LWB To SWB Conversion

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82Diesel

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Did a similar venture last August for a 292, 14 hour round trip. So it can be done OP

Correct. plus you went a good direction those 292s are little Sons of Bitchs. Lol they run for ever.
 

82sbshortbed

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Long beds are way better.


I don't know about that. Short beds bring more money because more people want them. I think more people aren't buying them to use them for work but, just to fix up and cruise around in them. People buy long beds to work with because it hauls more.
 

eskimomann209

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I read this thread riiiight after he posted it. I thought to myself. This is gunna be gewd. Y’all didn’t disappoint. when I was a younger man. I might have considered the same thing. I like challenges. I like short beds. These days I have learned to greatly appreciate them long beds for more reasons than one. Now on a slightly better note. It my truck was frame swapped to a C10 frame. I ain’t telling commifornia anything. **** em. But if I went to a c20 frame from a 10 and it behooved me. I’d let em know.
 

DoubleDingo

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I read this thread riiiight after he posted it. I thought to myself. This is gunna be gewd. Y’all didn’t disappoint. when I was a younger man. I might have considered the same thing. I like challenges. I like short beds. These days I have learned to greatly appreciate them long beds for more reasons than one. Now on a slightly better note. It my truck was frame swapped to a C10 frame. I ain’t telling commifornia anything. **** em. But if I went to a c20 frame from a 10 and it behooved me. I’d let em know.

If the VIN on the registration is C20, the C10 frame wouldn't change how it was emission tested. Insurance-wise, if they need to see it, then notice it's a short bed C20, they may call fraud.

To me it's a lot of hassle for no real gain.
 

DoubleDingo

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I don't know about that. Short beds bring more money because more people want them. I think more people aren't buying them to use them for work but, just to fix up and cruise around in them. People buy long beds to work with because it hauls more.

I've driven both, and I like both, but shortening a C20 doesn't do it for me. Partly why I won't sell mine, because if I do some dude may want to nueter it, so to speak.
 
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eskimomann209

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If the VIN on the registration is C20, the C10 frame wouldn't change how it was emission tested. Insurance-wise, if they need to see it, then notice it's a short bed C20, they may call fraud.

To me it's a lot of hassle for no real gain.

I’d say Mr. Insadjuster I modified my frame so well, you can’t tell. no sir no need to commend my craftsmanship just pay me out thank you
 

DoubleDingo

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I’d say Mr. Insadjuster I modified my frame so well, you can’t tell. no sir no need to commend my craftsmanship just pay me out thank you

But the cab would be C20.
 

Turbo4whl

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I agree with most of you, want a short bed truck, buy a short bed. I disagree with a long bed is better. Better to haul yes. Daily driver, no. Why drag a long bed with you all the time?

Short bed is easier to park, easier to turn around and lighter so better fuel mileage. My daily driver is a short bed. Maybe some of you drive your little rice burners every day, I'm cruising in my Full Size. But I do have more than one truck.

Here's a picture of my single cab short box with the 8 foot bed. :33:

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82sbshortbed

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I've driven both, and I like both, but shortening a C20 doesn't do it for me. Partly why I won't sell mine, because if I do some dude may want to nueter it, so to speak.

I agree. I wasn't advocating cutting a long bed. I wouldn't do that either but, just comparing a untouched long to short. The short beds seem to be sought out more and therefore bring a little more money is all.
 

DoubleDingo

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About a year ago I saw a really nice short bed stepside for sale, it was gone pretty quickly.
 

Bennyt

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I just bought a 1977 C20 and i'm trying to find a template to cut my frame does anyone have any suggestions? Been looking for a C10 short bed frame but most frames are 5+ hours away from where I live. Thankyou


Call MetalOx or Built by Brooks. I believe both sell frame reinforcements for C20's. I used Built by Brooks to shorten my son's C10 and it was very easy. Two hours to remove rivets. 15 minutes to cut the frame. 2-3 hours of drilling holes and an hour of welding. Very easy job.

I disagree with others as the Long bed frame is superior to the short bed frame as it has an extra crossmember at the rear cab mount for the split shaft/ carrier bearing where the short beds have just mounts similar to the front cab mounts. I would have preferred a C20 frame as they are about a 1/16" thicker/ stronger.

Additionally, I wanted a wood fleetside which only comes as a longbed so shortbed was not an option to start with.
 

DoubleDingo

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TubeTruck

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I drove a 10hr round trip to get a set of OEM fenders for my El Camino because I didn't want the fitment issues of aftermarket. Paid $120 for 2 fenders, a hood, and fender extensions (headlight bezels), plus gas.

Cutting a frame, eh, if it were me, buying a short bed it would be better than cutting a long bed. Especially if it were a daily driver or cruiser. My wheeling truck is a long bed that I'm going to cut down to a short bed if I keep it. The frame looks like a washboard so I'm not concerned about what happens to it.

So OP, sell it and buy a short bed. It will be easier and cheaper in the long run.
 

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