Help please - 56 gmc short box question

So i went outside to the garage and took some measurements off my fathers true short box 56 gmc 1/2 ton. I measured the back of the front wheel to the back of the rear wheel, perfect 114" as expected. Then I measured the door, 38". Then I went to the picture, and measured the same distances on the blown up pic, turns out the wheel base is just shy of 110" in real life, and the step and the box above it between the cab and fender is shorter than it should be. So not only was the truck shortened, it was shortened too much. It would be like driving a jeep. That explains why the truck has so much rake, the wheelbase is too short. To make up for that, they needed to shorten a long box cause a true short box wouldnt have fit properly anyway. This explains why there isnt any floor in the bed or metal bed strips to come with the truck. Also theres no back bumber and that is probably because there are no bumper brackets on the frame with the longer back end of the longbox sticking out past the fenders.

 

Understood... I cant really afford to either, but if it comes to it, dropping a bunch more money on shipping isnt very appealing right now and the best move might just be to cut losses... if it comes to that. If we dont get our money back we have some avenues that we will be pursuing. This guy owns a shop and builds cars and sells cars, so we can look into something that along that route if need be.

Of course right now, I dont want to tell this guy how i feel and about what i found out and give him shit because I dont want to piss him off more and tell me to go fly a kite. Im just gonna be a good patient lil boy and wait for it to be relisted and hopefully it will sell for a good price and get my money back.... then i will tell him what I think.

 

Thats exactly how I feel about the truck at this point and want nothing to do with it, even more so because this guy is an absolute a**hole.

Apparently the title matches the trucks serial number, which states long box. No, i dont know of anyone close to it. I think at this point I know enough about the truck to make me not want to deal with it, so having someone take a look would only confirm my findings. But I will have someone look at a truck the next time for sure.

 

Bro, I'm sorry to hear this. To bring this back to stock specs you'll need to "Z-cut" the frame and insert a piece of stock "C" channel framerail and then find an original short bed box to place on it. I won't ask how much you paid, but unless you're good at welding and can get a bed for really cheap, this could cost you a couple thousand easily. This guy really scammed you. IMO you have him on fraud and may need to pursue this legally through your local DMV if he doesn't fork the cash over SOON.

Did you copy the ebay ad? I would take screen shots of exactly how it looks and is worded. If he called this a 3100 or an orginal shortbed or original stepside or anything to that effect he committed fraud.

 

I would be talking to the law (if the seller is from Canada too), as you may have some kind of leverage there. I agree with Buzznut - you got lied to. Otherwise, I would just buy the proper length frame and bed, and move on. Good luck with it.

 

if truck is not in Canada good luck with any legal actions in the USA for a non-resident.
I know a guy that years ago bought a '37 Ford from an Estate Sale in Eastern Canada, he is in California. he ignored red flags, and even flew to look at car. but, talked himself into buying it and tried to drive it home. had many problems and had to tow it home. took it to a shop and they found many more problems. he tried to sue in Canada, no use for a non-resident.

 

i bought an entire donor truck from a wrecker for $300 and used the frame from it. My 56 was sitting on a 1982 frame when I got it. It's just another cheap option. I'm sure there are plenty of good donors sitting in small town wrecking yards in your area, you just have to look for them. But you can find proper used parts for a really decent price