long to short bed conversions

ive got a 1994 chevy 1500 2wd that is a long bed. i would love to make it in to a short bed. ive done this on a 1983 S-10 but i had a short bed frame that was hit hard in the front end and i just cut the two a welded them together. on big deal it was easy. but i dont have not short bed frame for this truck. i do have the short bed though. i know it would be alot less work just to buy a short bed truck but i love see just how much i can do and i love building them not buying them. i saw links for the 68-72 chevy trucks but nothing on the 88-98 trucks. if anyone has any links or have done this please hit me back and let me know thinks alot for your help. Paul

I remember reading (in detail) an article in Custom Classic Trucks concerning just such a conversion.

Basically, you need to figure out how much longer the frame on a long bed is than that of a short bed.

You will need to cut a section out of each frame to the length of the difference you already determined.

Then, butt the front and back sections together and weld.

Then, take the short section of frame you have from your cut, flip it upside down and make it overlap the underside of that cut, so you basically have a boxed section of your frame. Make it straddle your weld evenly, and weld it in place. According to them, this is the strongest section of frame now on that truck.

now, your driveshaft and brake lines are too long, so you'll have to figure that out, but that's how to properly shorten a frame.

My first thought was, "This guy is crazy, doesn't he know they make the trucks like that?" But, I see you just like doing this kind of thing. Heck of a hobby man, but everybody has their own. If you decide to do it, post pics, I'd like to see that. Good luck.

Alter brake lines and fuel lines comes to mind.

Gosh, I just can't envision the viability of going to all that work.

Is the frame meat-treated? Can you safely weld that frame and know for sure it is safe?

Personally, I would simply sell the long-bed and go buy a short-bed.

Use all that monet and time saved and use it to repair/update/maintain your newly-bought short-bed.

But, you may be a glutton for punishment. Don't let my opinion give a moment's thought to not do what you wanna' do!!!!!!

I had a 92 C1500 Long bed that I always wanted to shorten but I always worried that it would make the frame too weak, I also had the thought of taking 2 stepside shortbeds and cut and weld them into a longbed stepside, something no one else would have, but theres probably good reason they didnt do that, probably would look too wierd. Post pics if you go through with it, sounds like a helluva project!

the easiest way to do it is to buy a for sale sign and put it on the windshield then buy one with a short bed

Alter brake lines and fuel lines comes to mind.

Gosh, I just can't envision the viability of going to all that work.

Is the frame meat-treated? Can you safely weld that frame and know for sure it is safe?

Personally, I would simply sell the long-bed and go buy a short-bed.

Use all that monet and time saved and use it to repair/update/maintain your newly-bought short-bed.

But, you may be a glutton for punishment. Don't let my opinion give a moment's thought to not do what you wanna' do!!!!!!

According to the magazine, if the frame shortening was done the way I described, the frame is the strongest at the point where it gets boxed.