New guy here, hello everybody! For whatever reason I've never bought an obs, even though I think its one of the best looking trucks made. I just bought my first one, a 1994 single cab long bed. Is there an acronym for that, sclb? I paid the ridiculously high price of $750 for this thing. But, the body is almost perfect. Anyways, I am researching what's involved in converting an obs long bed into a short bed, and I'm amazed how little info there is out there. My overall goal for the truck is a redneck burnout machine: something fairly reasonably priced, but way over powered and doesn't like to stay in a straight line. It's more fun when your car/truck tries to kill you for being stupid I think.
My point: I have searched this forum and online, but can't find some answers to convert to a short bed. First series of questions: What front leaf spring hanger do I use? The frame turns up right in front of the factory location on the long bed. If I simply cut the rivets and move the original mount forward 14" the mount will be several inches lower compared to ground level and the rear of the truck will be several inches higher. Do I need to buy short bed front mounts/hangers? Do the calvert front mounts solve the issue? Do I use the original mounts, but bolt them on the upper edge of the frame rail instead of the lower edge?
Next questions: Has anyone here actually cut their own bedsides to shorten them? Does anyone have the measurements that show the difference in length of the bedside taking into account the wheel well and fuel door location? Is the length different by 14" in front of the wheel well, and 4" shorter after the wheel well?
I want to fabricate more items compared to buying them. Call me cheap, but the fab work is what I enjoy. I'd rather cut my own bed apart and shorten the sheet metal than simply buy new stampings or a used bed. I deal with the public everyday, so spending hours grinding, welding, cursing, swearing, throwing stuff, re-grinding, and rewelding is rewarding to me.
My point: I have searched this forum and online, but can't find some answers to convert to a short bed. First series of questions: What front leaf spring hanger do I use? The frame turns up right in front of the factory location on the long bed. If I simply cut the rivets and move the original mount forward 14" the mount will be several inches lower compared to ground level and the rear of the truck will be several inches higher. Do I need to buy short bed front mounts/hangers? Do the calvert front mounts solve the issue? Do I use the original mounts, but bolt them on the upper edge of the frame rail instead of the lower edge?
Next questions: Has anyone here actually cut their own bedsides to shorten them? Does anyone have the measurements that show the difference in length of the bedside taking into account the wheel well and fuel door location? Is the length different by 14" in front of the wheel well, and 4" shorter after the wheel well?
I want to fabricate more items compared to buying them. Call me cheap, but the fab work is what I enjoy. I'd rather cut my own bed apart and shorten the sheet metal than simply buy new stampings or a used bed. I deal with the public everyday, so spending hours grinding, welding, cursing, swearing, throwing stuff, re-grinding, and rewelding is rewarding to me.
