73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: VileZambonie on June 09, 2007, 05:28:37 pm
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Who has done the long to short box conversion? I love my GMC but always kinda wished it had a 6' bed....
Anyone have any + or - feedback?
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My brother and I cut one down back in the day...wasn't too hard I don't remember the measurements but I know you cut out 8 or 9 inches in front of the springs and then a few off of the rear. If you don't have the 15 gallon tank you will have to have one. And a driveshaft. As far as I remember it wasn't too hard of a job.
Here are some pics...they are not that good they were taken 15 years ago and scanned...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/bud8/87gmclong.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/bud8/87gmcframe.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/bud8/87gmctailgate-1.jpg)
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Saw this done on a 60s chevy on TRUCKS! about a week ago. may wanna look for reruns
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Go for it! I seen a link or how to sometime back.Looked like a fun project. ;)
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Well if anyone else has a write up on it I'd appreciate it. I think this is what's been holding me back on this truck from really going a lot further with it so I think I'll get all the parts to piece together a brand new bed.
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It won't be a 6' bed, it'll be 6'-6" bed (that is factory) :D
Here is an article that may help
http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chassis_suspension/lwb_to_swb.htm
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Thanks yeah I know it's a 6.5' bed but i always called it a 6 or 8. It's good to see others have done it successfully.
Now i just have to piece together a bed...
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My Crew Cab is shortend (cause they never came as a short box).
Sorry for the bad picture we were in the middle of doing body work. It is looking much better now.
(http://a454.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/58/l_7d2efa91767cf370510757adb6c05eb5.jpg)
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The how to was done by Leadfoot on this forum and it is on our tech pages.
http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/lwb_to_swb.htm
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I didn't see this in Tech pages
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it is on the main website tech pages....
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Go for it Vile..it's really not a bad project..I've done 5 so far,the one we did the tech article about being the latest,but I've got another one lined up to do for a friend of a friend ;D I did one in a day,but it's an easy weekend project.. got any specific questions feel free to ask..
Tim
and thanks Chris for fixin my password so I can post again.. ;D
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No problem Tim.
I found a '91 Crew Cab that I showed the wife the other day, they are asking $3500, but it needs a passenger fender and a passenger bedside. I am considering selling my DD and getting the crew and making a shortbed crewcab, since we got a little one now.
The only thing I would do differently is the frame cutting. I would feel better if it was cut this way and braced from the backside.
(http://ebfabman.com/0b9bcd20.jpg)
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That's very similar to what I had in mind for mine. I listed my 8' bed in the paper last night. The bed is mint so once it's sold I'll pull it off. I'm gonna sell both tanks and fillers with it. So my next thing would be to do the rear gas tank. I was going to use my fuel cell but I'd rather do the rear tank. Anyone do the rear tank but still use the side door filler?
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I have done the rear tank, buy snaking the filler to the front is going to be a pain especially if you have any rake to the truck. You could move the filler to the back of the bed panel and run it past the frame and turn up into the bed cavity. That is what I am planning to do.
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That Plasma cutter is gonna come in real handy now :D
I think a Chrysler lower radiator hose like on the old Lebarons will give a nice tight bend off of the tank and from there I'm sure I could figure something out. I'd really like to keep the factory gas cap location. I actually like the way it looks and I don't want to make getting gas a pain in the :(
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stepping the frame cut like the pic is a good idea,more weld area..If I had owned my plasma cutter at the time,I might have done it that way..but as long as the welds are sound,I think either way is fine..the first frame I did was on a looong wheelbase 1-ton,and the patch I used to cover the welds on it was about 16" long,welded all around with 1.25" holes in the middle plug welded..that truck regularly pulled a 28" gooseneck stock trailer,over loaded at times,with no issues.. but hey,you can't be too cautious with this stuff..
I was gonna go the suburban tank route on the white 82,had it mounted and all,but then wussed out the filler neck and bought a fuel cell with sender and cut a hole in my bed floor ;D ;D by the way,I recently got back an 81 swb I had about 8 years ago.. black,rally wheels,.030 4 bolt 350,rpm intake,edelbrock carb..I think me and my 13 year old are gonna fix it up for his first ride..
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heres the 81 for the boy...thats mud on the side,not rust ;D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/leadfoot3232/1981_chevy.jpg)
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Well it's a done deal. The short bed conversion will begin. I have a complete brand new bed being shipped. I will document the whole ordeal once I start. I'm not so sure yet what I'm gonna do with the tailgate but relocating the handle and a filler panel sounds like a good idea. i'd like to maybe do some cool artwork in the paint and a smooth filler panel will allow me to do it. If anyone has done a filler panel I'd like to see some pix!
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Start a Project Post and put a before pic in there.
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Looking forward to this one Del. Leadfoot sure had a good writeup on his project.
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Hey Vile,
Just wondering where you got your brand new short bed from and what it cost you.
Thanks.
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seemed to be the only one who carried everything so I just got it all from there. I still have to get the bolts to bolt it together though.
*also anything over $1000.00 is free shipping
I bought the bolts to the frame and a tailgate filler panel too and it came to $1655.40
LikeI said I just need the bolts and also those supports that connect to the outer skin so if anyone has a pair of them they want to get rid of! :D