Seriously considering a short bed conversion

[VileZambonie]

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?

[red4wd]

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...

[87GMC1500]

Saw this done on a 60s chevy on TRUCKS! about a week ago. may wanna look for reruns

[123 pugsy]

Go for it! I seen a link or how to sometime back.Looked like a fun project.

[VileZambonie]

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.

[bigblock73]

It won't be a 6' bed, it'll be 6'-6" bed (that is factory) 

Here is an article that may help

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chassis_suspension/lwb_to_swb.htm

[VileZambonie]

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...

[xtremjeepn]

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.

[Captkaos]

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

[VileZambonie]

I didn't see this in Tech pages

[Captkaos]

it is on the main website tech pages....

[Leadfoot]

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    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..

[Captkaos]

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.

[VileZambonie]

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?

[Captkaos]

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.