Anyone bob a long bed?

[ErikCameron]

I want the wheelbase of the long longbed, but want to cut about 12 inches off the ass end. Anyone do this? I'm perplexed on how to do it as the upper bed line has that slope to it.

[shifty]

This link was posted in a recent thread. Using the search feature for 'Longbed conversion' for this specific forum would have probably pulled it up rather quickly.

http://totallypolished.com/projects/71.htm

[nu2-72]

A guy here locally has done this and cut all material from the back end as you state. Placed the bumper very close to the rear wheel well but looked very cool. I will see if I can get some pics.

[nu2-72]

Went by Terry's but the truck is buried in the shop. Did get some old pics though. This was done 15 years ago.
This is a 1972 Cheyenne Super 400/400, no AC, 2wd Longbed. He used a gasoline powered cop saw to cut through both sides of the bed at the same time. Then he cut the floor and welded it all back together. He measured the difference between a shortbed and a longbed and removed about 11+ inches from the rear. The bumper sits pretty close to the wheel opening. So this is waht you are talking about. Long wheelbase frame and shortbed length.
By the way, this guy has a complete 72 still in the box. I mean that he has a complete new frame and running gears for a 1972 3/4 ton 4x4 with a 350 and 6-71 blower setup and he has all NOS parts to finish it. He has a Super cab, fenders, bedsides, AC units, bed floor, core supports, you name it. He bought a complete truck as parts 23 years ago and it is all still in the GM boxes. Went to the dealer and ordered all of it.
Won't sell me a thing though. I have tried for years.

Forgot to mention, this works for coil trucks. Not for 4x4 or leaf trucks because the rear leaf mount is beyond the cutoff point.

[CG]

there was something like this on ebay a short while back and a couple of members posted pictures of it here. it is a very odd looking truck like that. im not sure where you would start a search for that picture but it would be worth finding before you take the sawzall to your rig.

[cdowns]

you can do it and as you are you're also slashing whatever resale value the truck has.// i've seen them done UGLY IMO

[nu2-72]

I think lowered trucks are ugly. Does that mean people should not do them?

[cdowns]

Originally Posted by nu2-72

I think lowered trucks are ugly. Does that mean people should not do them?

most lowered trucks can be raised in an afternoon to original height// well yeah i guess if you've got enough duct tape you can unbob a truck in an afterrnoon

[nu2-72]

God forbid that someone should do something that they want to do that others may consider "wrong." Shut down all the custom fabricators around the world. The sky is falling.
The point was that this is something that "he" is considering and searching for information on. I do not think he was asking anyones blessing.
I say that if people do not stretch the boundries and experiment, it's gonna be a dull place around here. No more chop tops, shaved handles or longbeds made into shortbeds. No Batmobile, Copperhead. We're doomed !!!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Anyone still have a picture of the red one that was on e-bay a while ago?? It was pretty sharp looking..

[1969 GMC]

Originally Posted by nu2-72

God forbid that someone should do something that they want to do that others may consider "wrong." Shut down all the custom fabricators around the world. The sky is falling.
The point was that this is something that "he" is considering and searching for information on. I do not think he was asking anyones blessing.
I say that if people do not stretch the boundries and experiment, it's gonna be a dull place around here. No more chop tops, shaved handles or longbeds made into shortbeds. No Batmobile, Copperhead. We're doomed !!!

That was too nice.

Cdowns, SHUT UP! No one gives a flying...well, you know what about what you think. And he didn't ask for your opinion either.

My 2 cents.

To the original poster, I am possibly thinking about doing it further down the road to my truck, because I've recently found out that it is in much worse shape than I thought, and now I won't feel bad if I cut it up. Mine won't be pretty, though, it will be for a better departure angle. Good luck getting it to work.

[3qtrtontarrer]

build what you want and enjoy it

[krue]

Everyone needs to calm down. The guy didn't ask for ya'lls opinions, so don't give them.

[LONGHAIR]

Yeah, shut-up is pretty harsh.....

The end result is very similar to what the pulling truck guys have been doing for years. They are not shortening the bed though, just moving the wheel openings back as far as possible. If I remember correctly this is a legal modification because Ford did something similar as an option in the early/mid 70's

[special-K]

The white 1/2t on E-bay awhile back was dorky,pretty much unanimous.The guy that bobbed a 3/4t for practical towing purposes made it look right.If you need to load heavy pallets on a truck,it`s a good idea.I`ve hauled alot of palletized stone and it`s nice to have it over the axle and still be able to unload with forklift tongs.Alot of wrecker conversions did this,too.If done for these practical reasons,it`s cool(IMHO).Ford did those F350 Camper Special pickups that way.What is worse are these Jap trucks with 1' of bed in front of the axle and 4' behind.Not much of a hauler.Hmmm...maybe it`s a throw-back to the altered funny cars of the 60s or maybe since punks like to do wheelies on their Jap bikes,they figure doing wheelies in Jap pickups is next.How`d I miss that?

[nu2-72]

One other note and I will leave here.
It is true that many of the pullers have done something like this. Terry is actually and old puller himself. He runs a very successful body shop and gave me his take on a project like this.
It is easier to accomplish this task as he did and I have shown. He told me that in order to move the wheel openings back, consider this. The axle is set in the frame. The frame has contours to match the rise of the axle. Meaning that there are humps in the frame to allow the axle to raise up.
Bobbing the bed allows for all modifications to be done at the rear of the truck where the frame is straight and the bed ends. Easy and straight forward.
To move the wheel openings involves cutting the bed and moving the openings, moving wheel tubs and cutting and repairing the bed floor, replacing material where the openings were, moving the axle to the new opening, altering the frame, changing the spring mounts and driveshaft length. Tons of work compared to this.
Either way, nothing will get restored by duct tape. Just throwing information at you. Do what makes you happy.

[ErikCameron]

Well I was hoping that someone had some pics floating around here, that I can't seem to find through searching. I build desert racing trucks to put myself through school so I'm used to customizing things. Sorry if my question offended some of you. I bought this truck last year. It is a 72 long bed. I got an aftermarket 67 front clip with a cowl induction hood that I am fitting to it, so I guess I have diminished the value as a restoration. I also dropped the truck 5 iches in the front and 6 inches in the rear. I don't particularly care for the length of the bed but don't want to just put a short bed on it cause that game has been played time and again. I thought of bobbing the rear end to some extent just to give it a custom theme. I don't want it to look like it was rear ended, but something noticeable. Anyway thanks for the pics that were posted. You red my post correctly and I appreciate it.
erik

[krue]

Hey, don't worry about the naysayers. It's your truck, build what you want.

[special-K]

Putting a`67 clip on a`72?I`m so offended!(and laughing out loud)
Do it how you like it!Last time I checked,there was more than a rare few of these trucks around.You`ll probably get more out of it when you sell it anyway.I`m sure somebody out there wants a bob-tailed`n`lowered`72 with a`67 front clip.

[1970 CST Short Wide]

I have a bed for sale if you want one to start on

[Russell]

While I'd tend to agree that these trucks don't look nearly as good with a bobbed tail end, it does give them a heck of a departure angle if it is a 4x4. Hardly ever hang up on anything with your rear bumper. It is a common practice with trucks that are running either rear coils, or a linked suspension if it is a serious offroading vehicle. They also regularly move the front diff forwards as well to improve the approach angle.