Long bed to shortbed conversion
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Leesburg GA
Long bed to shortbed conversion
I am thinking about buying a single cab longbed and want to make it a shortbed,is there specific spots where the frame needs to be cut or just cut where there is nothing lol...And if any of you know anyone selling a 6litre singlecab pm me!Thanks
Josh
Josh
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Mexifornia
No such thing in F250 and up...I know a guy who did it solely based on measurement between the two beds, but he was also a fantastic welder and sheet metal guy who was so thight he actually cut his long bed down to a short bed along with the frame,but it was a good job and I'm a perfectionist when it come to looking for flaws.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Leesburg GA
I am a certified tig mig and stick welder/fitter fabricator,I was hoping that someone had done it and had measurements, i havent bought the truck yet but i am wanting to built a nice lowered race / street truck so i dont have to kill my work truck hahaha
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Wouldn't a straight-frame cab and chassis pickup be the easiest to shorten? The bed would more than likely need some mods...I just thought as I read this that the straight frame would be pretty simple. I've put flatbeds on a couple regular F-350's and a couple cab/chassis pickups. I can't picture exactly how the frame rails lay though.
I do remember that the cab/chassis pickup has a longer frame from the back of the cab to the end of the frame rails. The wheel bases are a little different too but I can't remember those measurements right off neither. I haven't heard them since '03.
I'm sure someone can chime in on this....I had a '71 short-wide chevy that got stolen and totaled. When I was going to rebuild it I couldn't find a short bed so I decided to cut a long bed down. I never did it but I was told by several people to chop it right behind the cab and box the frame rails in when I welded it back, because that was a common stress point that normally failed even in little wrecks, but that is comparing apples and oranges. 1/2 ton frames in '71 won't quite stand side by side with the frames under our pickups, at least not one under a GM product!
I do remember that the cab/chassis pickup has a longer frame from the back of the cab to the end of the frame rails. The wheel bases are a little different too but I can't remember those measurements right off neither. I haven't heard them since '03.
I'm sure someone can chime in on this....I had a '71 short-wide chevy that got stolen and totaled. When I was going to rebuild it I couldn't find a short bed so I decided to cut a long bed down. I never did it but I was told by several people to chop it right behind the cab and box the frame rails in when I welded it back, because that was a common stress point that normally failed even in little wrecks, but that is comparing apples and oranges. 1/2 ton frames in '71 won't quite stand side by side with the frames under our pickups, at least not one under a GM product!
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,708
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From: Circle City
why not just go with the extra cab short bed?
My guess is the frame will be too long for a std. cab short bed.
My guess is the frame will be too long for a std. cab short bed.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Santee, CA
Here are the overall lenght and wheel base numbers. The difference in wheel base is 16.2 inches difference between the long and short bed versions.
.....................LB ST Cab...SB ExCab...LB ExCab...SB CCab...LB CCab
Wheelbase......137............141.8........158.... ......156.2........172.4
Overall length..226.4.........231.2.........247.4.......24 5.6........261.8
.....................LB ST Cab...SB ExCab...LB ExCab...SB CCab...LB CCab
Wheelbase......137............141.8........158.... ......156.2........172.4
Overall length..226.4.........231.2.........247.4.......24 5.6........261.8
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: memphis
It can be done, I think the frame is straight behind the cab.
You would need to drill a few hole and weld the axles spring in the new location, but I don't see why it would work. Probably save alot of time if you could find a short bed with the bed off and blueprint the holes, fuel tank, and axles.
Do it and send prictures!
You would need to drill a few hole and weld the axles spring in the new location, but I don't see why it would work. Probably save alot of time if you could find a short bed with the bed off and blueprint the holes, fuel tank, and axles.
Do it and send prictures!
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From: Wyoming
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,743
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From: Peoria, IL
Here's a couple links you might like.
http://www.tumbleweedmfg.com/index.htm
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/featur...uty_lightning/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAu7qjfUvuE
http://www.tumbleweedmfg.com/index.htm
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/featur...uty_lightning/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAu7qjfUvuE
