planing on shorting a rclb i got to a rcsb jus wondering if antone heres done it? fuel tank seems to be the only thing differant, seen it done on a 2500 before.

 

My uncle has done it to an old 70 c10. You just have to be careful when you cut the frame 1. To measure 9 times and cut once, and 2. to cut the frame either in a stepped angle or a straight angle, not straight up and down. You want to get as much length in the cut to weld as possible if this makes sense? He also boxed the frame for about 18 inches where he made the cut just to make sure of the strength. Also need new driveshaft and possibly cut and reweld a box mount or two, not sure. If you have some fab skills and a good welder it can be done fairly easy, just intimidating.

 

My big ??? is why.. Just Y??

 

maybe he has a RCLB and instead of getting a new truck, he can do this for a lot less

 

Seems like rclb trucks are easier to find and less expensive, and as many know tho 68-72 chev an gmc rcsb trucks are rare now days and pretty expensive so there are a few guys that pick up rclb trucks from that era and shorten them up and end up with the same truck but half the price. Seems like a lot of work and screwing around on a newer truck, but if he already has one and doesn't want to sell it; its not too tough to do if you know what you are doing.

 

Could you not just move the spring mounts forward and cut the end of the frame off?

 

I don't know that I wouldn't hop on car-part.com and just find a short bed frame to move all my stuff over to. A complete new frame should be pretty cheap if you do your home work.

 

Not near as cheap as already having a frame in your possession. I'm doing some research on this myself

 

Unless you have a white truck, finding a bed that is in good shape is going to be a PITA, and $$$, let alone the mods needing to be done in order to shorten the frame up.. But good luck to you, get some pics along the way..

 

gm frames are made in sections, you should be able to zip cut the seam welds just before the bump stops and replace the longer section frame of the long beds with the replacement section frame from a short bed, no big deal, then get a drive shaft and a shortbox, and a gas tank for a short box, then good to go.