Shortbed Conversion!

[Clavo106]

I would also like to suggest to try to find a local vendor there a lot more cheaper then lmc.. for lower prices and for better quality parts.... there are two vendors close to me both are 3hrs away ones in Vancouver wa and the other is in Olympia wa. im also on a buget.. and they saved me a bunch of cash from body panels to small items..

[HeavyD]

Cool pictures! I think all the bedsides are overseas, are they not? I bought them, and while they look good they still seem to be thinner than oem GM.. Considering where you live id just cut your lb down and if it screws up buy a gm bed later when funds are improved. What are yourbplans for paint??

[OlSmokey]

Clavo: I put those legs there to just support the frame once i cut it because i only had one floor jack, and also that's a good point. all i know about is LMC and summit racing and brothers trucks too but lmc is really the only one that sells the bedsides.

HeavyD: my plans is to just cut down the bed I already have. i'm in arizona and it's an arizona truck so there is practically no rust. so i'm going to do that over the week!

[OlSmokey]

so me and my dad were doing a lot today! we did some more alignment with the frame to make sure it was all good:

then after about 2 hours of making sure everything was perfect we welded the frame!

then I ground down the outside of it to make it look nice and to see if there was any areas we had to still fill in:


then we were going to make the fishplate for the inside, but it started raining again so it looks like we're done for the day. over this week I really want to get the bed at least cut maybe not welded, but cut. and I also want to clean up the welds on the frame a little so we can put the fishplate on next weekend! this has been coming along pretty well!

[67 chevelle]

looks great

[67ChevyRedneck]

Frame looks good!

I know what you mean on the rain. We had some unusual weather here and it rained ALL day, all weekend (fri/sat/sun) for three weeks in a row. I took my back window out to repair a little rust and repaint the top like 7 weeks ago. It's still under plastic. Getting there, but should have been done by now.

[WarMonger]

Looking good and going at a nice pace. I can't wait to see the progress.

[OlSmokey]

Alright so after quite a delay (both me and my dad got pneumonia) we finally made some progress on the truck today!




We got the cab back on! I have started re-attaching misc things just to get it closer and closer to be able to drive it! Unfortunately, the drive shaft I ordered is about .75" too long. I have to get it shortened which will be about another $50. Anyway, I am very happy with the progress, and I am VERY happy that everything fit correctly the first time. Thanks for all your words of encouragement!

[swamp rat]

Keep up the good work!

[Cun-tree]

Nice, if I do this. Im going to weld some legs on the sides too. Thats a good idea.

[dagnabbitt]

Fantastic job. Post more pics! I want to do this too, any measurements you can share, or did you just eyeball it?

The one I am thinking about cutting down is a is a lwb stepside, I am thinking that shortening a stepside box should be a lot easier that fleetside...

[57larry]

nice looking work

[Cun-tree]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

Fantastic job. Post more pics! I want to do this too, any measurements you can share, or did you just eyeball it?

The one I am thinking about cutting down is a is a lwb stepside, I am thinking that shortening a stepside box should be a lot easier that fleetside...

Pull up you tube and watch Stacy from "Gears"
There is another conversion from Power Block Trucks.
They said 12 inches from center. 8 in from the back.

[OlSmokey]

Yes what Cun-tree said is 100% right. I used those videos up until he buys the new bed off LMC. I am cutting down my bed. Also i got all the sheet metal back on and got the truck driving again!



this is not the most recent picture but it is representative of what is done so far. I am going to put some makeshift trailer-tail lights on there, and drive it to school and work so i have a mode of transportation other than a bike until i get the bed fixed.

and there are not any specific measurements i can think of, but if you do it yourself, just make sure you take time on lining up the frame cut, and ultimately lining it back up and squaring it. That is one step that is i think the MOST important.

[OlSmokey]

and i have no clue why that pic is upsidedown

[OlSmokey]

I'm driving the truck around now without a bed, me and my dad did a little fab work for some trailer tail light mounts. it isn't perfect, but it keeps me from getting a ticket!

[OlSmokey]

so i've had a serious lack of motivation of working on the truck, and when i did finally begin working on the truck again, i barely took any pictures... but its all done!


i started by just cutting the bed and lining everything up.


those were the only pics i took, anyway it was a lot of fun, and took me almost 3 months to do, although, if i would have been more dedicated i think we could have done it all in a month. i don't know if it is something i'll ever do again, but i'm super happy i did it this time, and very happy with the result. thanks for all of the encouraging words!!

[Clavo106]