To cut, or not to cut? That is the question.

[71sierragrande]

I started to say, go with a two different beds, two different tire setups. Maybe even tub a fleetside bed and have two totally different looks as the mood strikes. More money of course, and you always have an extra bed sitting around.
But I re-read your post and you are already rubbing with current tire setup. So I might tub that one if you don't want to change tire size

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by BossHogg69

Don't cut it! If you do, you could risk having your truck look like this...

Oh, MY God! What a risk.

[BossHogg69]

Originally Posted by Fitz

Oh, MY God! What a risk.

Fitz, I know you suffer from the same issue!

[trac209]

Originally Posted by kyle@ftp

it is a really nice truck!

Build a second bed and put them on quick pins with a plug for the lights. Or pop the bed off and add a sand bag rack for weight and go racing.

If those arent option, cut it up!

this^^^^^

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by BossHogg69

Fitz, I know you suffer from the same issue!

Adam,

That will be our secret! I do like that truck, but I have one too.

[raggedjim]

I'll jump out of the box on this one... How about remove the outer wood slats, cut the front bed panel (or another new one) by the removed wood slat width, move the side panels in and widen your rear fenders. You could cut down a tailgate or run without it,

Lots of work, but it would be more subtle than tubs.

You could forget hauling drywall though!

Good luck, Rg

[bigbadchev72]

cut it up! Its your truck, do the modifications to look like they belong there. I would not hesitate to buy a truck that was cut up as long as it was done right.

If it is frankenstiened in there and has bathtub caulking to seal up the gaps I would run the other way. That is a beautiful truck what color is that?

[cooperhw]

Stock 73-87 wheelhouses installed in step side bed.

Of course YOU should do what is right for YOU, & i'll do the same.

[raggedjim]

Narrowed bed, widened fenders, horrible photochop.

[1972RedNeck]

Cut it up. They make welders for a reason.

[68Stepbed]

Thanks for all the replies! Keep in mind, I'm not talking a "Pro Street" style tub, just tubbing the bedsides the 6.5" or so to the factory frame rails. My truck will always be a true streetable truck.

Fitz and BossHog69 have the look I'm going for. My paint/bodyman has done some with trailer fenders that are welded and molded into the bedsides, which look fantastic, but may not fit the "restomod" theme I went with on the truck. The cut down fleet tubs will fit the theme better. Also, the metalwork cutting the tubs is really the only bodywork. They can be painted to match, then bolted to the bedsides after only cutting the reliefs in the bedsides and the boards/strips. And yes, it'll be done right and look like it's meant to be that way, not just hacked apart and thrown back together.

I have no interest in building/buying a separate bed to swap out. That's just too much work. There's no way I'm building a fleetside bed either. Don't get me wrong. I love the fleetsides too, but my truck is an original stepside and I have most of the original sheet metal still on it. I love the fact my truck stands apart from the crowd just because it's the less popular stepper. I do know I don't want to widen the rear fenders either. As hard as good bedsides are, good rear fenders are even harder to find. Not to mention making the step plate look right with the widened fenders is even more costly metalwork. Trust me, I've explored alot of these options.

I'm pretty sure that as of now, I may be able to stuff a 295/40/18 in there without tubs if I can get the right backspacing on the wheels. That would certainly be wide enough to have fun at the autocross events. Also, I don't really have the suspension to serve the full 315 or 335 tires that I want. I also still even have a long way to go to be competitive at autocross anyway.

Basically I think I'm talking myself out of it for now, but that doesn't mean I'll change my mind and be back on it in 5 minutes. lol

[In The Ten Ring]

I see trucks as "work vehicles." The bigger the wheel, the less work (bed space) you'll be able to do.

[RickDeVon]

I have an original 71 stepper and will be cutting it up to put Foose Legend 22x9.5 wheels on all four corners...and air bags...will be sitting it on the ground...

[Mt Man Chad]

Rickdevon, your gonna cut up that sweet 71, thats a sin...

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by kyle@ftp View Post
it is a really nice truck!

Build a second bed and put them on quick pins with a plug for the lights. Or pop the bed off and add a sand bag rack for weight and go racing.

If those arent option, cut it up!

Originally Posted by trac209

this^^^^^

That ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠

[RickDeVon]

Originally Posted by Mt Man Chad

Rickdevon, your gonna cut up that sweet 71, thats a sin...

If I had a stock 32 Deuce coupe and was going to street rod it...you wouldn't say that...I may just do a 4/6 drop and a 355/4sp auto...but air ride is sweet also...but you can save it at 13/5...

[CastIron]

Do you need wider tires or better tires? Are your tires the stickiest you can get?
I always tell people the best performance mod they can make is tires. It doesn't matter how much power you have if you can't hook it up.

[MattPSU]

I'll offer a somewhat different view.

Our local truck club did a track day in the spring, and I recently got to take my truck on a few laps around Charlotte Motor Speedway, and I'm with you. I want to drive my truck, not sit on a lawn chair behind it at a car show.

That being said, I've been reading up on auto-cross racing, and performance driving. I recently came across the article below, and it surprised me when it said the biggest mistake when building a vehicle for auto-cross type racing is running much larger wheels & tires on the back:

Three Biggest Mistakes

1. “Tires that are much bigger in the rear than in the front,” stated Sutton. “This causes the car to push, when they already want to push,” continued Sutton. He explained that ideal is the exact same size front to rear, which helps keeps the car balanced. While Sutton agrees the bigger tires in the back looks way cool, it’s just not good for performance unless you’re going in a straight line. “Some guys will have two sets of rear tires, one for show and a smaller matched set that’s for go,” finished Sutton.


I'm all for cutting up a perfectly good truck and all, but before you do, I'd ask if doing so will get you the results you're after.

Complete article:
http://lateral-g.net/top-three-mista...o-touring-car/

And by the way - Love the truck! Thanks for the inspiration.

[swamp rat]

What i would do is find another set of origional bedsides and put them away in the attic or someplace so ya have them, then go ahead and cut what ya got and add the tubs.

I found an origional set in great shape for $125 a set and snagged them up and put them away for later use.

[Boog]

Ok Matt. So are we cuttin or not?
It's not an irreversible mod if down the road you want to return it to stock form.

[special-K]

Post #7 x 2

If you feel you can match the paint, set that one off and build one to fit the tires. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. It's a nice truck right now.

[68Stepbed]

I'm not sure what to do. I need to talk to my paint/body guy to see what my options and prices are.

MattPSU, thanks for the article. Ron Sutton is a heck of a suspension guy.

[Blakeman350]

I vote tub it, it's not like it's a major visual change like changing the bed completely or chopping the top way down. You can always buy new bed sides and go back to stock and you have already made the truck look custom so you may as well go the extra mile. And there's nothing cooler then looking at the back of a truck and seeing some big ol fat meats tucked under there. The real question is if you tub it are you gonna change all the suspension so you can really dial it in for the autocross track? Either way it's a killer truck brother.

[71tahoe]

Originally Posted by MattPSU

I'll offer a somewhat different view.

Our local truck club did a track day in the spring, and I recently got to take my truck on a few laps around Charlotte Motor Speedway, and I'm with you. I want to drive my truck, not sit on a lawn chair behind it at a car show.

That being said, I've been reading up on auto-cross racing, and performance driving. I recently came across the article below, and it surprised me when it said the biggest mistake when building a vehicle for auto-cross type racing is running much larger wheels & tires on the back:

Three Biggest Mistakes

1. “Tires that are much bigger in the rear than in the front,” stated Sutton. “This causes the car to push, when they already want to push,” continued Sutton. He explained that ideal is the exact same size front to rear, which helps keeps the car balanced. While Sutton agrees the bigger tires in the back looks way cool, it’s just not good for performance unless you’re going in a straight line. “Some guys will have two sets of rear tires, one for show and a smaller matched set that’s for go,” finished Sutton.


I'm all for cutting up a perfectly good truck and all, but before you do, I'd ask if doing so will get you the results you're after.

Complete article:
http://lateral-g.net/top-three-mista...o-touring-car/

And by the way - Love the truck! Thanks for the inspiration.

My thoughts exactly. All your weight is up front. Put the meat under it to get better traction.

[harrisoncole4]

I vote for widening the fenders. Gives a more stanced look and keeps bedsides intact