'56 GMC Long to Short bed
 

What would be involved in making a 1956 GMC 1/2ton long bed into a short bed?

Re: '56 GMC Long to Short bed
 

some cutting... welding... rewiring... cussing you know the normal custom stuff.

Re: '56 GMC Long to Short bed
 

You mean just the bed? Are you putting it on a different frame?

Re: '56 GMC Long to Short bed
 

The truck had a 8ft flatbed on it however I was wondering what would be involved in putting a short box on it or just throw on a long bed

Re: '56 GMC Long to Short bed
 

ha i was just messing around.

if the truck had a pick up bed on it then they put the flat bed the mounts for the bed should still be there.

to run the SB you would need to take a section out of the frame then weld it back together. shorten the drive shaft or just get a new one. relocate fuel tank behind the axle. shorten brake cables and lines. remount the short bed.

Re: '56 GMC Long to Short bed
 

Can't you just relocate the spring perches and rear crossmember farther forward and trim the back rails too. The frame rails are parallel. Depends on your level of confidence, welding ability and if you want to see the welds and fish plates.

Re: '56 GMC Long to Short bed
 

The easiest thing to do is remove the difference in wheelbase from the frame rails just behind the cab going back. No tank relocation is necessary if you intend to keep the tank in the cab. The driveline will need to be shortened and you -may- wish to adjust the pinion angle of the rear axle.

This is a pretty straight forward mod on '55-59 trucks because the frame rails are essentially parallel and in the same plane (where you cut). On earlier trucks the frames grew narrower towards the front and on older trucks the frames dipped below the cab.

Fish plate and box the cut.

Re: '56 GMC Long to Short bed
 

Theres a guy out in Sacramento that will do it for $1500. If you want his number PM me. He cuts the frame and bed. I think all you have to do is the drive line and reflare the brake lines.