Longbed to Shortbed conversion

[HaughtRod]

I have a 1985 D100 prospector 2WD longbed, I want to convert this truck to a shortbed. Online I have seen videos and companies that support chevy/gmc conversions, but nothing for the 1st gen Rams. Anybody here done it, or perhaps know what the best route to take might be? I appreciate all you long box die-hards, but I have a long box '93 already, and I want a shortbed too. Thanks, Larry

 

[crazzywolfie]

buy a short bed frame/box and swap your cab over. about the easiest way to do it and you could restore the short bed frame befor you swap the cab over

 

[reek]

Crazzywolfie nailed it. even if you went with one of those companies that modify your truck and frame, you'd probably end up spending more on that than the truck is worth.

 

[nikwho]

If you can source a SWB truck, as CrazzyWolfie suggested, you're way ahead if the game, as you get other things such as E-brake cables and drive drivelines that are already set up for the shortened wheelbase. Then, cab swap your frame and bed back to the other truck, and with some sweat equity, you might get away with even breaking even, after selling the truck with your old LWB frame and bed.

OR, you CAN shorten factory stuff. Truck would be down longer, but its 100% do-able. If you are a competent (truly, honestly competent) welder, you're ahead if the game. If you had to pay for all of the welding, it's a money losing proposition! I've done three trucks. A '59 Chevy, a '66 Chevy and a '68 GMC. it's not horrible. Body work is the majority of the actual work. Heres my '68 GMC (wrong brand, I know) part way through the process. This truck got shortened on both ends of the bed, as well as tubbed 4" per side, to make room for drag slicks for. You can see the "scars" where the tbed was shortened. I can show how I shortened the frame, but will have to take some photos. This type if work is fairly universal across brands. Step sides are easier than fleet's! Fleetsides get a lot more labor intensive!

 

[HaughtRod]

Thanks for the reply. I am a decent welder(mig), so that part I have handled. I have an '82 shortbed that I can get measurements from so Im covered there. I see that I need to frame cut the '85 longbed as well as remove metal from in front of and behind the wheel well. I may need to source a smaller fuel tank-not sure if the 30 gal will fit after the frame mods. Drive shaft I can cut and sleeve, and a friend can balance it. Now to start digging in... Once that first frame cut is made I'm committed. I will take pics and prob post the results somewhere on here in a while. Thanks again

 

[crazzywolfie]

i would still recommend just finding a frame. in your neck of the woods it probably shouldn't be too hard and it would probably save you tons of hours labor plus you can probably part out or sell your frame and get your money back.

 

[reek]

if you do go the cut and weld route, I'd expect you'll be doing a lot of hammer and dolly with a mig welder on body panels. Even with the thick sheet metal of the older trucks, the heat with gas mix mig is still going to give you a bunch of warping. Problem is most of the bed body is double wall so hammer/dolly may not be easy to do. a few of the more warped areas I couldn't reach I actually ended up using my stud weld dent puller, over correct and slowly just hammer it flat as possible. I'm not saying its not doable but add more time/labor to get the sheet metal done. After my Tig broke down, I've been using my Mig. I did do my current truck body with the mig, just had to use way more filler than I'm usually wanting to use.