A different approach to a LWB to SWB conversion

[bodydropped68]

Awesome job. There is a lot of metal working experience going on you make it look so simple. By the way what dolly and hammer combo's did you use when Tipping the front edge of the bedsides Thanks for sharing

[Keith Seymore]

Excellent execution of a very novel approach = awesome!

Small pierce dies (...as well as giant forming dies for that matter...) are pretty standard operating procedure within the "Big 3" auto companies, especially for repairs, but I am impressed/encouraged to see it taking place on the outside.

For the record: the result of "tipping" is called a "hem flange". The act of "tipping" would be referred to as a "hemming operation".

K

[slikside]

I never tire of watching master craftsmen ply their trade.

Awesome work. Thanks so much for sharing it.

[hozeman469]

How many hours have you stayed awake at night thinking about all the changes your doing.I would never be able to sleep.You make it look like another day on the job.Great work.

[kingstrider]

Wow I am more amazed than ever. Thank you so much for sharing, you truly have some awesome fabrication skills.

[65standard]

Thanks for the offer to letter my farm truck, but with a 4.57 rear gear the highway is just off limits. Also the tailgate damage will stay as is. I have no way to fix this and keep the original paint.

Back to the bed sides. I have it fully welded and metal finished. I think it came out good. Just need to touch up the paint in that small area and I'm done. Zero bondo is needed or wanted here.






Almost done, stay tuned for the final pictures with paint touched up.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 65standard

Thanks for the offer to letter my farm truck, but with a 4.57 rear gear the highway is just off limits. Also the tailgate damage will stay as is. I have no way to fix this and keep the original paint.

Did you consider splitting the gate in half (top/bottom), hammer/dollying the damages, & welding it back up? Seems the most visible sign would be the top edge of the gate which is typically rusty anyway from stuff rubbing the paint off getting used as a work truck. Might be more work than its worth though.

Killer work here. You are a craftsman for sure.

[Ozzy2013]

Looks awesome!

[shawno72]

Whoa!

[KMC3420]

Wow. What a great job thanks for sharing.

[65standard]

Touched it up and the color is a good match, but I have to work on it some more to blend it better. Not my field of expertise but I'll try.

Basically it is done. I saved over 26 feet of weld and retained 95% of the original paint. It may not be better, but it is a different way to do your long wheel base to short wheel base conversion.

[ole dollor]

[QUOTE=65standard;7184312]Touched it up and the color is a good match, but I have to work on it some more to blend it better. Not my field of expertise but I'll try.

Basically it is done. I saved over 26 feet of weld and retained 95% of the original paint. It may not be better, but it is a different way to do your long wheel base to short wheel base conversion.

WOW , you did a great job , very few guys could have pulled that off , that is Very cool, my hat is off to you.....Don

[Sqznby]

Originally Posted by 65standard

Touched it up and the color is a good match, but I have to work on it some more to blend it better. Not my field of expertise but I'll try.

Basically it is done. I saved over 26 feet of weld and retained 95% of the original paint. It may not be better, but it is a different way to do your long wheel base to short wheel base conversion.

That looks incredible. Amazing job.
Any new updates?

[CarterD2015]

That was bad a$$. Great job. Thanks for sharing.

[tommys72]

Yep, that is awesome! Great work. I can only assume people will walk past it and not even realize it'snot factory

[CaliCode]

Just incredible!...color looks great, job well done

[swamp rat]

Best thread of the year!

[WarMonger]

that build thread was amazing

[swamp rat]

Ok I'll be brave and ask, what exactly is a falling body line anyway, is this where the body protrudes outward about 4" below the top of the bed rails?

[franken]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Ok I'll be brave and ask, what exactly is a falling body line anyway, is this where the body protrudes outward about 4" below the top of the bed rails?

A bit late, but...
If you look at the bedside in the last pic above, note that the horizontal bodyline isn't parallel with the the top of the bed, but falling (quote) at the rear.

Great thread. If the OP wants to drop by N. TX and do my rockers and cab corners, I'm all ears

[no1udknow]

I think it looks nice. When I did mine, I was concerned about the falling body line also (Swamp Rat, if you look at the upper body line on the bed it actually tapers down at the rear) but after reading one of the other tutorials, I did the screwdriver trick of prying the bed out a little to match the seams, it worked perfectly and you can't tell there was a difference in the drop since the outer skin is so flexible.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by no1udknow

I think it looks nice. When I did mine, I was concerned about the falling body line also (Swamp Rat, if you look at the upper body line on the bed it actually tapers down at the rear) but after reading one of the other tutorials, I did the screwdriver trick of prying the bed out a little to match the seams, it worked perfectly and you can't tell there was a difference in the drop since the outer skin is so flexible.

Got it Thanks!

[Baddflash]

Amazing work, certainly an inspiration to the rest of us. Thanks for sharing.
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[Dieselwrencher]

Great work on the side markers and the bed over all! How's your COE project going anyway?

[soundqdoug]

Insane skill!