long bed to short bed

[ses7279]

I have 1972 Chevy Cheyenne long bed truck. I would like to convert to short bed truck. Just wondering if any of the newer chevy truck frames would work under my truck. Also, has anyone ever purchased a new custom chassis from Art Morrison or another chassis makers. I don't won't to cut the frame I have now to shorten. Any ideas where to look for short bed frame.

[N2TRUX]

Wy would you want to swap to a later frame rather than cut yours? It's much easier.

[vegaschevy]

By the time you move body mounts and do all the cutting and welding to get it to work you would be better off shortening your own frame or buying a short bed 68-72 frame and swapping everything over.

[CB24]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Wy would you want to swap to a later frame rather than cut yours? It's much easier.

Maybe he can't weld.

I could see doing it in my case where I have a 69' longbed with 4 wheel drum brakes. If I could just put my body with a shortened bed on a newer short bed frame I could have front disc & 5 lug for more rim selection.

It may end up being more work then its worth but definitely something I'm going to look into.

[Zoomin]

It seems to me most buyers shy away when they find out the frame has been cut. Heck, many don't even like C notched frames.

How do you get comfortable with unknown welding skills?

[mclairmo]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

It seems to me most buyers shy away when they find out the frame has been cut. Heck, many don't even like C notched frames.

How do you get comfortable with unknown welding skills?

True, but it's not too difficult to differentiate a good weld from a bad weld. Everyone should take a welding class at their local junior college so they can tell a good weld from a crappy one and maybe even learn enough to do their own welding at home. It's not hard to do, just takes practice.

[AusTx68]

Originally Posted by ses7279

I have 1972 Chevy Cheyenne long bed truck. I would like to convert to short bed truck. Just wondering if any of the newer chevy truck frames would work under my truck. Also, has anyone ever purchased a new custom chassis from Art Morrison or another chassis makers. I don't won't to cut the frame I have now to shorten. Any ideas where to look for short bed frame.

I'm in the middle of performing the same swap to a 68 frame. I considered cutting my frame then decided it was too technical for me to take on myself. The simple route is finding a SWB frame and moving everything over from your LWB. I picked up a short frame for $200. That included sandblasting and sprayed with POR15. Click on my blog link below for details of my swap. I'm currently laying the stainless brake lines but that's not in my blog.

[Ackattack]

I shortened my 3/4t frame. It wasn't too hard, though it does take some time.

[unclewatts]

Originally Posted by AusTx68

I'm in the middle of performing the same swap to a 68 frame. I considered cutting my frame then decided it was too technical for me to take on myself. The simple route is finding a SWB frame and moving everything over from your LWB. I picked up a short frame for $200. That included sandblasting and sprayed with POR15. Click on my blog link below for details of my swap. I'm currently laying the stainless brake lines but that's not in my blog.

That's your best bet. Solves all kinds of problems especially if you don't weld.