Gaspar
Newbie
Posts: 7
Reg: 07-23-21
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07-28-22 07:05 PM - Post#2845075
Ok, need a lot of help here,Now I have two chevys one is 1972 short bed, I dont like the form that somebody weld the chassis to make it short,now a got a chevy 1971 3/4 ton. But want to make it short bed, but no cutting the chassis Im thinking on two ways, ONE is making a short trailing armas to move the differential 12"forward, TWO is moving the crossmeber 12" forward,any advice or if somebody know howvto do it will be very appreciated, long years ago I saw this on older truck but cant find it.
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 wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15777
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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07-31-22 02:52 PM - Post#2845242
In response to Gaspar
I wouldn’t shorten the arms. Moving the crossmember will work for the suspension but not shortening the frame in the right area will probably cause other issues. The process to go from long bed to short bed has been figured out long ago and involves cutting the frame under the bed and removing a section of it and welding it back together. The best way to do it for strength is to do a vertical cut at the top and bottom of the frame some distance apart and join them with a long horizontal cut, then remove the material needed and then join the two ends back together. That way there is an area for the two halves to support each other instead of a straight vertical cut butted back together. Here’s a kit to do it. But they are doing straight vertical cuts with support plates:
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/long-bed-short -b...
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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Tony1963
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 2072
Loc: Orlando Florida
Reg: 07-09-18
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08-01-22 05:10 AM - Post#2845270
In response to Gaspar
Changing the wheelbase will not change the overall length of the truck.
| People fear change because it threatens what they know, or what they claim to know. |
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15777
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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08-01-22 10:00 AM - Post#2845280
In response to Tony1963
I believe he is talking about moving the rear forward and then cutting the back end of the frame rails off. But there are other issues to contend with doing it that way. The least of which would be the bed mount locations. That is why the kit is the better way to go. It can be done without it but you would need the factory frame and body mount measurements and also be a first class welder.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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