A different approach to a LWB to SWB conversion

[JoeinT.O.]

Thank-you so much Tony for taking the time to show everyone the amazing skills you possess. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread. I also noticed you fixed the cab corner as well.

[El Dorado Jim]

what a great job on your truck, you are an artist with metal, just look for another old junk truck and use the title from it....i cant believe that you cany get a title for it.....also, i have been a welder for 40 years, a certifified pipe welder for our gas company for about ten of those , i have alot of experience, but not with sheetmetal, i have used my mig to weld up holes on my truck and want to weld up old mirror holes,etc...but i get soo much warpage, i cant grind it smooth, what is the trick?

[saxart]

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

what a great job on your truck, you are an artist with metal, just look for another old junk truck and use the title from it....i cant believe that you cany get a title for it.....also, i have been a welder for 40 years, a certifified pipe welder for our gas company for about ten of those , i have alot of experience, but not with sheetmetal, i have used my mig to weld up holes on my truck and want to weld up old mirror holes,etc...but i get soo much warpage, i cant grind it smooth, what is the trick?

Jim-
The obvious stuff first: (I'm guessing you already know this part)
1) Turn welder down as low as possible
2) Use a thinner wire in welder

Maybe not so obvious part:
3) Use multiple short bursts to close up the hole letting it cool between each one. Same thing with the grinding afterwards. Don't try to grind down the weld in one shot. Hit it for a bit, then let it cool. It's very tedious, but can be done.

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by saxart

Jim-
The obvious stuff first: (I'm guessing you already know this part)
1) Turn welder down as low as possible
2) Use a thinner wire in welder

Maybe not so obvious part:
3) Use multiple short bursts to close up the hole letting it cool between each one. Same thing with the grinding afterwards. Don't try to grind down the weld in one shot. Hit it for a bit, then let it cool. It's very tedious, but can be done.

thanks for the tips!

[Bagd72Chevy]

This has got be one of the nicest LWB to SWB conversions I've seen on here.


Can you give us youngsters some advice on metal finishing? Are you using flap discs, rolocs, DA, etc.? Thanks!

[72_swb]

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

what a great job on your truck, you are an artist with metal, just look for another old junk truck and use the title from it....i cant believe that you cany get a title for it.....also, i have been a welder for 40 years, a certifified pipe welder for our gas company for about ten of those , i have alot of experience, but not with sheetmetal, i have used my mig to weld up holes on my truck and want to weld up old mirror holes,etc...but i get soo much warpage, i cant grind it smooth, what is the trick?

I take a wet paper towel and surround the hole with it tightly. Only spot weld for a second or two then wipe with the wet paper towel to cool. Stopped my warpage problems.

[ABHaulR]

I went through the whole tread to see the work on the rear of the bed and nothing. Very nice work. a different way to do the same ol process. Its nice to see others work. If you have more pics of the rear attachment I would love to see them.
Thanks Dwayne

[nicklear36]

Did you ever take more pictures of how you shortened the 12 inches off the rear section of the bed panels?

[DarkFlounder]

Ok, you just need to stop posting here.

You're making the rest of us look bad.

j/k Amazing work. Sorry for the city/registration issues. How can they ding you when it's not on the street?

[made2drag]

Great fab work. I'm loving this.

[Coley]

...I don't think we ever found out what happened to this truck.
The last thing communicated was that it couldn't be re-titled for some reason relating to it being 'abandoned' or?

Hopefully that was all resolved and its on the road.

Coley

[BCOWANWHEELS]

Time for retag... Get a titled junker

[Myself]

Subscribed to find this later.

[65standard]

The truck was sitting in our fabrication shop for two years now. I finally pulled it out this summer and drove it home. I drove it around my town a little. I can’t get it legal in Illinois. The title is a State of Illinois certificate of a vehicle - Junk Only - Non Registerable. I believe Illinois is the only state to have such paperwork.

However, I can apply for a bonded Illinois title. I have to deposit 150% of the appraised value and wait one year. I’m not willing to fork over $14,000 to the state and let them sit on my money that long.

[65standard]

Here is a current picture of the truck.

[jjzepplin]

Originally Posted by 65standard

Here is a current picture of the truck.

That is ridiculous!

[Boog]

Well hey Tony. I've been wondering about you and the truck. That's a plain shame about the salvage only title. What are your plans for it now? Could it be sold to someone in a neighboring state that allows it to be registered as maybe a reconstructed vehicle? Got close family in another state?

[Red71gmc]

I believe the main reason why some states do this is for possible liens still being on a vehicle. That way a vehicle cannot be sold without the loan paid off. Hence the 150 percent of value to make sure a lien holder can get their money (I'm probably stating the obvious to everyone).
However in a case like this it would be obvious any loan would be decades old and long forgotten. It would also make since that if the previous owner would sign a statement saying it is clear of all liens and takes any responsibility, would suffice. However that is to much common sence for some laws that obviously shouldn't apply to this case.
Sorry to hear your having trouble after performing fantastic work. It may be time for a fellow member in a more forgiving state to help get it titled for you then transfer it back to Illinois.
I remember reading some other threads about the differences in states on issues as this and remember their were some that allowed what you need.
Best of luck and great work as so many stated. I'm glad this thread got revived so I could see it for the first time.

[Originalthor]

I feel your pain on the title. I got three trucks and out of the 2, one is kinda a somewhat title I got to get both inspections done before I can register it. Other two are scrap titles. I had plans of doing my short box exactly like the way you had done yours. Got a little depressed on the situation cause I got to build it to factory specs to pass.

Awesome work on your box!!! and my buddy was going to do the same weld on my frame just a little different cut.

[philB]

great work, often wondered why someone didnt do this before now, having to purchase a new bed is over the top of my budget, too bad i,m too far away, love to watch good workmanship in action. can hardly wait to see it in prime and paint.

[dmjlambert]

Awesome work on that truck, looks great! Texas has a junk title also, so if you have a truck with that it can't be registered any more. I think if I had a situation like that I would get the truck appraised at $2000 or thereabouts and then do the bonded title thing with 150% deposit. I don't know about that idea of a $10000 appraised value on a truck that does not yet have a frame-off restoration done to it, new paint, etc. it just sounds too high.

[Ol Blue K20]

I'm wondering who appraised it?

[philB]

Kinda know what I would try, but depends what you want to put into the cost, good luck.

[72c20customcamper]

NY titles only 73 and newer vehicles. I had a problem with an AMX many years ago. Bought it in NJ out of a salvage yard that had a junk title. Went to DMV and the girl said I had two options. Use it for parts or hold onto the car for a year and "lose" the paper work. I asked how do you verify I've owned the vehicle for a year without paperwork. Girl said we have to take your word on that with a smile. I went back two weeks later and registered the car. In NY 72 and older have transferable registration cards. I recieived a non transferable one at the DMV office then about 3 weeks later they sent me a transferable reg. They checked to see if the car had been reported stolen at any time.

Beautiful fab work on the truck

[72c20customcamper]

On a side note I like the center hub caps on your truck. I have a 20 also and would like to use the later GM centers . But aren't the lug nuts on newer gm trucks that the centers plastic nuts screw onto metric? Believe they are 14mm x1.5. My truck has 9/16 x 18.