![]() |
![]() |
#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 54
|
Long bed to Short...
What is the easiest way to convert a long bed frame into a short bed...?
__________________
Doin Work! Little At A Time.... |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Beloit, Wi.
Posts: 27
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
yeller
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 13,826
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
__________________
Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 54
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
Anyone know how much this would cost if the bed was already off and everything...?
__________________
Doin Work! Little At A Time.... |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 54
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
And thanks for all the help as well!
__________________
Doin Work! Little At A Time.... |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: cleburne texas
Posts: 174
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
I DID MINE YESTERDAY
![]() ![]() ![]() Last edited by 78maliburat; 03-13-2011 at 12:23 AM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 54
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
What did you do just mark 14" out and cut it out? have you mounted the bed back yet?
__________________
Doin Work! Little At A Time.... |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
chevy runs deep
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: PHOENIX AZ
Posts: 1,074
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
78maliburat Nice work
![]() Posted via Mobile Device
__________________
RAIDER NATION 1969 c10 swb soon 2 b on the road... My LWB is a SWB now ![]() http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=498241 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: cleburne texas
Posts: 174
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
My buddy has a step side bed i might use ,putting swb tank on it , about done with the motor also
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
chevy runs deep
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: PHOENIX AZ
Posts: 1,074
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
Any more pics when u were cutting it down
Posted via Mobile Device
__________________
RAIDER NATION 1969 c10 swb soon 2 b on the road... My LWB is a SWB now ![]() http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=498241 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Happy to be here
![]() Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 39,023
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
I really hope that is not the finished product. I would be very concerned with the integrity of that splice.
If you want to see how it should be done take a look below-
__________________
Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra" |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: cleburne texas
Posts: 174
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
HAHA WHATEVER
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
NOT REALLY BANNED!
![]() Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Shawnee, KS
Posts: 1,072
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
No really, that's a horrible cut. I'd be afraid to drive that truck on the street like that.
__________________
1987 Mustang Coupe - 2.7 Stroker, 78mm turbo, Stainless header, 3" Exh, FMIC, 160lb/hr Injectors, MS3, twin walbro 255's, 34psi. Eating V8's daily. 04 Pontiac GTO 04 Ford Mustang GT 68 C20 LWB stripper truck 73 K5 Cheyenne 76 C20 Sierra Crew SRW 88 K20 Suburban I'm not hammering on metal just to hammer, i'm creating a piece of art. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: cleburne texas
Posts: 174
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
Same cut on my 96 pete lasted half million miles no issues
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
Getcha Pull
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MD
Posts: 691
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
The frame on a Pete is a little bigger then a chebby, and doesn't flex as much. But that doesn't mean it is right for the larger truck either...
Not trying to be mean, but N2TRUX is 100% correct. You need to spread the load over a larger area, not have any sharp edges, and brace it with soft edges diamond plates welded over the cut area. What you have is a ton of stress on a small area, and a "brace" that gives a nice point for the frame to crack. It WILL crack. Tomorrow? Probably not? The day after? Again, probably not. When a loved one is driving the truck with a bus full of nuns and handicapped children coming in the other direction? Well, only one way to find out... The best thing you can do now is grind into the welds and really burn some metal in with a stick welder if you can. Then weld on the diamond shaped pieces like N2TRUX posted. One inside, one outside, and two pairs on the two and bottom edges can't hurt.
__________________
'81 K10 454/SM465 '86 S10 Blazer '95 H-D Softail '96 Integra |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: cleburne texas
Posts: 174
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Eureka Springs AR
Posts: 179
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
[QUOTE=Altec;4566619]The frame on a Pete is a little bigger then a chebby, and doesn't flex as much. But that doesn't mean it is right for the larger truck either...
You can't be more wrong, the frame on a truck grossing 80,000 wt. flexes alot more than a chebby just driving up and down the road |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 |
Happy to be here
![]() Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 39,023
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
Shrug it off if you like, but that is poor construction. As for having a your "96 pete" done the same way, that scares me even more. I'm no expert on Peterbuilt frames, but I was under the impression they were heat treated and you should never drill or cut them.
It's your truck so do as you see fit. Just don't post it as an example of how a frame splice should be done and not expect to get negative feedback.
__________________
Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra" |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#19 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lubbock, TX
Posts: 2,047
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
[quote=ozark;4566770]
Quote:
A butt weld is the weakest, the "Z" configuration shown above is the strongest. It takes longer, but it's by far the best. The weld is much more brittle than the surrounding steel and will be the first place cracks will show up from vibration, etc. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#20 | |||
Getcha Pull
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MD
Posts: 691
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
Quote:
What angle? When did I say anything about angle? You should have simply did it like pictured in this thread. If the people in this thread have enough room, you do too. And I don't need to crawl under anything. I have the bed pulled off my factory SWB, and all I gotta do is take tree steps off my porch to get to it. ![]() You didn't ask for opinions, but we don't need someone who searches for proper frame shortening on 67-72 finding this thread and thinking a vertical butt weld is proper. Quote:
Quote:
__________________
'81 K10 454/SM465 '86 S10 Blazer '95 H-D Softail '96 Integra |
|||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#21 |
yeller
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 13,826
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
Doesn't look like you even prepped the metal before you started welding, at least on the bottom fish plate. Glad I don't have to share the road with you. You should really take into consideration the feedback you have been given, after all it is to help you, not be mean to you.
__________________
Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale Last edited by bigblock73; 03-21-2011 at 01:14 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#22 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: cleburne texas
Posts: 174
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
Quote:
No were in my post did i say this is the way it should be done please read i did it my way you do it yours ..DONT WANT A PISSING MATCH...and big truck frames arent heat treated they cut the factory the fronts are usually all the same but they cut the rears for the wheelbase specs..oh you have a nice truck theres some positive feedback right theyre |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#23 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: livingston co.mi
Posts: 2,453
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
Quote:
![]() ![]()
__________________
California 65 GTO---Texas 64 burb 283 ---Oklahoma 67 CST SWB BBW wood bed 327 2004r---New Mexico 72 k10 350 350 auto---Georga 72 short step project |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lubbock, TX
Posts: 2,047
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
Easiest is to find a good short frame, use a hoist and swap everything across.
You guys should try doing this to an '88 - '98, those frames are hourglass shaped and a royal pain. I'm grafting a '97 1-ton 4x4 front frame clip onto a '94 cab & chassis, then shortening the frame to shortbed length and converting to dually along with 4-link. Cool thing about the cab & chassis is they have straight frame rails, a lot like the '73 - '87 trucks, much easier to work with. Frames are welded under the front of the cab, I'm grinding welds to separate them, then slipping them back together just like the factory did. It'll be a lot of work, but there will be no welds on the frame other than in the factory location. Oh, engine will be pump gas 565, looking to burn 6 at a time ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#25 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Antioch,Ca
Posts: 6
|
Re: Long bed to Short...
Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
|
|