Long Bed to Short Bed Conversion
#1
Long Bed to Short Bed Conversion
My 81 ford has a major rust problem in the rear bed corners, and a little over the wheel wells. I plan to repaint it this fall in AutoBody at school, and figured I would save time to buy a new bed. And then I got to thinking, well, if I buy a new bed, I might as well make it into a short bed. Has any one done this, and if so please let me know what I'll need to do. I think I'll just have to bolt the shrt bed over my rear tires, and cut the frame and reweld into place. I know I will need new driveshaft, exaust. Any other suggestions would be appreciated greatly. Thanks Jared
#2
#4
#5
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Dryden, ON, Canada
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes
on
12 Posts
Long Bed to Short Bed Conversion
The wheelbase is 16" shorter on a short bed, and, you will find the extra 16" between thefront bed bolts and the bracket the parking brake cables hook into. On a FlareSide, the bed is 18" shorter overall, but, that's just in sheetmetal, the frame is the same from the axle back.
And, Steve, don't say it can't be done.... It can, it's just not something the average do-it yourselfer can tackle. I'm planning on chopping my F250's chassis again and making it into a short bed... I started with a 155" wheelbase, and, will finish at 117", unless I feel like building a Bronc.... LOL
Evan
And, Steve, don't say it can't be done.... It can, it's just not something the average do-it yourselfer can tackle. I'm planning on chopping my F250's chassis again and making it into a short bed... I started with a 155" wheelbase, and, will finish at 117", unless I feel like building a Bronc.... LOL
Evan
#6
Long Bed to Short Bed Conversion
Hey, thanks alot, i thought it could be done, but didnt know if my facts were strait. I'm planning on doing this in Auto Body class at my highschool. If i cant find a short bed, i may just buy patch panels to fix the rust, but this may be more work than the short bed,lol. Thanks alot,..Jared
#7
Long Bed to Short Bed Conversion
A friend of mine done this to one of there trucks. To complete the work You'll have to shorten the Frame in front of the rear end channel and you'll have to take some off the end of the frame. How much i don't know, I just watched them do it at times while i was there. so it can be done.
Trending Topics
#8
#9
#11
Long Bed to Short Bed Conversion
Just a thought - Do you have a swing bearing in your long bed? I have cut down the frame before, removed the swing bearing and made just one driveshaft. Gotta rework the parking brake cable, brake lines and gas lines, then double up or wrap up the wiring. The gas lines all depend on if you have one or two tanks, of course. You have the right idea, though, measure and mark, and even do a little layout first - you can do it.
#12
#13
#14
#15