1972 Longbox looking to become a shortbox

[dacavy]

Im new to the forum and wanted to share. I have been looking through this forum and I have to say that it's pretty awesome. There is a lot of talent and it gets me inspired. I just picked up this 72 c10 custom that I am thinking about shortening. The motor was blown so I picked up a 350 on craigslist and now its a runner. The interior looks like it was just redone. I picked this up for a great deal and now looking to take the next steps.

[Nitis]

That's a nice ride man. Just make sure if you do do it you have everything ready to go and all funds in place. That's way to nice to see get cut in half and left for parts.

Who knows now that it's running maybe you could flip it and buy a shorty?

[dacavy]

Thanks for the advice... Im in Idaho if someone is looking for a solid truck. lol

[Nitis]

Hopefully you didn't take that wrong. I just hate seeing people with alligator plans and humming bird budgets.

I know things get changed but it sure looks like a 71 to me but I can't see the screw hole area on the doors or the rear view mirror

[cdowns]

you've got 71 doors there

[dacavy]

No worries Nitis. Can you tell they are 71 doors because of the interior panel? Im still learning. Thanks.

[Nitis]

That's what has tipped me. If they are 72 there is a screw under the wing vent and the rear view mirror is screwed to the cab instead of glued to windshield

[no1udknow]

If you want to do a short bed conversion, the cost comes down to what you can do yourself. you will need a welder, hole saw, sawzall, and some ingenuity.. parts wise, you will need a drive line, or to have yours shortened, a brake line, and a terminatng kit for the parking brake cable. everything ele for the most part is minor. I started my shortbed conversion on july 24th and my bed is already back on the shortened frame. mind you, I still have a lot of bondo work and grinding to do, but if you are determined, it can be done. oh, and by the way, I m only out $1300 in to the job, and $1000 of that is the truck.

[dacavy]

Thanks.. I have the tools and this forum to help. We have some guys in town that can do it but I really want to tackle this project.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by Nitis

If they are 72 there is a screw under the wing vent and the rear view mirror is screwed to the cab instead of glued to windshield

Isn't that backwards? I thought 71 was the last year of the roof-mounted mirror and 72 was the first year of the glued-to-windshield.

[trac209]

Originally Posted by dacavy

Thanks.. I have the tools and this forum to help. We have some guys in town that can do it but I really want to tackle this project.

Take this as a compliment when I say that truck is too nice to learn on when doing a shorty conversion. Unless you've been doing this sort of thing for years I'd be real certain of my limits. Takes far more than tools and a forum. Doesn't take much to render a frame and or box useless if you mess stuff up.

[no1udknow]

Originally Posted by trac209

Take this as a compliment when I say that truck is too nice to learn on when doing a shorty conversion. Unless you've been doing this sort of thing for years I'd be real certain of my limits. Takes far more than tools and a forum. Doesn't take much to render a frame and or box useless if you mess stuff up.

trac209 is right, you do need to be sure of your skills, I repair tractors for a living and build custom bikes on the side. I have a lot of experience in frame modifications. I did a lot of reading and measuring before I did mine. There is also a good episode of trucks! to watch where Stacy David actually does a shorty conversion. I watched that video over and over before I decided to begin mine.

[Nitis]

Originally Posted by davepl

Isn't that backwards? I thought 71 was the last year of the roof-mounted mirror and 72 was the first year of the glued-to-windshield.

That's what I meant just didn't get it typed right

And I would second Trac209. That thing is sweet as is man whatni mentioned flipping it

[dmack91]

My son bought my 68 from me and we are in the process of doing the conversion now. The bed is cut and welded back together, and we cut the frame last night.

Nothing wrong with starting with a good longbed - value is much less and the better the body on the starting truck, the better off you are. I am not sure about you, but we couldn't afford a starter SWB.

Here are a couple of good links on the mods:

Frame:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=123624

Bed:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=509442

Either way, keep us posted.

[Nitis]

Not really the same but kinda

A friend of my dads couldn't find a 55 convertible so he cut up a hardtop and made one. He did it right but that is so sac religious

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by dmack91

the better the body on the starting truck, the better off you are.

This is the bottom line no matter what your plans are: restoration, restification, long-to-short conversion, 4wd, 2wd, whatever.

[dacavy]

Thanks for the advice. I've actually bought a longbox bed in decent shape to start with. Then when I'm ready im going to do the actual truck. I'm making templates so i reproduced cuts easily. I like templates

[dacavy]

This is one of the templates. I will have them for both sides.

[dajn]

They keep making new pickups bigger and bigger. Have you ever parked next to a new pickup with your old chevy? Why would you want to make it any smaller?

[dajn]

Our old pickups are tiny. I don't think we need to make them any smaller. 3000 lb pickups

[dacavy]

I know what you mean. I have a 2013 1500 crew and its huge compared to the 72'. I just like the way a shortbox looks proportionally, especially when you lower it. Its all personal preference. Ive seen both trucks look awesome at the end.

[dmack91]

Even these trucks seem huge next to my 1950 F1. I can sit in the driver's seat and touch the passenger door without leaning over.

[chevy2tom]

STOP THE MADNESS!!!
You short bed guys quit cutting up our long beds!!!
Lol, carry on

[Xeen]

Ya know you could just buy reproduction short bed sides and just shorten the steel floor and save yourself a nightmare trying to weld and bodywork the bed sides.
The short bed sides will cost $1100 shipped but it will save you a ton of time and headaches.
You said you got a great deal because of the blown motor when you bought it so spending a little money on reproduction bed sides won't hurt that badly.
I would be careful about which manufacture you buy the bed sides from though because a lot of them are out of china and don't use the OE gauge steel.

[Fatherof3]

May see what you could sell your box for.

Cutting is addicting, next you will have a big hump in the bed floor, then no drill rails...