need help with measurements/pics of anyone who has shortend a long bed fleetside 1959

[slick65]

any pics, or measurements of this swap would help a bunch. i have a big back window long bed i bought and just found a bed for it, but i want to make it a shortbed.

[slick65]

i plan on doing a air bag set up, so im not worried about the frame, just how much to take out of the bed

[mr48chev]

I think that particular long bed has a bit of the extra length behind the fenders.
You would have to look at photos of both to make sure.

Someone with a shortbed should be able to give you the measurements you need though.

A couple of examples off the net.

Note that on the short bed the rear stanchion is right behind the fender


On this long bed you can see that there are several inches between the back of the fender and the rear stanchion.

That means if you cut the longbed down you have to take the difference in the wheelbase out of the front and then take the extra length out of the back along with trimming the ends of the frame rails.

[slick65]

im actually looking to shorten' a long bed fleetside. i can get a shortbox stepside around here preety easy, just want it to be different with the fleet box on it, and its in really good shape. all the better reason to cut it up!

[addicted2dunes]

Well if your bed was in good shape and you were to make it to central cali. then I'd trade ya. I need a longbed fleetside and have access to three shortbed fleetsides.

[slick65]

it is in really good shape, no rust and only a couple small dents. that is very tempting. we'll see what happens here then in the next few days, myne came from california. my pickup is a long bed chassis, but always wanted a short bed big back window that was slammed, so i have to build it how i see it in my head, would be sad to cut up this bed, but i might not have a choice, short bed fleetsides are un-heard of in tucson az.

[OrrieG]

I'd drive a couple of days (round trip) to get a good bed to save the time and hassle of cutting down a long one. If you need measurements I can go out in the garage and get you them off my short fleetside bed. I think you would have to modify both ends, not just the bed side.

[slick65]

yeh, it would save alot of headache in the end. ill see in a few weeks what happens with people posting. i appreciate your input alot! awesome truck btw ive read alot of your postings. and if i decided to just keep myne ill take you up on those measurements! and yeh i know id have to take some out of the front and back of the wheel wheels, this thing is HUGE! if anyone had a short fleet they'd want to trade let me know, ill try and post pics of myne tomorrow ( its currently a pickup bed trailer ) bought it that way, in the process of cutting old bolts off to get it off. thanks alot guys so far for your input

[blackdiesel]

I know where a short fleet bed is. Kid bought a repopped bed. Not sure what he'd take for it but I can ask if you'd like

[slick65]

that would be quite the drive! i appreciate it. if i could find one like a state away id go look at it, buy it, or trade myne... otherwise myne might get the knife. finding a short bed would just save me time, and if someone could use a good long bed then their you go. but as of this point ill keep my options open for a few weeks and see what happens. thanks everyone for your input

[slick65]

some pics of the bed....

[slick65]

all steel!!! no cancer

[entourageguy]

That looks like a very nice long bed.
I'd be going for a drive.
Maybe meet addicted2dunes half way??

[slick65]

id be willing to drive to get a nice one, just not multiple states, california or my surrounding areas id be ok with. im in tucson az. and yeh im waiting for pics from anyone who'd want to trade? id really hate to cut this one up, but if i have to... i have to.

[OrrieG]

Keep in mind that the front panel, rear cross panel and inner fenders are the same on both, all you need are the side panels and bed rails. Might make hauling a lot easier if the other pieces on yours are ok.

[slick65]

yeh thats true!

[addicted2dunes]

Well I found myself a longbed fleetside this weekend. But if you do happen to hack yours up I need a middle stake pocket, if you get rid of it, one of mine is rusted out.

[slick65]

sounds good. so you dont want to part with any of your short boxes?

[addicted2dunes]

I don't personally have any but know where a few are. I was gonna buy one to trade you because I had a hell of a time finding a longbed here. Ended up driving to LA to get one!

[slick65]

oh ok, gotcha. i have it posted localy to see if anyone wants to trade as my last leg. but in a few weeks if i dont get any bites im gonna cut it. i messed up my arm this week and might need surgery so its gonna sit for a while till i figure out what i did anyways

[slick65]

got the bed on the other day. its HUGE! im gonna cut it, no leads on a fair priced shortbed. anyone out their with a short bed fleetside could you please write me the measurements from some common points. i figure i could google this but it would be better if i could use someones truck as a reference. thanks alot! ive attached pics of it on the truck. anyone want to photo shop it short bed?

[entourageguy]

If you post that picture on the photo shop forum I'm sure some one will take a shot at it....

[OrrieG]

Mine is apart but I will go out and measure the side, I need to dig it out from under all the winter stuff anyway!


From the cab end to the rear seam between the main bed and tail light section is 80 inches. From the cab end to the front of the wheel opening at the very bottom body seam is 23 inches. The back is hard to get its all a curve or angle. But once you set the other two measurements the rear is 80-23-wheel opening.

I'll post a pic with the measurements tomorrow at work.

[poncho_villa]

Also keep in mind that the short box does not have the center stake pockets. Although not many would even notice if you left them in place.

[OrrieG]

Here is a poor photo with the dimensions on it.