long or short???

[chevelle]

I have a 67 longbed that i drive everyday, i dont really need a longbed and plus i just think short beds look really good so I am going to cut the frame and make it a shorty. Anyway my bed is in really good shape so i dont want to trash it, so i have another longbed that i dont mind cutting up but i was wondering how hard it would be to buy some short bedsides and cut the floor of the longbed and put the short bedsides on it instead of buying a new one or trying to find a GOOD used one. I was hoping you guys might have tried this already so you could give me some input. Thanks. p.s. heres a picture of it just incase you can talk me out of cutting it up.

[72swb_327stroker_?]

CUT IT!

i like shorties better, but i might be biased

[Shyguy]

My son has had a '70 long bed C-10 for a long time,but always liked the looks of the short beds. He did not want to cut up his long bed frame so he looked around and found a short bed frame with a bed.

He took his cab and front clip and put it on the short frame along with the 454 engine, it took some work but came out ok.

The first time he tried to pull a trailer loaded with a long bed truck he realized he needed a long bed truck to pull his trailer. His short bed looks great, is super for cruising and can smoke the back tires real good.

Now he is building a long bed '68 C-10 with the optioned overload springs to use to pull his trailer.

I guess it real boils down to what you really want, but IMHO I would look for a short bed frame. I picked one up a month ago that had already had the 5 lug conversion for $200. I already have a '67 cab and front clip for it.

Danny

[LuckyHenriksen]

I was wondering the same thing, theres a set of nice short bedsides for sale close to me and I was wondering how to use them in a short bed conversion

[chevy72blu]

Originally Posted by Shyguy

The first time he tried to pull a trailer loaded with a long bed truck he realized he needed a long bed truck to pull his trailer.

I really curious as to how that extra few inches of frame affects how well it tows. Obviously the shorter wheelbase is less stable, but not my much at all.

As for the OP: I cut mine. It was the first major fab project I ever did, and one of my more rewarding experiences. I purchased a donor truck for 1000 for the bed and a few misc parts I need (power brakes, suspension parts). And made off just fine after selling my mint lwb. There is a great faq in the FAQ boards about how to pull it off the right way.

It all comes down to the truck and your preferences. Personally, my truck looked a LOT better as a swb with its current paint and trim. If I had to do it over again though, it would have been a slammed flat black lwb. A large part of me wishes I hadnt done it. Just think about it long and hard.

IMO your truck looks BAD ASS in its current state. There are a lot of lwb's that I think people should convert. However, yours isnt one of them.


SWB's do attract more gas station appeal and seem to sell for slightly more. They look sportier and a lot meaner, especially lowered with a slight rake.

Its up to you my friend. Post pics if you decide to do it. We love write ups!

[chevelle]

Has anyone just replaced bedsides to make a shortbed though.

[OldschoolJay]

i would leave it a long bed, i like mine. they look killer long and low.

[chevelle]

Maybe I should just find a shortbed truck and build it and have one of each.

[OrangeCrush1970]

Leave it long, put the upper / lower trim on it, and paint it hugger orange. Being that it is already lowered, the trim w/ reinforce the horizontal lines of the truck and like OldschoolJay said, it will look ‘killer long and low’. Im partial to the long beds, it just gives you so much more paint to look at… You have a nice truck as is! Good luck-

[Mint68]

I wouldn't cut it up, but I really like original or bone stock. I think the best idea is to buy another truck, you can never have too many.

[Dingfodgy]

I say do what you want. I am knee-deep into cutting mine down and I think I'll be pleased that I did it. Then again we're talking about a 800 dollar beater and a straight, rust free donor bed that I stole for $100. As for towing....I will most likely build a 67-72 BBC 'burb for that purpose!

[WorkinLonghorn]

Why not eliminate that whole bed,it's just dead weight anyway. Put the diff. and the back bumper right behind the cab/transmission.

[streetstar]

Long and low is a cool enough look now . I never thought i'd live to see the day that long beds would ever be "cool" , and 8-10 years ago, my thinking was spot on. Long beds were a dime a dozen and short beds were the only way to go.

But now -- flip a coin.

You can cut your bed floor down to fit short bedsides if thats what you were asking --- or you could ditch the steel floor and convert it to a wood bed floor too (which is what i personally would try to do, but thats just me)

[ed2552]

you should cut it and then sell your cherry bed to me for a decent price! No, honestly, do what you want, it is your truck, but i do like short beds. If you do do it, let me kno if you want to sell the good long bed, finding a bed in good, rust free condition is like finding gold in the MN river! I have 2 trucks that need beds and they are both longbeds and staying that way, because that is the way they are and i want to keep the bodies as original as possible.

[67_C-30]

CUT IT!! I like LWB 3/4T and Longhorns, but 1/2 ton LWB's just don't do it for me.

[retselgerg]

I'd be a little different and rock the long bed, wouldnt mind to have a 4lwb one day,

[chevelle]

I think i might try putting the original 67-68 side trim on it cause i think it will look a little better for my taste. but honestly i will probably end up just buying a shortbed and building it a little more wild than my longbed (air bags and a bigger motor). that way ill have my longbed daily driver, a shortbed for cruisin and ill always have my chevelle. heck then i would have everything i need in life. now i just gotta start looking for a shortbed.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by chevelle

I think i might try putting the original 67-68 side trim on it cause i think it will look a little better for my taste. but honestly i will probably end up just buying a shortbed and building it a little more wild than my longbed (air bags and a bigger motor). that way ill have my longbed daily driver, a shortbed for cruisin and ill always have my chevelle. heck then i would have everything i need in life. now i just gotta start looking for a shortbed.

Both varieties - even better! Just be careful, or you will convince yourself that you NEED a 67-72 in every variety! Ask me how I know! see my sig!

[Brad]

CUT IT!!!

[dan42]

You want my opinion? These trucks are more than just sheet metal. If all you consider is "cutting it up" than you're in the wrong forum. Why do you think there are thousands of people here discussing 40 year old trucks as if they are family? Because they are! No offense but it's like you are saying, well, I am 6'6", but I really want to be 5'10", so I'll just hack off my legs. It doesn't work for me. It was born a longbed, and by God, it will forever be a longbed. Just cause you cut it down doesn't make it a shortbed - it's a longbed that's been cut down to look like a shortbed, and nothing else, and anybody that knows these trucks would understand that. Not trying to go off, but I'm sure there's a lot of guys that would agree with me.. And I have both.

[chevelle]

Your right about some things Dan(im only 5.9) as for the truck im gonna leave it a long bed and drive it and enjoy the heck out of it but in the mean time ill be lookin for a shortbed to play with. why not have my cake and eat it too

[mixermike]

i hate long beds !

[jwn1975]

I just cut the floor of mine this week. Am in the process of fitting the back lower panel and tapering the bed ridges. Get used to taking off and putting on the aftermarked bed sides. I bet mine have been on and off a dozen or more times while I measured and re-measured and drilled and cut and welded. etc. etc. etc. Not rocket science, if you can use a sawzall, drill, giinder and welder, GO FOR IT!

[streetstar]

Originally Posted by mixermike

i hate long beds !

Is yours long or short? I cant tell -- it looks longer than a short bed, but not as long as a long bed

Maybe i just need to go to bed period. my eyes are playing tricks on me, or else its the color

Beautifil truck though -- that blue really pops with those wheels

[bankone1]

thats a nice truck but it do look like a long bed to me i love the long beds trucks