Longbox to Shortbox?

Question

I have a 1972 chevy C10 pickup its a great truck. The only problem is it happens to be a longbox and think the look of a shortbox is alot more sportier and rare. I was wondering if there is anyway to get new bed panels or chop it down, and somehow turn it into a shortbox.

Thanks for the help

Answer 1

You are going to have to shorten the frame in front of the axle, possibly relocate the fuel tank, get a bed, for starters.  Then the driveshaft needs to be shortened.

You decide if this is worth it or not.

Answer 2

There is a lot of work involved, but it can be done.  You will need to cut the frame, and the bed.

Trucks! on Spike TV did a series on the conversion.  The truck they used was a 1966 C-10.   Go to www.powerblocktv.com and check out the series.

Or you could do what I did, and sell you long bed and buy a short bed.

I had a 72 3/4 ton long bed.  Found a '70 step-side short bed.  Bought it and sold the other truck.  

Good luck.

Answer 3

The tv show that 69canam is refering to is also available on dvd throu the Powerblock tv website.

Answer 4

go to www.lmctruck.com they sell parts for old trucks,and then decide if its worth the effort,and cost to shorten the bed..me i would keep it the way it is for the money value of the original truck will be worth more if you decide to sell in the future...

Answer 5

What can I say, -- short bed trucks are for people who want to appear "big",-----and have no need for hauling anything !

Go by yourself a short bed pickup box and have frame and driveshaft shortened, you will also need different emergency brake "cable from handle inside truck",- and shorten hydraulic brake line to rear axle!! The wires you can fold over & "bunch", then paint to match and you will have a short bed pickup!  You might as well buy a canvas cover ($200 more) if you are not going to be a hauling anything anyway, - or more yet for a "hard case cover" ($500 more?)

Now if you can't do all this stuff yourself, I figure you could have probably have invested about the price of a truck that was built that way!

Answer 6

Absolutely you can. The BEST resource to 67-72 Chevy/GMC trucks is http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com  

Here are a few links from that website to long to short conversions

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showt...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showt...