I know someone out there in "HAMB land" has done this....so I thought I'd ask...maybe save myself some measuring. I need to shorten a '57 Chevy 1/2 ton long bed (Step side bed) frame down to a short bed dimension. I picked up a nice 1/2 ton long bed pick-up and found me a really clean short stepside bed..... How much longer are the long bed frames...what dimension do I need to remove from the frame, to make this truck fit the short bed? I bet someone has done this.....I can feel it...
I don't have the measurements you are looking for, but would suggest another approach anyway. On a '47 - '54 the long wheel base is 125 inches and the short is 116 inches. Your '57 is probably similar. However, on the '47 to '54 trucks the rear wheels are not centered in the fender from the factory. I don't know if they had fixed that by '57 or not, but if it were me, I'd drop the short bed on the frame, get the fenders centered over the tires, and then do my own measuring to decide how much to shorten it. I know someone who used the factory specs to measure and shorten a '75 Chevy pickup, and when he was done the bed was too far back from the cab. It never looked right. Make it fit where you want it, and forget what the specs were.
Thanks Oldsub...I know about factory wheel centers....after a few unpleasant experiences with subframes.... I was going to figure it out for myself....but some of the HAMB folks here are quite capable at making things "look better"...so I was thinking somebody already had the Right measurement. Thanks Kenny, maybe some measurements from a stock shortbed frame, to get me in the ballpark?
Rad, I have heard from a couple of guys that the 80ish Chevy pickup, short bed is about the same dimensions. You might wanna check the local salvage for one. They are pretty dang close I hear. You get the late model brakes etc and pickup the under bed spare tire carrier as well. Might look into it.
I have a '58 Chevy Apache 3/4 ton long bed and I am gonna make it a short bed hot rod if it kills me. But, I don't think I can help you the way you need it. ...... I put a 7' flat bed on the back of my truck and in order to make it look right, I am going to move the rear axle forward 6"...... But that is the measurement for my home built flatbed. I think there is something like a 10" difference in wheelbase between a long bed and a short. But I don't know exactly 'cause I'm using the "look, squint, tilt head, hold thumb up, cut and weld method"......
Hey Rad what do you need exactly? there is a 55 and a 57 short bed over here that i can measure if you tell me where you want the measurement from.
I've got a short bed '57. I think the wheelbase is about 114.5" right now. I've got a nova clip under it and I moved both axles about 1.5" forward to better center the wheels in the wells. I Z'd the frame 3" in back as well so the body lines would line up between the body and rear fenders.
The mag "Truck builder" did a aritcle doing just what your asking about. It's the April 04 issue, if you can't find it PM me and I'll send you my copy.
I bought a frame from Freds Trucks in Tucson Az short bed very reasonable. I think I paid $100. He advertizes in Cl***ic Truck Magazine. So much easier to buy one than cut one up call local junk yards. I wouldnt pay more than $200
Latest news update.........I actually have a chance to pick up an eighties..I think......short bed truck frame...for free.....I may go that route...I thought this would be the easiest route as Roothawg mentioned....not only easy to lower but better brakes and steering......And my 350 sbc will bolt right in......
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