Author Topic: Extended Cab bed length question  (Read 9092 times)

Offline Papawoodi

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Extended Cab bed length question
« on: November 13, 2014, 03:24:13 PM »
I stumbled across this post and had a question to the extended cab owners. I thought the short bed trucks where just a little longer then the extended cab beds, but from this 1 post below it seems to be opposite. I do not have the bed to mine and acquired a long bed to cut up. I guess all I need to know is to cut 18 inch off?

Just a little confused after reading these two posts.

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,11207.0.html

Choptop post at another site
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=365878
1985 C10 Silverado single cab SWB 350/700r4
1986 C10 Scottsdale Extended Cab project

Offline zieg85

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2014, 06:23:54 PM »
Actually the bed should be close to the same in total length.  Choptops thread on the other site, pictures (yellow truck) is mine and the work was done by the previous owner.  18" is cut off the front is what was done originally.  The bed floor became the extended cab floor.  If I was building a truck I would move the rear end back and use a true 6.5' bed.  It really looks a lot better IMO.
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
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Offline Papawoodi

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2014, 01:16:07 PM »
Thanks for the reply zieg85, since yours is original or cut like original can you let me know the total length of yours if you get time? I was really considering the short bed instead of cutting a long bed. Might look better as you stated too.
1985 C10 Silverado single cab SWB 350/700r4
1986 C10 Scottsdale Extended Cab project

Offline zieg85

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2014, 03:07:17 PM »
Exactly 18 inches shorter and taken from in front of the wheel wells but the gas door (s) were not disturbed.  That 18" was used as the cab floor and the back and sides was re-used.  The rest was pieced
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248658382003506/

Offline Captkaos

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2014, 04:04:07 PM »
zieg, Do you have a pic with one with a short bed on it?  This would require altering the wheelbase to get it on there unless I am missing something.

Chris Lucas
73-87chevytrucks.com
square body.biz


Offline zieg85

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2014, 04:43:24 PM »
zieg, Do you have a pic with one with a short bed on it?  This would require altering the wheelbase to get it on there unless I am missing something.

Chris Lucas
73-87chevytrucks.com
square body.biz

Here are 2, I know Choptop has more on his website.  Yes the wheel base would have to be lengthened but overall length remains the same.
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248658382003506/

Offline timthescarrd

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2014, 05:50:47 PM »
Zeig, a standard long-bed is 8' if you take 18" off that you get 6.5', which is the length of a short-bed. So is the difference just that the axle is more symettrical to the bed of a short-bed whereas the cut-off long-bed has more bed behind the wheels?

Offline zieg85

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2014, 06:08:00 PM »
Zeig, a standard long-bed is 8' if you take 18" off that you get 6.5', which is the length of a short-bed. So is the difference just that the axle is more symettrical to the bed of a short-bed whereas the cut-off long-bed has more bed behind the wheels?

Short answer-correct.  GM authorized this being done because the actual drive train including the frame was untouched.  A full factory new car warranty was given to these trucks.  Over the years some have custom made their own, put a regular short bed on it as pictured and a few have stretched it to use the full 8 foot bed which I would like to do some day and make it a tow rig after I retire out west.
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248658382003506/

Offline zieg85

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2014, 06:14:38 PM »
This is how they made them back in the day.  Mine was actually redone by the previous owner as he used it as a work truck and literally wore out the floor of the bed. 
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248658382003506/

Offline Papawoodi

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2014, 07:37:39 AM »
Dang Zieg85, now I see why you like it with the regular short bed on it. To me that looks better. Since I do not have much of the original parts for this truck, this looks like what I want to do. Bad thing is I already bought a long bed to cut down. Guess my next thing to do is find a short bed and see how to get it on there.
I have a Suburban frame to maybe there something I can do or use from it as well.
1985 C10 Silverado single cab SWB 350/700r4
1986 C10 Scottsdale Extended Cab project

Offline Captkaos

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2014, 09:00:01 AM »
That does look good..  The proportions are much better.  Not as light on the front or heavy on the rear.
To make this work you would actually have to add 4" to the wheelbase and then lop off the normal 6" off the back and mount the shortbox

A suburban frame won't work in this instance, for 1) it is 2" shorter than a LWB frame [129.5 vs 131.5"] and 2) the frame isn't the same behind the "cab" portion.
If you have pictures of a bare Suburban frame would you mind emailing it to me in a high res format?

If you weren't intimidated on cutting the long bed down consider cutting it down to match a short bed. 
Someone here has done this already.  It is in the tech section here:
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=26656.0

Offline Papawoodi

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2014, 01:38:15 PM »
So you mean add 4" to the frame in the middle somewhere and then take off 6" from the rear to get the shortbox bed to fit correctly. Sounds like fun...
CaptKaos, I don’t have the body off the Suburban yet to take a picture, but can in the future.
Will start hunting for a short bed I think that might be easier on my skills over cutting up the long bed.

As I get things done will keep updates going. Off to Craigslist now...
1985 C10 Silverado single cab SWB 350/700r4
1986 C10 Scottsdale Extended Cab project

Offline zieg85

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2014, 02:54:22 PM »
I haven't looked but is it possible to move the rear spring perches back and re-drill the frame.  The longbed frame should be the right overall length.  I have never studied one but we are only talking 4".  The shock mounting holes would have to bed re-drilled as well as the bed bolt holes.
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248658382003506/

Offline Captkaos

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Re: Extended Cab bed length question
« Reply #13 on: November 25, 2014, 03:19:52 PM »
Yes it would have to be lengthened or as Zieg85 said everything moved back.  The only issue I would have moving the axle back is the shock mounts as the frame has recesses in them to where the shocks "sit" and the frame kick after the front mount.