Shortbed Conversion!

[OlSmokey]

Hey guys so I'm finally starting my LWB to SWB conversion. I know there are a bunch of threads out there about this but I wanted to put mine in to log it. I have already taken the front fenders and stuff off so I can remove the cab. PS. I will probably need help along the way. Thanks guys!

[jondancer]

I don't think you need to remove the cab .

[NASTY-LSX]

On that truck he does. 73/87 you dont. I'm in your same shoes. Fixing to shorten my 87

[Advanced Design]

Cool, tagging along.

[cooperhw]

OlSmokey,
First off welcome to the forum.
Second, I am out in east Mesa. I have a set of "camper jacks" type jacks I made that work great for lifting the cab and bed. If you want to barrow them for a while you are welcome to come out and get em. I will not need them for a bit.
They really make it easy to lift the bed and cab by yourself in a very controlled manner where you can either roll a dolly or trailer underneath and set em down while you work the frame. Also, I have done a couple frame shortening jobs so if you have any questions I will be glad to try and point you in the right direction.

[NASTY-LSX]

Originally Posted by cooperhw

OlSmokey,
First off welcome to the forum.
Second, I am out in east Mesa. I have a set of "camper jacks" type jacks I made that work great for lifting the cab and bed. If you want to barrow them for a while you are welcome to come out and get em. I will not need them for a bit.
They really make it easy to lift the bed and cab by yourself in a very controlled manner where you can either roll a dolly or trailer underneath and set em down while you work the frame. Also, I have done a couple frame shortening jobs so if you have any questions I will be glad to try and point you in the right direction.

It's good people like you that make this an awesome forum

[flashed]

Im in for another one.

[Tzclark]

I've done it twice, first time with leaving the cab on and second time with cab off. I fishplated both and let. Doing it with the cab off is way faster and you'll end up with a better quality job. Good luck. If you can read and tape measure and have welding skills it won't be an issue. I also cut a box down, it can be done but just buying a shortbed is way easier and the bolt holes line up except for the ones closest to the tailgate. Cutting the box down is by far more work then the frame, brake lines and drive shaft.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by NASTY-LSX

It's good people like you that make this an awesome forum

Thanks Nasty-LSX. They are just sitting in my backyard and not planning on using them anytime soon so why not.
Trying to kind of "pay it forward" so to speak.

[OlSmokey]

Thanks Cooper that's super helpful! I got the tailgate and back bumper off, also removed all 8 of the bolts for the bed, and undid the exhaust hangers. I'm just waiting for my friends to come over, then I]ting the bed off today!

[OlSmokey]

Got the bed off with a few buddies!!

[faribran]

Good start... Keep the pics coming! There are a few of us on here that have done this. You can ask questions, then decide how you want to proceed.

[65standard]

Off to a good start.

[OlSmokey]

So I was just looking around on my frame and I saw something weird.


so I open it up and look!



It looks like a brand new factory key! I'm thinking this could have been put there when it was new-ish! Is that possible? Do the signs point to that? I'm super excited since I don't actually have a spare key for my truck, but now I do!! This is awesome!

[flashed]

Not a factory key but a nice spare.

[jocko]

Don't leave home without it! Saved my bacon more than once...

[Rocket3]

Originally Posted by OlSmokey

So I was just looking around on my frame and I saw something weird.
Attachment 1450721

so I open it up and look!

Attachment 1450722

It looks like a brand new factory key! I'm thinking this could have been put there when it was new-ish! Is that possible? Do the signs point to that? I'm super excited since I don't actually have a spare key for my truck, but now I do!! This is awesome!

That frame fishplate is nice. Here is one off a KY truck.

[OlSmokey]

I forgot to upload the pictures, but here is what I have done this last weekend!

I got the cab off the frame:


and I removed the front bed mount, and rear cab mount with some 'gentle' persuasion:


over this week I will be removing the brake and fuel lines going back, and removing the drive shaft to replace it with a 1 piece. also cleaning up the dirty old frame a little bit. this has been coming along great!

[OlSmokey]

Alright me and my dad did some more work today on my old truck and here we go!

First i started by laying out all of the measurements and quadruple checking them:


then we cut the frame! crazy!


then we did just a test fit, there is still a lot of alignment to be done.


so there it is. tomorrow we plan to weld!

[flashed]

Looks good.

[Clavo106]

HAHAHAHA>> I WAS CUTING MY FRAME TOOO TODAY >>> I was planning on welding today but the rain came down so I had to stop...

[OlSmokey]

haha that's funny. you're in washington, i'm in arizona, and i would have probably gotten to welding today too if it hadn't been raining!!

[Xeen]

You frame shortening guys are crazy but it's the good kind of crazy.
Do you plan on using Made in the USA reproduction short bed bedsides or are you going to attempt the dreaded bedside shortening procedure?

[OlSmokey]

I'm going to attempt shortening down the bed I already have. And if I was going to buy the aftermarket bedsides i would go for the LMC truck ones. It's just so much money. I'm only 19 and I'm going to school and don't have that good of a job so haha 1200$ for bedsides only is quite a bit. But if shortening the actual bed doesn't work out then that's what I'll have to save up for.

[Clavo106]

the rain is back in Washington.. great. another day to wait.. im doings the same lwb to swb on both . I have a frame up 70 and a 71 parts truck im doing as well.. I not really looking to do the bed but it needs to get done. one bed has good panels and the other has good bed floor doing the switch. and then cut.. o well the bed out here (LB) go for $150 to 300. Oldsmokey - q's where u cut out the frame I noticed that u put some square tube tack to the frame to the floor iv seen this done .but what is this for? - I just level my frame out on the drive way with floor jacks and stands.. wheels still on engine trans out measured then maked line then drop back down from the jacks . then I cut it...