Poll: Cut the frame or no??

[HeavyD]

I know some people have had their frames chopped down to make a SWB, just wondering how many are in favor of this vs getting an original frame? I am considering cutting down my lime 71...opinions?

[big_al_71]

I would cut it with no problem as you can find lwb all day long....

[Gene]

Cut it, SWB's are few and far between.

[arm51]

ive considered cuting mine down as well but just think of it this way if you are just a hair off your toast and i just wouldnt take the risk

[68 short step]

a tape measure is all you need to make sure you're not off

[LockDoc]

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I cut the frame on my '70 project with no problems. Just follow Glocks "how to" here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=123624 for what I consider the safest way to do it.
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ive considered cuting mine down as well but just think of it this way if you are just a hair off your toast and i just wouldnt take the risk

If you are "just a hair off" it won't hurt anything. If you have ever measured one of our bare frames you will find there are measurements that are more than a hair off from the factory. Cut it and don't look back.... Just make sure you have a qualified welder weld it back together.

LockDoc

[killer71]

cut it!

[see ten]

Measure twice, cut once. Have at it!

[71see10]

Yep cut it,just take your time!!!

[Hart_Rod]

I've done both. I built the frame for my CrewCab which utilized some of the threads listed here. It was pretty straight forward. I got lucky and found a good SWB frame for my 68 50th build, so the swap was pretty simple. I did it in a weekend once the frame was painted. Sooooo, if you can find a SWB frame, swap it. If you can't, start cutting! Good luck with whatever you do, .

[PanelDeland]

I would cut it.If you do an angle cut like "Hart Rod" showed you get more weld area.I would also put a strengthening plate inside the rail or possibly box that area.

[C/10 King]

Cut away, and don't look back!









Just do it!

[sameyrasmea72]

I guess I am the odd ball out. I say look for a swb frame. But the may not be that easy for you where you live. I guess I am pretty spoiled there are still enough short frames aroung here. i have four extra ones right now.

[prostreetC-10]

Do anyone have any proven plans on where and how to cut??

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by prostreetC-10

Do anyone have any proven plans on where and how to cut??

45 degree method:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=232149

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

[chevjayfsd]

We cut ours... Easy...

[ChevLoRay]

In '69, there were approximately 54K SWB trucks. The same year, there were over 4 times as many LWB trucks. Which ones do you think still are on the road? These trucks have already assumed the Icon status in vehicles. As such, the collectors and those who are wise will already own a SWB. If you are unable to get a SWB, then follow the others who have already cut their chassis. Custom Classic Truck magazine, or maybe it was Classic Truck magazine, did a series of articles on cutting one down. I believe it was CCT and Dakota Wentz was the fabricator. He left the magazine and moved to Tulsa to take over the shop of his grandfather, Darryl Starbird. I think the series of articles is the "Get Shorty" ones.

[CheyenneShop]

Cut it!

I'm cutting one of mine right now, see my build thread below. It's actually a lot of fun! The best thing is you have so much help here. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Jim_PA]

I'm soooo ready to do this, but cutting down the bed has me scared.

[ChevLoRay]

Oh yeah, that's scary. Most of the long-to-short conversions usually find folks buying new (reproduction) bed sides. Either that, or find a short bed. I know where one is, in fact the whole truck is there, minus the engine/transmission. Bed was the best thing going.

[hchad18]

Cut the frame and find a SWB bed.

[Jim_PA]

Originally Posted by hchad18

Cut the frame and find a SWB bed.

It's that easy, huh? You should see the swiss-cheese bondo buckets around here. I got somewhat lucky as the bed I have now came from the west. I will probably be best off selling the bed sides to buy repro short bedsides and cutting down the floor (I can probably handle cutting down a floor)

[bigsnookmaster]

Cut it! I like the step method myself, but I'm sure if it's properly welded, it will work fine either way.Good luck

[hchad18]

Originally Posted by Jim_PA

It's that easy, huh? You should see the swiss-cheese bondo buckets around here. I got somewhat lucky as the bed I have now came from the west. I will probably be best off selling the bed sides to buy repro short bedsides and cutting down the floor (I can probably handle cutting down a floor)

No, I know its not easy. Mine was junk also. I trashed it and got a floor from here, a bed side from there and another junk bedside from that guy that I had to put a weeks worth of work into. I think it took me two years to do that. I can appreciate the SWB bed hunt.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by sameyrasmea72

I guess I am the odd ball out. I say look for a swb frame. But the may not be that easy for you where you live. I guess I am pretty spoiled there are still enough short frames aroung here. i have four extra ones right now.

When I lived in Texas and those trucks were new I think they actually sold more short bed trucks than long beds. The rest of the country is the direct opposite and we all have about a 7 to 1 ration of longbeds to shortbeds. Texas guys bought trucks just to drive every day and notreally to haul stuff before the rest of the country did, or it seems so.

I say cut it as it will keep the original serial number intact on the frame. But do it with the stepped method as this would be the strongest from what I have seen. This is the way the truck shops around here lengthen or shorten frames on flatbeds.

What ever you do don't cut it straight down and butt weld it as that doesn't allow for a lot of weld area nor is it anywhere near as strong as the other methods.