Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

vexvader · 12-26-2008, 10:11 PM

I got in some good practice welding the other day by replacing my drivers side rocker.

Here are a few pics. Thanks again LFD.Inc for the good thread on how to do this.

There wasn't much left to cut out but it is solid now. Here is a shot of the inner rocker. I will post one of the final product soon.

This took most of the day because I had to replace the rear cab support as well.

Replace rocker panel and cab support ~ 8 hours

VV

VA72C10 · 12-26-2008, 10:15 PM

Looks like a great project...I love my LWB because they are getting more and more rare because they were well used and now are being turned into SWB. Plus, when dropped, they look really good to me personally. But I know the value is in the SWB trucks and that 90% prefer them.

LuckyHenriksen · 12-26-2008, 10:20 PM

Thats a lot of rust

vexvader · 12-26-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Looks like a great project...I love my LWB because they are getting more and more rare because they were well used and now are being turned into SWB. Plus, when dropped, they look really good to me personally. But I know the value is in the SWB trucks and that 90% prefer them.

I have seen some LWB ones that look really good. If you drop them low and put some 20 inch wheels on them they almost look like SWB. I am not a hater of any truck (or car). If it rolls, I like it.

What can I say? I like the short beds...

vexvader · 12-26-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyHenriksen

Thats a lot of rust

Yeah, it is strange. The driver side rocker was just about gone from all the rust, but there is hardly any other rust in the cab. I am going to replace the passenger side rocker while I am at it, and there is a little hole in the cab corner on the driver side, but the rest of the cab is good. Oh yeah, the driver side door was toast also. I bought a new one from goodmark.

I also have a completely new 1967 front clip from goodmark as well. I figured, what the heck... why buy a 67 SWB, when I can just make one...

VV

72BlckButy · 12-26-2008, 10:58 PM

Nice work on the project! Keep us posted and keep the pics coming.

vexvader · 12-26-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

Nice work on the project! Keep us posted and keep the pics coming.

thanks,... will do!

vexvader · 12-26-2008, 11:35 PM

Here is what I did today.

1. Unbolted the bed and removed it. It had 8 bolts in it and I had to use a cut of wheel on 6 of them. The were so rusty the would not budge, even after soaking them in liquid wrench. This was easy and I plan to buy new bolts anyway.

I uses LFD.Inc "one man cab and bed lift" that I built. I would definitely recommend it. I did it all by my "one little man" self. Well maybe not "little" 6 foot 2 and 255 lbs. I will definitely have another person help when I put the new bed on. It is hard to raise and lower the hoist and hold the bed straight.

2. Next I cut off the front bed mounts. They won't be needed when I shorten the frame. They came off very easy. I cut the head off of the rivet and then drilled out the top. Once I drilled into the cab mount, they popped right off.

Here is a little trick. I filled the cap of an quart of chain saw oil and dipped the tip of the drill bit in every 20 seconds or so. The rivet drilled out like butter. I plan to do the same thing with the rear cab mounts when I remove them.

Here is another trick. Cut off and drill out the back rivet and then use a hammer to knock the bed mount around and you will have easy access to the front rivet with a cut off wheel.

Removing the bed ~ 2 hours (rusty bolts)
Removing the cab mounts ~ 30 mins

Set up and clean up ~ 2 hours (I hate that!)

BHRS · 12-26-2008, 11:41 PM

Since the box is off, I am assuming you are going to cut the frame rather than replace it? Are you going to shorten the box or replace it with a SWB?

So far it is looking good!!!

vexvader · 12-26-2008, 11:45 PM

Here is a question...

The front rivet on the front bed mount actually goes through the frame to the trailing arm cross member. I don't think it is really needed but I thought I would just weld a top on it after I cut it off to remove the bed mount.

There are several cross member rivets loose. I thought about welding all the cross members to the frame. I saw this on a Trucks TV show and they said it will help to "stiffen" up the frame. I would not do it to the tranny cross member obviously, but would like to do it to the trailing arm one, rear shock member one and the one in the front of the truck right under the radiator.

I know it would make it really hard to remove them if I ever needed to, but when would I ever need to???

What are ya'll thoughts on that. Any reason why I shouldn't do it?

vexvader · 12-26-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BHRS

Since the box is off, I am assuming you are going to cut the frame rather than replace it? Are you going to shorten the box or replace it with a SWB?

So far it is looking good!!!

Yea, I am going to cut the frame under the cab and take out 12 inches. I have a SWB frame in my garage if I screw this up. I thought I would try this first. I also have a SWB bed that I am going to put on it. I have seen some guys cut the bed sides and shorten them. However, that it a LOT of work and I already have the SWB bed that I can just drop on.

Richard8971 · 12-27-2008, 12:22 AM

Sweet looking project. And welcome to the site BTW

I like the color choice you have picked. Gotta love orange and white!

Don

vexvader · 12-27-2008, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard8971

Sweet looking project. And welcome to the site BTW

I like the color choice you have picked. Gotta love orange and white!

Don

Thanks Richard! I love your truck colors as well. Thanks for all the help!

MM

STOCKISH · 12-27-2008, 01:09 AM

Welcome to the board, and good luck on your build.

tim21391 · 12-27-2008, 02:04 AM

hey man im sry about my comments before...dad got on here and left some comments about the bed.. i told him about rules.. so mods i had talk with him...hope everything is cool...

Richard8971 · 12-27-2008, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim21391

hey man im sry about my comments before...dad got on here and left some comments about the bed.. i told him about rules.. so mods i had talk with him...hope everything is cool...

It's ok I suppose. I guess we can refrain from banning you completely.

J/K

Everything is fine.

Don

thirdstreettito · 12-27-2008, 07:37 AM

Whoa Whoa Whoa! I never said anything about buying the bed! I asked what he is going to do with it! Then went to bed, so I dont know what he said in response! Dont blame me! I wasn't even here to respond!

**special-K** · 12-27-2008, 08:04 AM

BFH is a really big hammer.

thirdstreettito · 12-27-2008, 08:08 AM

BFG is a really big gun!

vexvader · 12-27-2008, 08:16 AM

Let's just move on guys and forget about the long bed...

I read the rules and won't respond to any questions about selling stuff.

Anyways I plan to join soon.

vv

vexvader · 12-27-2008, 08:41 AM

Hey guys... I moved this thread to the "projects and builds" thread. It will continue from there. Check it out.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/n...te=1&p=3048841

THANKS FOR THE HELP GUYS!

12-26-2008, 10:11 PM	#26
vexvader 1967 C10 SWB Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 136	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed I got in some good practice welding the other day by replacing my drivers side rocker. Here are a few pics. Thanks again LFD.Inc for the good thread on how to do this. There wasn't much left to cut out but it is solid now. Here is a shot of the inner rocker. I will post one of the final product soon. This took most of the day because I had to replace the rear cab support as well. Replace rocker panel and cab support ~ 8 hours VV Attached Images Last edited by vexvader; 12-26-2008 at 11:53 PM.

12-26-2008, 10:15 PM	#27
VA72C10 VA72C10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 25,269	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed Looks like a great project...I love my LWB because they are getting more and more rare because they were well used and now are being turned into SWB. Plus, when dropped, they look really good to me personally. But I know the value is in the SWB trucks and that 90% prefer them. __________________ Looking for a 67-72 swb or blazer project in or around VA.

12-26-2008, 10:20 PM	#28
LuckyHenriksen Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sherwood Oregon Posts: 1,908	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed Thats a lot of rust __________________ 1968 Yenko Chevy LWB 6.0L/TH400 3/4 Drop Senior Project Build Thread Here

12-26-2008, 10:58 PM	#31
72BlckButy Tot Roddin' Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 24,461	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed Nice work on the project! Keep us posted and keep the pics coming. __________________ -Nate 1969 CST SWB - Project Blank Slate (4.5/6" ECE Static Drop, 6-lug disc brake upgrade (manual), Billet Specialties Vintec 20x8.5 255/40 (F) 20x10 295/40 (R), 250 I-6) 1960 AMF Skylark - Tot Roddin' (Lowered with custom frame; soon to include custom push bar and interior) 2008 Silverado CrewCab 1LT (5.3L, 3:73, 4x4, LT1, Z-71, Towing Package)

12-26-2008, 11:35 PM	#33
vexvader 1967 C10 SWB Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 136	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed Here is what I did today. 1. Unbolted the bed and removed it. It had 8 bolts in it and I had to use a cut of wheel on 6 of them. The were so rusty the would not budge, even after soaking them in liquid wrench. This was easy and I plan to buy new bolts anyway. I uses LFD.Inc "one man cab and bed lift" that I built. I would definitely recommend it. I did it all by my "one little man" self. Well maybe not "little" 6 foot 2 and 255 lbs. I will definitely have another person help when I put the new bed on. It is hard to raise and lower the hoist and hold the bed straight. 2. Next I cut off the front bed mounts. They won't be needed when I shorten the frame. They came off very easy. I cut the head off of the rivet and then drilled out the top. Once I drilled into the cab mount, they popped right off. Here is a little trick. I filled the cap of an quart of chain saw oil and dipped the tip of the drill bit in every 20 seconds or so. The rivet drilled out like butter. I plan to do the same thing with the rear cab mounts when I remove them. Here is another trick. Cut off and drill out the back rivet and then use a hammer to knock the bed mount around and you will have easy access to the front rivet with a cut off wheel. Removing the bed ~ 2 hours (rusty bolts) Removing the cab mounts ~ 30 mins Set up and clean up ~ 2 hours (I hate that!) Attached Images

12-26-2008, 11:41 PM	#34
BHRS Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wylie TEXAS Posts: 81	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed Since the box is off, I am assuming you are going to cut the frame rather than replace it? Are you going to shorten the box or replace it with a SWB? So far it is looking good!!! __________________ 1972 Cheyenne C10 Unrestored Original-3 Owner-RUST FREE Texas Truck Big Block-TH400-PS-PB-AC-AM/FM Radio

12-26-2008, 11:45 PM	#35
vexvader 1967 C10 SWB Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 136	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed Here is a question... The front rivet on the front bed mount actually goes through the frame to the trailing arm cross member. I don't think it is really needed but I thought I would just weld a top on it after I cut it off to remove the bed mount. There are several cross member rivets loose. I thought about welding all the cross members to the frame. I saw this on a Trucks TV show and they said it will help to "stiffen" up the frame. I would not do it to the tranny cross member obviously, but would like to do it to the trailing arm one, rear shock member one and the one in the front of the truck right under the radiator. I know it would make it really hard to remove them if I ever needed to, but when would I ever need to??? What are ya'll thoughts on that. Any reason why I shouldn't do it?

12-27-2008, 12:22 AM	#37
Richard8971 Still livin the "dream" in '54 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,656	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed Sweet looking project. And welcome to the site BTW I like the color choice you have picked. Gotta love orange and white! Don __________________ Current build. 1954 Chevrolet 3800 "Ella" SOLD! My '67 stepper "Tangerine Dream" "Anything worth doing is worth doing right" James Dean “When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Sherlock Holmes "There is no spoon." Neo

12-27-2008, 01:09 AM	#39
STOCKISH Formerly- 1972SuperCheyenne Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wake Forest NC Posts: 5,782	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed Welcome to the board, and good luck on your build. __________________ --Josh My Build Thread:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=799218 A good crossthread is better than Loctite any day. Life is not about what you have, but who you have to share it with.

12-27-2008, 02:04 AM	#40
tim21391 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Salina, Kansas Posts: 1,998	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed hey man im sry about my comments before...dad got on here and left some comments about the bed.. i told him about rules.. so mods i had talk with him...hope everything is cool... __________________ 1972 C-10...402/400..flowmaster 40 series 1967 Mustang 347 stroker/C-4 1966 Mustang 289/3-speed 2013 Mustang V6/6speed w/300 ponies I may be 23, but i sure do knows 67-72s are sexy! Its not MPG its smiles per gallon! build started 11/25/08 build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=2993796

12-27-2008, 07:37 AM	#42
thirdstreettito Resident of Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA Posts: 7,716	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed Whoa Whoa Whoa! I never said anything about buying the bed! I asked what he is going to do with it! Then went to bed, so I dont know what he said in response! Dont blame me! I wasn't even here to respond! __________________ ~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list Miss having a truck

12-27-2008, 08:04 AM	#43
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,861	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed BFH is a really big hammer. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

12-27-2008, 08:08 AM	#44
thirdstreettito Resident of Here Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA Posts: 7,716	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed BFG is a really big gun! __________________ ~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list Miss having a truck

12-27-2008, 08:16 AM	#45
vexvader 1967 C10 SWB Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 136	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed Let's just move on guys and forget about the long bed... I read the rules and won't respond to any questions about selling stuff. Anyways I plan to join soon. vv Last edited by vexvader; 12-27-2008 at 08:20 AM.

12-27-2008, 08:41 AM	#46
vexvader 1967 C10 SWB Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 136	Re: Goodbye Long Bed, Hello Short Bed Hey guys... I moved this thread to the "projects and builds" thread. It will continue from there. Check it out. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/n...te=1&p=3048841 THANKS FOR THE HELP GUYS!



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