Chevy/s10 mix 88 Jeep Wrangler rockcrawler Last edited by BlueJeep; 02-21-2011 at 10:46 PM.

02-22-2011, 05:03 AM	#13
DG Racing Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Montreal,Quebec,Canada Posts: 131	Re: Longbed into shortbed? you can look at this also http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=323615

02-28-2011, 08:30 PM	#14
Jmageee902004 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Burnsville Posts: 70	Re: Longbed into shortbed? Ive got two short boxes that id trade to you for your long box, haha. im going the other way with the swap



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