The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network - 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question

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Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question

It really was. Dad bought it back in the mid 80’s and by that time someone had already messed it up like that. He bought it from some Hispanic gentleman I believe in Oklahoma and when dad got it he ripped out the shag carpet the guy had put in it and a new seat cover and drove it back and forth to work until about 1995 then my older brother and sister used it to go back and forth to school and then my twin brother and I got it and it was dads dream for us two twins and him to make it a short bed and make it as factory looking as possible. Sad part is I don’t think dad ever did look under that thing to see what a mess someone made. To him it was just a truck but to my brother and I it was our way of showing what a work in progress looks like. So we built a 400 small block and beefed up the trans and off we’d go 16 year olds to car shoes and burnout contests and drag races with the truck we built. In the end everyone has a story to tell about their trucks but this one seems to just keep going and going.

Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question

Cut it all off and start over! You could go either way leaf or coil

Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hidesertchevy (Post 8364571)

Cut it all off and start over! You could go either way leaf or coil

Pretty much thinking that’s what I’m gonna do. Does anyone have the dimensions or their rendering of where to cut and relocate for the shortening of the truck? I was going to buy the brothers kit but it didn’t explain real well on where to cut at and where to move the cab mounts other then running through a quick video

Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question

It cuts the frame under the cab area

Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hidesertchevy (Post 8364619)

It cuts the frame under the cab area

Yeah that’s the one I was looking at. I am going to buy it but I just don’t have a clue where they were going off of cause in the video it didn’t show much as in detail.

Re: 1972 C20 long bed to short bed conversion question

I just cut mine and used a fish plate to reinforce it, no kit necessary. 12” out of the middle. I cut just forward of the under cab VIN stamping. Move the rear cab mount bracket back 12” and remove the forward bed mount bracket.
The back is easy, just cut 8” off the rear frame horns.