LFD's low buck truck build!

[msgross]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

Here we are at 3hr 20min With a little push and pull as the sides went on the body line is perfect! Time for lunch and then the front!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

I can't even make a mess in 3 hours, much less cut a bed! nice...

[Hart_Rod]

Why don't you leave it like that, it looks pretty cool.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Why don't you leave it like that, it looks pretty cool. :P

It reminds me of how Ford does their longbed trucks.

[Bob Moore]

One of my buddys did the front cut first and put the bed back together for mock-up purposes without cutting the back and it looked great. It was almost a disappointment when he finally did the back cut.

Somebody else here in town cut well over 12 inches out of the back only. Nothing was done in front of the rear wheels. It looked terrible. Looked like a stubbed nose in reverse. It was ugly. But somebody did it on purpose.

[CHYNSPR]

Unreal

[cheyenne10]

I finally figured out the blue piece. That must be the blue taped piece that you wanted to remove and used as a cut line I assume allowing for cut thickness. Plasma cutter, grinder, saw or ? I can't wait for pics.

[Rokcrln]

LFD's LWB to SWB in one simple cut!
Yea right..

Well I had an idea what I was getting my self into but still had my reservations about it. Once I got into it and figured out how I was going to go about it I found it was fairly easy and went real smooth.

First thing is to remove your bumper and mark the holes that the bolts go thru for a later step. Then remove any trim that you may have on the truck. Pull off the tailgate as well to lighten things up.

You will be taking 8" off teh back end and 12" out of the front of the bed for a total of 20".

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

Next you need to lay out for your cuts. I came 8 3/4" forward of the rear stake pocket and then 8" past that. Then use a square and transfer the marks down to the bed floor. I then used a 6' level for a straite edge and scribed lines accross the bed floor. Now take some scrap metal and put in a brace from side to side and one at an angle from top to bottom to keep the bed side from moving. I set this about 5" past my last cut mark so it will be left on the bed once I cut the tail section and the 8" srip out. The end of the bed will keep its shape and line right back up as long as their is no damage to begine with.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

I use 2" painter tape for laying out large cuts like this. Just put the tape on nice and flat and it will follow the body lines then place the next piece right up to the edge of the first one. Repeat this 2 more times and you will end up with just under 8" ( I guess the tape is a hair under 2"). I used a 4" cut off wheel that is 1/16" thick. Now when you start your cut just keep the blade right along the out side edge of the tape. The more carefull you are here the faster the next few steps will be. I found it was easier to first cut the inside first then the out side. Once you have cut it all apart then remove the bed bolts, unhook the wiring and lift it off.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

Now repeat and remove the next section of bed that can be tossed in the garbage. Next you will need to layout the new marks on the frame for the bumper bolts, bed mount and the new end of the frame. Drill out all these holes to the proper size and then cut off the end of the frame and get it out of your way. I used some pieces of angle and a few clamps to hold the bed end in place while I put the bed bolts back in place. But first I took a small grinder and just removed the paint off the edges with out removing any metal.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[Rokcrln]

Well I only had a few minutes tonight to work in the shop but I had enough time to build 2 more steel saw horses so I will pull the bed in the next day or so to start checking the frame and getting my next mods lined up. It will include a gas tank, air bags just for load leveling, compressor and tank (pulling into a station with a trailer is a pain!), shorten the frame 12", brake lines and Driveline than new exhaust!

Stay tuned..

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[drman929]

Very nice work. Hey Bob, you didn't happen do get any pics of your buddy's truck with the front cut alone did you? I've been considering doing that for a while and would like to see a real example.

[IvelDesigns]

great posts man. you make it look really simple to do.

question: why do you have to jog your cut line on both sides of the bed? I understand the gas door side, but couldn't you keep the other side straight?

again, great work. I'm sure there are many people here that will find these last few posts, and the entire thread very useful!

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by IvelDesigns

question: why do you have to jog your cut line on both sides of the bed? I understand the gas door side, but couldn't you keep the other side straight?

Simple I had a gas door on both side's

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[PBFAB.COM]

Not bad for an old guy!!!!!

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

Not bad for an old guy!!!!!

The way I see it is, I woke up this morning so I already had a good start to my day so why not try somthing new

You young kids waist way to much time on these computer thingys. Get a job, make somthing of your life!!!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

Get a job, make somthing of your life!!!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

My mom used to say the same thing!

[IvelDesigns]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

Simple I had a gas door on both side's

Kevin
LFD Inc.

ahhh ok.... i didn't see the P side one when i first looked at the pics. After a closer look, i see what appears to be door #2 under the painters tape.

[brak]

first off, let me say Thank You, as this is something i've been considering, (due to the shortage and cost of SWB bed sides) But i hadn't seen anything with this much detail...

you're posts leave me with a question though...
would there be any special considerations to be made if the bedsides are off the truck? would they be more prone to warping?

I'm not cutting the floor, and will end up completely dissasembling the bed for storage purposes, and am not sure if i should cut them before removal.

Thanks for the great info, as always

[Rokcrln]

I found it very easy to do them while they wer still bolted to the head board, floor and while the floor was bolted to the frame. If they were not bolted down I would think you will have some problems. Between the head board, wheel tubs and rear posts it makes for a very solid system so cutting it all loose could move around a bit. Good luck.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[brak]

Originally Posted by Rokcrln

I found it very easy to do them while they wer still bolted to the head board, floor and while the floor was bolted to the frame. If they were not bolted down I would think you will have some problems. Between the head board, wheel tubs and rear posts it makes for a very solid system so cutting it all loose could move around a bit. Good luck.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

That's kinda what i figured.

Thanks

[67ChevyRedneck]

Ummmm, awesome Kevin!

[faribran]

Kevin,
i can only say good things about your work.... but i can say "better" things
about the fact that you share..

I have done this with a Circular saw...... i would bet the circular saw is faster.. but sure makes a lot of noise....
i like the way u did it..
thanks

Rich

[brak]

Originally Posted by faribran

I have done this with a Circular saw......

wow...
I don't think i have the cajones to go near my truck with one o dem spinny saws!!!

[watahyahknow]

i used an old cirulair with a anglegrinderdisk in it to cut up caravans metal copper wood doesnt matter it goes trough , jou do need to presss down on it or it wil try to push itself out