to cut or not to cut
 

I have a line on a 1972 Chevy K-10 with 396 BB, but is LWB. Is this truck to special to cut down to SWB?

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You are ok!

K10's never had a factory big block.

I would have no problem cutting a long bed down.;)

John

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thanks ... I'm really perplexed with the 396/400/402 (or whatever the displacement really is) not being a factory install. What engine should it have?

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The 1972 would have come with a 350. How stuffed into the firewall is the big block?

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Attachment 1242185

Attachment 1242186

Attachment 1242187

It is pretty tight.

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Looks good to me!

Get to chopping! Be sure to start a build thread. There are lots of guys here to help you along.

John

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All a personal preference but I like 4wds much better in long box form. One the other hand 2wds have to be short boxes in my opinion

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Interesting how they have the PCV teed between both valve covers. The transmission dip stick is from a later model tranny. Are you sure this is a 402? Might be a 454?

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I haven't checked any numbers. So, you figure the 396 and automatic tranny were shoe-horned in?

It's being offered as a 396 for $7995, which I think is toooo much. It's tagged and licensed with a decent interior... all it needs in a completed exhaust and it's streetable as is.

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I say keep it a long box... I agree on both parts with 67ctener.
But if you do decide to go short box. I say sell the box as-is, then find or build a short box using aftermarket stuff.
But I really would keep and drive that thing as a long box.
Why are you buying a truck for more money than you want to pay, only to have to majorly change it just to like it. I would say that truck is worth $8000.00 as-is...

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What these guys are trying to say is that there is no such thing as a factory big block 4x4 in the 67-72 year ranges. That truck absolutely came with either an inline six cylinder or a small block V8. Someone has, over the years, swapped a big block into the truck. There's a ton of guys that have done it. They don't fit super well in that clearance at the firewall can be tight. But, they fit plenty good to make a nice truck. If you're happy and want a big block 4x4, that's the most important thing.

Since originality is already out the window with the engine swap, I personally wouldn't lose a minute sleep over cutting the truck. You just have to make sure you're okay with probably getting underwater on the money end if you ever go to sell the truck down the road. I'm not the guy to throw stones at that concept either. I've built a ton of trucks over the years and been underwater in every one of them when it comes time to sell.

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My vote is to keep the long bed. As far as resale on a cut frame, I'll never be a part of that again, regardless of how well it was done.

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I think the 4x4s look better with the longer bed, long beds have better proportions with the higher ride height

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Sorry but I don’t get the whole short box thing. If you want a short bed just buy a short bed if everybody keeps cutting up every long bed they can find eventually there won't be any more out there.
Personally I think short bed 4x4's look stupid. I guess they are ok on a 2wd but I still prefer the long bed either way.

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Yeah, longbed. More room to throw your snow mobile in when climbing that snowy mountain or after getting that deer from the forest.

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cut it if that is what you want
I thought about doing mine but when I go get firewood I would have to make more trips :waah:
nice truck by the way!

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Thanks to all of you who commented. It really helps to get info from truck guys who "have been there". If I do buy it,it'll be for less than asking for sure AND I'll leave it LWB.

Thanks again!

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I agree with the above, I think the SWB looks way better on a 2wd but the 4x4 looks better LWB.

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I just like longbeds. Never really cared too much for short beds unless they were dropped real low.

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Well..I disagree. Ive never seen a long bed that I like. Isn't it about personal preference? I say cut them all and when they are gone I would bet you wont find one person stretching the short beds to long and prices will finally level and equal out. lol.

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I personally love swb 4x4's and that's all I've ever owned. But with that said, I would never cut down a nice long bed, especially if you think your going to sell it sometime down the road. A cut frame just kills the value. If you buy it right, and plan on keeping it and driving it for a long time.... then go for it. Make it what you want !

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Well here's a double dose of stupid.:box:

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The fight is on! Can we get a poll going here to decide if girly swb's are more popular than the lwb's? :drama:

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LWB but it really comes down to preference ...:metal:

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Us long bed fellas are gonna be the rich ones after the remaining long beds have been cut up...my point is, I think you should leave it the way it is.

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Sell it and buy a short bed. It's not rocket science. There are plenty of short beds for sale.

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"I've never seen a long bed that i like". Unbelievable. It's hard to even comment on a statement like that.

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Its hard to comment on what someone else likes or doesnt, that was my point to this whole thread. If the guy wants it short thats great, those that know how much work it is or tips that would help him should offer that up. its the same old ford vs chevy..... vanilla vs chocolate. and as far as buying a swb if thats what you really want? we all know the prices are worlds apart.

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^^ One of my favorite trucks on the board. Incredible, I love it.

As far as the LWB vs. SWB it's your truck. Cut it if that's what you want but realistically it would be less work to sell it and look for a SWB .. just my .02

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That red SWB 4x4 is stupid AWESOME!

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I have to agree even though I don’t really care for SWB 4x4's derotoreut's trucks are really nice

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I think a good looking truck is a good looking truck... longbed or shortbed.
God knows there is some F-ugly examples of both out there.

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Thanks Jim. I appreciate the comment. I really wasn't trying to start anything, and I didn't want to get away from the point of this thread. What it really boils down to is personal opinion and what someone really wants out of their truck. Personally I don't care much for the slammed look, but again that's my opinion. The nice thing about this forum is that there are so many smart people here, with so many good ideas, and they are good hearted and want to help others out. However, the difficult part comes when people ask for opinions on personal taste. What someone likes will certainly not be liked by the next guy. I think each person has the right to do what they want with their own truck, without being chastised by everyone. When you ask for opinions you have to be open minded and expect to hear everything under the sun. ;) Oh by the way… one of my trucks is a LWB. LOL. :lol:

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100% agree with what you say. I'm not the best with words and even when I was writing that post I thought to myself what other word can I use besides "stupid" because I didn't want to upset anybody but I was too lazy to think about it and figured we are all men here and can take some strong language if you want to call it that.
Man it's been a while since I've seen your trucks I forgot that the blue one was a longbed. The blue one is a 2wd right?
I don’t have the time right now but ill send you a PM later if I remember.

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Good luck either way. The cost of cutting up a lwb will never justify itself while there are still plenty of swb for sale. That may change in the future, but for now it doesn't justify. A $6000 lwb is $10000 swb. Do you really gain anything by chopping up a lwb and praying that you know what your doing? Converting a lwb into a swb is not easy or cheap. Any man thar has the ability to do this conversion has my respect. Lots of tools and lots of money

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It requires more than a sawzall and a wirefeed. I read these posts and i don't know if people understand that.

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the general Public only want SWB, have been brain washed into paying much higher prices to be accepted with the "in" crowd.

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100% correct both can look good in my eyes i won't walk away from a long bed or a short if the price is right but lately around here the $ ain't right:lol: wow what people want for junk. But too i really don't like 4x4 I have one 85 4x4 lwb though.:chevy:

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going back to the photos of the 72 that I posted: doe anybody know the significance of the decals on the truck bed?

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T-72?