73-87chevytrucks.com

73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: junkman. on August 29, 2010, 01:18:45 pm

Title: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on August 29, 2010, 01:18:45 pm

hey guys I'm new has anyone removed the outer skin from the inner bedside walls and reuse them
I want to use the outer bedside wall off my LB and shorten them and install on a SB inner wall
also have a build post

any ideas would be appreciated   thanks

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: Swims350 on August 29, 2010, 07:26:15 pm

gonna be hard to shorten long bed sides because of the taper in the back and it'd have to be cut front and rear to match up and be a short bed.

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: 86gmc23 on August 29, 2010, 08:49:16 pm

One of these days I'm going to cut my LWB bed down to a SWB. But that all depends when I get my welder. Looking to get a 110v one from Eastwood, anyone familiar with their welder? So if you cut yours let me know how it goes

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: HAULIN IT on August 30, 2010, 02:19:53 am

Doable, yes...Really practical, not really. If I were going to do it, I'd cut the 6' bedside 1/2" from the front point at the edge (leaving 1/2" of the old face of the side), but leave the top area around the stake hole (if you want to have them). Hang the side up there & cut the 8' side right on the point of the 6' side...this will put your weld line right on the front point, resulting in less warping & finish work.
 Now the back is tougher (as mentioned) If the area around the tail lamp "pocket" is still good on the 6' bed...it will be easier. Cut straight down a 1/2" or so in front of the tail lamp, hang the side up there & mark, overlap & cut. If the back area isn't good on the 6' bed, you'll need to transfer it...Drilling out the spotwelds & cutting where I described.
 The bottom edge will need rolled from the old angle (8' bed) to the new (6' bed), but it won't be all that hard. Years ago, I did this to the back of a wrecker (shortened the frame to the rear spring hanger) with an 8' bed, so the rear portion ended up shorter than a 6'.
 Of coarse the spotwelds across both tops & the wheelwells need drilled out. Good Luck if you decide to proceed, just think ahead! Lorne

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: VileZambonie on August 30, 2010, 07:43:38 pm

By the time you calculate your hours, electricity, welding wire, and mud I would certainly start looking for a used short bed

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on September 01, 2010, 12:00:39 am

Thanks guys  the only thing is disassembling a good bed but for the labor its good practice, on a lot of new trucks you have to remove spot weld to remove the skins. The easy way is to buy new ones $329.00 + 125.00 shipping x2 = $900.00 for two bedsides or trade a good long bed for short 1982

almost have the left SB side apart  ill get some pic's this weekend

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: Swims350 on September 01, 2010, 09:53:37 am

as mwentioned in the other thread it's not $125 shipping x2 it's only once, and if they do charge it twice they are stupid, rip off, and should never be bought from.

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: greeneon_01 on September 01, 2010, 07:14:55 pm

check craigslist...ive seen quite a few shortbeds around me for sale anywhere from $200 -$500. Cheaper than new bedsides even if thats all you use off them. Just my $.02

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on September 04, 2010, 12:52:50 am

thanks for the advice  :)
I'm looking for a SB or sides if i don't find what i want I'll just shorten the LB sides and use the SB floor
 
found 68-72 short step side bed for sale will it fit 73-87 frame   ???

thanks JM

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: xxwckdxx on September 04, 2010, 09:50:50 am

Yeah craigslist you'll find one, it took me a month but I picked one up for $250 to replace the one that came on my truck. Do searchs for chevy truck, fleetside, c10, silverado, chevrolet truck, gmc truck,

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: VileZambonie on September 04, 2010, 02:07:24 pm

Quote from: junkman. on September 04, 2010, 12:52:50 am

thanks for the advice  :)
I'm looking for a SB or sides if i don't find what i want I'll just shorten the LB sides and use the SB floor
 
found 68-72 short step side bed for sale will it fit 73-87 frame   ???

thanks JM

Eww why would you want to do that? I'd leave it a long bed

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: HAULIN IT on September 04, 2010, 05:21:53 pm

If the price is right. buy it & sell it for more money to a guy that has an "early" truck. Take the profit & put toward buying the correct bed. Hopefully after selling your 8' bed, you'll have enough money to buy a nice 6'ER. Lorne

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on February 21, 2011, 11:26:52 am

Hey guys I'm going to shorten my long bed for the front  i will cut off five to eight inch and overlap the front part to the right length and trim off the rest then spot weld it and for the rear move the cross member and cut it to length

here's some pics 

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on February 21, 2011, 02:57:49 pm

Some more pics  i think the floor turned out good :) and wasn't that much work  ;)also these floors are galvanized
 
I'm started on the floor first and any bedside will bolt right on next i will do the bedsides  JM

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on October 07, 2011, 02:41:33 am

here's some more pic's
these are the sections i cut and removed the front i made my first line right on the front of the stake hole and in the back i cut it here because it seemed place for  transitioning
the taper of the rail    then i used a flange tool from harbor freight  i flanged the center of the bedsides not the ends then punched a hole in the ends every inch or so and spot welded it  and between the spot welds i tacked the seem together

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on October 07, 2011, 02:50:29 am

this was a lot of work !!! :P  if you can afford new parts it would be well worth it 

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: slammed79 on October 07, 2011, 07:36:30 am

Turned out good. How many hours do you think you've got into it?

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on October 07, 2011, 03:16:27 pm

I don't know even after it was one piece again there was a lot of work left like filler priming and sanding and more primer and more sanding .

lets say there was over time at work i could of made money if i was to buy new parts
but i wanted to see if i could shorten it

if your looking to save money shorten the floor and get some new sides

well good luck JM

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: Captkaos on October 12, 2011, 04:03:14 pm

Keep posting to this. I want to put it in the Tech section.  Would love a start to finish post if you have the pics.  Let me know when you are done and I will move it...
I would also like your personal insight on this.

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on October 17, 2011, 12:06:03 am

thanks its not how to but would give some good ideas
we will start here for the bedsides
note before doing this you should have a SB floor for as a jig

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on October 17, 2011, 01:07:44 am

more pic;s

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on October 17, 2011, 01:09:58 am

more pic's
the first two pic's were test pieces ( white  lines )

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on October 17, 2011, 01:12:50 am

more pic's

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on October 17, 2011, 10:40:58 pm

more pic's

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on October 22, 2011, 12:31:30 am

Captkaos its done

Title: Re: separating inner and outer bed walls
Post by: junkman. on November 05, 2011, 12:26:21 pm

Well its done turned out ok the finish work wasn't perfect but good for a daily driver

thanks JM