I am about to acquire a 1965 econoline supervan. Has anyone in the forum ever tried to shorten the length of the supervan back to the regular van length? What problems might I come across? I understand that by cutting out a foot behind the last windows might give me a problem matching up the body lines with tapering issues. What else might be a problem with this idea?

 

I've thought about doing this since I have several SuperVans and wish they were shorties.

You mentioned the tapered sides. That is why Ford used the narrower tail lights because of the side taper.
You would also have to deal with the curve in the roof.
The SuperVans did not have the extra weight above the gas tank to keep the rear end on the ground during hard braking. You could add the weight above the tank, or do as I did on one Econoline and add weight to the rear bumper. I replaced the bumper with a heavy angle iron.

Back in the day it made sense to make SuperVans so people could haul more, but not many want them in a classic Econoline today.

 

I've thought about doing this since I have several SuperVans and wish they were shorties.

You mentioned the tapered sides. That is why Ford used the narrower tail lights because of the side taper.
You would also have to deal with the curve in the roof.
The SuperVans did not have the extra weight above the gas tank to keep the rear end on the ground during hard braking. You could add the weight above the tank, or do as I did on one Econoline and add weight to the rear bumper. I replaced the bumper with a heavy angle iron.

Back in the day it made sense to make SuperVans so people could haul more, but not many want them in a classic Econoline today.

 

I've got a '66 super van and never really thought of shortening it but I've also got the *** end dropped so visually it doesn't hang way out.
Yeah the taper is what you would have to match up.
Probably better to get the whole rear panel section to weld onto, take good measurements before any cutting too. Later.