Cutting long bed down to short bed

1965fordf100 · Post by **1965fordf100** » August 28, 2013, 6:06 pm

Ok so here is the deal...my short bed (just the bed) is gonna be a ton of work to patch up what needs to be fixed. I have a perfectly good long bed available. I can't decide if I should just use the long bed for patches on the short bed, or cut the long bed down to a short bed. Has anyone cut down a long bed down to short? Am I crazy in thinking about doing this? If you have done it, can you give a run down of the easiest way to go about doing this?

69supercj · Post by **69supercj** » August 28, 2013, 6:20 pm

I think the worst part about doing this is you've gotta take metal out ahead of and behind the wheelwells. Not sure how hard it would be to cut the end caps off and trim from there and re-attach. Same for the front of the bed, not sure how involved that would be. I do know that the front of the beds are recessed so to speak, the front panel of the bed is inset compared to the left and right skins.

Post by **Casey 65** » August 28, 2013, 7:45 pm

Sell the long bed and buy a nice short bed. Lots less work...

Paul Merrell · Post by **Paul Merrell** » August 28, 2013, 8:45 pm

I cut the front out of a long bed and it was not the easiest thing to too but it can be done. Working on the rear would be tough. If I had to go thru all that trouble I would look for a short bed.

jamesdfo · Post by **jamesdfo** » August 28, 2013, 9:15 pm

Here is one previous thread........

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=18586

Post by **foodstick** » August 28, 2013, 9:57 pm

Can't be done !!!

well maybe..

1965fordf100 · Post by **1965fordf100** » August 29, 2013, 12:38 am

I've been looking for a short bed for quite a while...that's why I'm at this point in decision making...

bruceandersson · Post by **bruceandersson** » August 29, 2013, 6:43 am

I've run into this as well. I used patches from a long bed on the short bed on my '65. I had some misc damage around the bed both in front and behind the wheel wells and never had any luck straightening the armor plate these beds were made with. I made a patch for the lower passenger rear and drivers front. I also used part of the long bed floor to patch the front of the short bed floor. This was the best of three beds I have. The other two have issues as well. Bottom line is that I put most of my effort into the bed when getting the truck ready for paint. These were real trucks, most were well used, and the beds tended to take most of the abuse.

Post by **foodstick** » August 29, 2013, 9:24 am

yeah it is almost impossible to even find a short box here.. A short box in good shape is unheard of in my area.

1965fordf100 · Post by **1965fordf100** » March 11, 2014, 6:44 pm

Bumping this up because this endeavor is still under consideration. I got some great feedback from some...but hoping new eyes see this that didn't before. I did find another short bed truck but it's just as bad if not worse than my previous bed. I have the old bed still that I can take measurements off of but does anyone know off the top of their head exactly what amount needs taken in front of the rear wheels and how much from behind? This will definitely be carried on with a full write up if I decide this is gonna happen.

Toyz · Post by **Toyz** » March 11, 2014, 6:52 pm

It's 14 inches at the front, which should mean ~ 4 inches at the rear.
Paul

Post by **foodstick** » March 11, 2014, 9:07 pm

You know this really isn't viable to this thread since he has a short box frame...
But IF I was cutting a long box down to a short box again, I would take 12 inches out of the front, and leave the back of the truck alone, I think you would end up with a sportier look, with out so much work...

However, bolting on a new box from then on is impossible..

1965fordf100 · Post by **1965fordf100** » March 11, 2014, 9:22 pm

foodstick wrote:You know this really isn't viable to this thread since he has a short box frame...
But IF I was cutting a long box down to a short box again, I would take 12 inches out of the front, and leave the back of the truck alone, I think you would end up with a sportier look, with out so much work...

However, bolting on a new box from then on is impossible..

What isn't viable to this thread? And if that was a option of just cutting 12" from the front why would that make it impossible to bolt on a new box in the future? Maybe I'm just not understanding what you mean....thanks for the input again!

CHICOF100 · Post by **CHICOF100** » March 11, 2014, 9:46 pm

1965fordf100 wrote:Ok so here is the deal...my short bed (just the bed) is gonna be a ton of work to patch up what needs to be fixed. I have a perfectly good long bed available. I can't decide if I should just use the long bed for patches on the short bed, or cut the long bed down to a short bed. Has anyone cut down a long bed down to short? Am I crazy in thinking about doing this? If you have done it, can you give a run down of the easiest way to go about doing this?

1965fordf100 wrote:
If your willing to drive down to So.Cal I can get my hands on two short beds.

Post by **foodstick** » March 11, 2014, 10:26 pm

Well the reason it isn't viable for this thread is this.. I think I once figured (using photoshop) that if you cut just the front of a box down to look right... the wheel base on a shortbox truck is then too short ! If you shorten the front of a long box to far it will make the box look back heavy ... Also the longbox tin will then hang to far behind your shortbox frame.

It was an idea I had to make a longbox look sportier, with only one cut instead of two.

The problem with doing this is.. as far as later.. If your truck gets in a wreck, or a tree falls across the box.. you have to custom build a new one. You can't just bolt a nice one on again.

1965fordf100 · Post by **1965fordf100** » March 11, 2014, 10:45 pm

foodstick wrote:Well the reason it isn't viable for this thread is this.. I think I once figured (using photoshop) that if you cut just the front of a box down to look right... the wheel base on a shortbox truck is then too short ! If you shorten the front of a long box to far it will make the box look back heavy ... Also the longbox tin will then hang to far behind your shortbox frame.

It was an idea I had to make a longbox look sportier, with only one cut instead of two.

The problem with doing this is.. as far as later.. If your truck gets in a wreck, or a tree falls across the box.. you have to custom build a new one. You can't just bolt a nice one on again.

Gotcha!! Makes sense!

1965fordf100 · Post by **1965fordf100** » March 11, 2014, 10:47 pm

Chico

Can you send me PM with info?

CHICOF100 · Post by **CHICOF100** » March 12, 2014, 7:41 pm

1965fordf100
I sent you a PM I have access to two short beds.

D-Kuzmen · Post by **D-Kuzmen** » October 4, 2014, 8:15 pm

I know this is old but I have successfully cut down long bed sides and mounted them to my short bed box. It was a ton of work but was my only option.

Toyz · Post by **Toyz** » October 4, 2014, 8:26 pm

Has anyone considered just buying a reproduction Flareside bed assembly? I know some don't care for the Flareside; I am one of them for some applications, but it would seem a cost-effective fix for the lazier, metal-fusion challenged among us.
Paul

Cutting long bed down to short bed

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