What would you pay for this truck?

[Robmiami84]

Yes you cut the bed as well. I think Brothers Trucks has a video on it. The kits are in the 400 to 500 price range.

I just watched a video where they did it all wrong. They cut from the tail of the bed and frame. So it was a shortbed but with the longbed space between the cab and rear wheel. It looked terrible.

 

[Grit dog]

Long vs shortbed is really just personal preference.
In OPs case, if considering a truck that needs major work or replacement to virtually every panel and half the cab, turning a long bed into a short bed is just another task on the list and $500.
You have to be not worried aboot cutting, hacking, welding, drilling, bondo, time and motivation if you’re getting into a major rust/bodywork job. That’s where a long to short conversion makes the most sense imo. Less so than on a clean straight good condition truck. Again JMO.

 

[Grit dog]

But the short story is, the truck in question is a MAJOR project both time and money JUST to get a straight rust free body ready to paint.
Then add all the drivetrain and mechanical work, known…and unknown that is needed. On top of that, interior, trim, etc.

Makes that truck better to be someone else’s “dream”.

 

[Robmiami84]

Long vs shortbed is really just personal preference.
In OPs case, if considering a truck that needs major work or replacement to virtually every panel and half the cab, turning a long bed into a short bed is just another task on the list and $500.
You have to be not worried aboot cutting, hacking, welding, drilling, bondo, time and motivation if you’re getting into a major rust/bodywork job. That’s where a long to short conversion makes the most sense imo. Less so than on a clean straight good condition truck. Again JMO.

I can get a clean longbed for under 5k. The problem is I would be hacking up a good condition truck.

 

[Robmiami84]

But the short story is, the truck in question is a MAJOR project both time and money JUST to get a straight rust free body ready to paint.
Then add all the drivetrain and mechanical work, known…and unknown that is needed. On top of that, interior, trim, etc.

Makes that truck better to be someone else’s “dream”.

Though it could get that far I wasn't getting into this for a show truck. I'd prefer a floor I'm not going to fall through and doors that don't embarrass me. As far as drive train I get what your saying...but it's a 350/350 combo. Likely the most plentiful powertrain combo in the US. As far as my mechanical experience feels and sounds like every other American V8 with a blown head gasket. Could be a cracked head too.

 

[Grit dog]

I can get a clean longbed for under 5k. The problem is I would be hacking up a good condition truck.

And if your personal preference is a shortbed, then maybe that makes sense. One thing some seem to forget is these trucks aren’t rare. Yes there are not many clean unrestored ones in the rusty parts of the continent, but they are figuratively still dime a dozen some places.
Thus, unless one has an original pristine survivor or a meticulous resto or a pile of money in to a “nice” custom, the value is not diminished by some body work and whether the carpet matches the drapes…..
Hell, I might shortbed the 77 when I decide to paint it. It won’t devalue the final product. IMO.
I mostly said what I said based on time and effort. Straight clean bed is far less work to prep for paint if not cutting and splicing than a rusted dented bed. But if there’s a pile of work to be done and the consideration of paying big $ for new bed sides, then a bomber is overall less additional effort and/or $ to make into a shortbed.

 

[Tonimus]

I've cut a '72 C20 long bed down to a short bed. We just got a whole new bed. We couldn't bring ourselves to cut up the nice long bed. We're going to turn the long bed into a matching trailer for the truck. It's pretty simple to do if you take your time.

 

[Grit dog]

I've cut a '72 C20 long bed down to a short bed. We just got a whole new bed. We couldn't bring ourselves to cut up the nice long bed. We're going to turn the long bed into a matching trailer for the truck. It's pretty simple to do if you take your time.

Agree, and where I (and you) live, it makes more sense to buy a solid shortbed and sell a solid longbed. Because clean shortbeds are somewhat available and if one’s time is worth anything it’s a lot of time to cut down a longbed and make it look like it never happened.
Again, in the OPs case, different story.

 

[Robmiami84]

Agree, and where I (and you) live, it makes more sense to buy a solid shortbed and sell a solid longbed. Because clean shortbeds are somewhat available and if one’s time is worth anything it’s a lot of time to cut down a longbed and make it look like it never happened.
Again, in the OPs case, different story.

Where do you guys live?

 

[Tonimus]

I'm in AZ. You can generally find a decent short bed for around 6k if you're patient. A long bed can be as cheap as 2k in good enough shape with the same patience.

 

[Robmiami84]

I'm in AZ. You can generally find a decent short bed for around 6k if you're patient. A long bed can be as cheap as 2k in good enough shape with the same patience.

Oh yeah. I'm jealous of the cars you guys have. Pretty sure someome could make a business of just buying cars from there and cali and taking them down here to sell.

 

[TotalyHucked]

I can get a clean longbed for under 5k. The problem is I would be hacking up a good condition truck.

Not something to be worried about, there's a bajillion of these things, especially long beds. That's originally what I was shopping for, a nice longbed that I was going to cut down. Then I stumbled upon my truck, fell in love with the color combo and HAD to have it. Turns out it was a longbed that had already been cut down lol

 

[Robmiami84]

Not something to be worried about, there's a bajillion of these things, especially long beds. That's originally what I was shopping for, a nice longbed that I was going to cut down. Then I stumbled upon my truck, fell in love with the color combo and HAD to have it. Turns out it was a longbed that had already been cut down lol

Theres a couple of trucks that I've fallen in love with the stock 80s two tone. I really like the light blue dk blue combo and the light blue white combo. Especially with a little wear on it

 

[TotalyHucked]

Theres a couple of trucks that I've fallen in love with the stock 80s two tone. I really like the light blue dk blue combo and the light blue white combo. Especially with a little wear on it

Square's have to be two-tone IMHO, solid colors just don't do it for me. I originally was looking for the dark blue/silver combo but ran across my truck on FB marketplace, I'd never seen the dark/light blue combo in my life and had to have it. I've since seen quite a few, but that combo is still pretty darn rare

 

[CountKrunk]

Hot dog that explains the light blue I've found on my truck. I think I'll have to bring that back. Don't want to worry about changing the interior from dark blue.