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long bed to short bed

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Old Jul 1, 2005 | 02:40 PM
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long bed to short bed

i was wondering if any one on here has converted their truck from a long bed to a short bed? i am going to be doing this in the near future and any advice would be helpful thanks. oh it is a 77 f 250
 
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Old Jul 1, 2005 | 02:42 PM
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I haven't done it, but I know that the frame will have to be shortened to correct the wheelbase so that the tires sit in the rear wheelwells and that the bumper doesn't stick out 2 ft.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2005 | 03:05 PM
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I shortened a 79 f250 4X4 frame.... I cut the frame right where it narrows down under the cab.....the wide part of the frame (rear) fit outside of the narrow part after cutting the top and bottom of it off..... I shortened it 17" (if memory is correct) to get the shortbox on
 
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Old Jul 1, 2005 | 09:43 PM
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so 17 inches is going to be the amount i will need to cut off then? has anyone else come up with a different number or is 17 the magic number? also how has the frame held up since you have shortened it?
 
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Old Jul 1, 2005 | 09:58 PM
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I actually didn't cut any off, I cut the frame and trimmed the top and bottom off of it, leaving the sides.... I then lifted the back of the frame over the front and hammered the rails in a little to tighten them up.....I drilled 4 1/2" holes in them and bolted them together with grade 8 bolts.....Then I welded the top and bottom of the rails together again.....
I'm thinking 17" was the measurement, but it was a few years ago (like almost 20) so I could be wrong here.... I think I measured the axle centerlines on the donor truck and just made mine the same.


*****edit**** the frame held up for years, I traded the truck for a 69 firebird and haven't seen it since, so I can't judge for the longlevity (like I said, this was a long time ago)
 
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Old Jul 1, 2005 | 10:07 PM
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that sounds like a pretty good way to go about it. i was thinking of cutting the frame in like a z shape so it wasnt a straight line and then welding it back up with extra bracing in that area.
 
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Old Jul 1, 2005 | 10:09 PM
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Heres a pic of it....Thats my son sitting on the step (he's 21 now)

 
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Old Jul 1, 2005 | 11:15 PM
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hehehe been a few years. good looking truck.
 
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Old Jul 2, 2005 | 12:32 AM
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From: waco
Hey Foof, I have a factory short wheel base truck, and my wheel base is 117".
Doc
 
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Old Jul 2, 2005 | 01:05 AM
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so if i use the wheel base as a measuring point then the wheels and the wheel wells should match up correctly?
 
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Old Jul 2, 2005 | 01:10 AM
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Foof,
Yes. That is correct. Your truck is a regular cab 2 wheel drive F250 correct?
Doc
 
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Old Jul 2, 2005 | 02:50 AM
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no it is a regular cab 4x4 f250 longbed with cab mounted gas tank that is getting moved to under the bed
 
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Old Jul 2, 2005 | 03:02 AM
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Well...I've never tried to do any thing with a frame like this, but common sense tells me, that the body of your truck and the body of mine are the same with the exception of the fuel tank and the length of the bed. I'd pull your long bed off, shorten the frame per 3 of 7's instructions, and mount a short bed back on it. While you have your bed off, make the center of your front axle 117" away from the center of the rear axle, and you should be ready to go.
The 117" measurement I gave you is what is on my door jam under wheel base. Would it help if I actualy measured it to verify that it is actuall 117"?
Doc
 
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Old Jul 2, 2005 | 08:29 AM
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In order to shorten it you're going to want to pull the cab as well.... You're going to have to take measurements to make sure you get things square and level before you put it back together..
 
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Old Jul 2, 2005 | 05:03 PM
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yeah verifying that would be nice if it is not too much of a hassle. how necessary is it to take off the cab. couldnt i take measurements from the underside of the frame/cab?
 
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