shortening a long bed, would you do it?

[SnS C10]

hey guys one of my good friends recently bought a long bed for his 65 c10 shorty frame. He asked me if i would shorten the bed for him as he does not know how to weld. He said dont worry about the bed wood or any of that. Just return it to him as a shortbed, with the welds ground down. He said he would pay me 700 to do this. I would have to buy saw horses and some supplies totaling around maybe 150-200 bucks. What do you guys think? Is it too much work involved to take him up on this offer?

[cooperhw]

I would pass. Too much effort and run the risk of losing a friend for a small amount of money. Risk vs. reward does not pencil out.

Did I mention a lot of work.

[Brad54]

For another $500, he can buy two repro short-bed sides from LMC, swap all the rest of his stuff over to it, and have it done right.
I'd imagine for just a tick more than $700, he could find a great original short-bed box somewhere local.
I agree: Cost/benefit analysis doesn't pan out on this one.

[SnS C10]

i did tell him for a few hundred more he can have two new besides. He insists that he wants original metal

[shp4man]

Not to come off as a controversial buttwad , but I frankly don't understand this obsession with shortbed trucks.
I own another newer shortbed truck and agree that it's easier to park and u-turn, but with these old antiques, who really cares?
Modern trucks are mostly crew cabs.... WTF?
To actually cut the frame and make a shortbed? Holy crap- no!
Let the flames begin.

[Clyde65]

Bed sides are about $600 each plus about $100-150 shipping unless you buy local. Your close to Brothers I believe so I would look at their stuff. Also original sheet metal is great unless your working it or paying someone to work it. Swap your stuff over to the SWB sides and not cut the long bed up.

My $.02

[LVPhotos]

I was told the wheel opening is different, so you would have bigger opening on short bed.

[lumpy63]

Ive done it both ways , on my kids truck i shortened the bed. It took roughly two days and turned out great. Just make sure to stitch weld it and move around a lot to reduce warpage. I did this before the repops were available.On my truck i used the repo sides got em from brothers. I was totally impressed with the fit and finish and would recommend them highly. As far as the wheel opening my kids truck does not look abnormal but my truck is not here right now to compare them.

[GRX]

Originally Posted by shp4man

Not to come off as a controversial buttwad , but I frankly don't understand this obsession with shortbed trucks.

Agree 100%. Interesting how back in the day stubbies were quite unpopular. Now they are all the rage. Wonder if the trend will reverse again.

As for the OP's question. I second cost/benefit analysis. Not worth it.

[TJ's Chevy]

I have a shortbed chevy and a long bed GMC.

As many have stated, Not worth the effort. I also don't know why the short bed thing is such a big deal. I would sell the long bed and buy a shortbed truck for a project.

I love my GMC as a long bed. Not many around and I hope to make a factory looking dually bed one of these days.

[rvrfoot]

Hello, I just got the whole complete short bed from brothers. I am putting it together now the fit is ok. My truck is a 66 long bed and i just got the kit too shorten the truck. If you have any questions about the bed ask me.

[lumpy63]

Regarding the cutting the frame issue , There is countless numbers of large trucks on the road that have been shortened or lengthened , The corporation I work for has several that haul big loads every day. My kids truck was built on a shortbed chassis, and I shortened the box. Mine was done on a longbed chassis that I cut and used repo bed sides . I am a certified welder and the frame was step cut and reinforced. The old saying is ….there is 100 roads to Rome and they all lead to the same place. By the way ,gave my old original paint bedsides to my bud to replace the trashed ones on his truck.

[Aaronoregon]

Go for it! It's not bad to do at all........

[LT1 Burb]

My repop bedsides and front panel going to paint, fit is very good.