A different approach to a LWB to SWB conversion

[65standard]

A few more pictures as I start to assemble the bed.

[65standard]

Other side.

[65standard]

I'm not happy with the bumper, seems to be off a little. I will tilt the bumper a few degrees and tuck it in an inch. Hopefully that will be what I'm looking for.

[65standard]

The folded over front edge looks untouch original to me. I still need to do the left cab corner and finish up the back of the bed seams to complete the body transformation.

[FASTDYNA]

Originally Posted by 65standard

Other side.

awesome your a artist

[Dustmaker65]

Just amazing work!

[sierragrande71]

Don't work about the naysayers! You sir are a very talented individual! Awesome truck btw!

[sierragrande71]

Don't worry is what I meant to say, lol

[Orange Crate]

65standard- Will you be continuing your thread when you form the opening for the rear side marker lights? Like most others here all I can say is WOW!

[tommys72]

Originally Posted by orange crate

65standard- will you be continuing your thread when you form the opening for the rear side marker lights? Like most others here all i can say is wow!

x2

[shawno72]

Well done!!

[Mayo]

Thats incredible

[65standard]

Yes, I will show when I form the recess for the side marker light. I will also show the completed truck when it's totally finished.

[9teen69]

That front edge does looked untouched...nice work!

[leddzepp]

The work you are doing, the manner in which you are doing it, the timeframe, your skills, and the fact that you are doing it by YOURSELF in your GARAGE puts every body shop and so-called "reality show" to absolute shame.

Somebody should be following YOU with a camera

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

the work you are doing, the manner in which you are doing it, the timeframe, your skills, and the fact that you are doing it by yourself in your garage puts every body shop and so-called "reality show" To absolute shame.

Somebody should be following you with a camera

x2 !!!

[ole dollor]

Originally Posted by ol blue k20

x2 !!!

x 3

[k5warwagon]

65standard - Great work man. How did you line up the falling body lines at the back of the bed? Did I miss something?

[65standard]

Originally Posted by k5warwagon

65standard - Great work man. How did you line up the falling body lines at the back of the bed? Did I miss something?

The falling body line is not an issue since I removed the 12" at the very front and the 8" as close as I could at the rear. There is less than an inch to make the transition of the falling line. It faded away as the two parts were aligned back up.

Taking the cut out of the middle of the bedside like others you can see an interruption in the flow of that falling body line. Not in my case. I'll take a close up side rear shot to show you the flowing body line.

It is easy to work that last inch of body line the perfectly match the whole bed side.

I also finished up the left side marker light.

[mooseknuckles]

awesome work!

[1969_CM2590D]

Something I'd wish they'd made- a short bed 3/4 ton! A nice idea for pulling.

[kitsbeach]

Originally Posted by 65standard

The falling body line is not an issue since I removed the 12" at the very front and the 8" as close as I could at the rear. There is less than an inch to make the transition of the falling line. It faded away as the two parts were aligned back up.

Taking the cut out of the middle of the bedside like others you can see an interruption in the flow of that falling body line. Not in my case. I'll take a close up side rear shot to show you the flowing body line.

It is easy to work that last inch of body line the perfectly match the whole bed side.

I also finished up the left side marker light.

The falling body line is the part I am curious about.

Is this something a qualified body man would find easy.? Do you guys just bang it in line with a hammer and dolly of some sort.?

I'm planning on doing the frame cutting myself and to get a mobile welder to come by and weld my frame. And I'm looking for a bodyman to do the bedsides for me. So I'm just learning how it is done so I can find someone that knows what they are doing.

Really nice work here by the way.

[motorcritter]

I saw the HAMB build thread on the COE custom. You, sir, are a bonafide badass, of the highest order. Which reminds me, I need to get over to HAMB more often. Lotsa ideas, lotsa cool stuff.
Posted via Mobile Device

[seth7843]

You da real MVP. Thanks for posting this and showing your process.

[65standard]

Back to the side marker lights.

I made a form at work to stamp the side marker light into the bedside. Then I tested it on a piece of painted scrap to see how it worked and what happens to the paint.

Here are the test results.



So then I did it on my truck. First marking the location and then cutting out most if the metal inside of the form to ease the operation. Then I bolted the form in position on the bed side.



Then slowly tighten each bolt little by little.



Until I bottomed out the form.



Then I removed the form, cleaned up the cut hole and installed the mounting clips.



Then installed the side marker light.



Looks completely factory to me.