How to make a 1963-1972 C10 longbed frame into a shortbed using a template to make sure it correct

As a result, after years of service, many longbed trucks have the telltale signs of leading a rough life. Although longbed Chevy and GMC trucks have their followers, there’s no question that the shortbed versions are more popular with classic truck fans. Of course supply and demand being what it is, the more sought-after shortbed trucks bring higher prices when compared to longbeds, but that lower initial investment can be an advantage in some instances, particularly when an affordable Classic Performance Products (CPP) frame shortening kit is considered. While the thought of cutting a frame in two can be intimidating, CPP’s longbed frame shortening kit was designed with the doit-yourself enthusiast in mind with basic hand tools and good jackstands. A pair of simple templates are provided for drilling and cutting the frame and bobbing the back of the ’rails. Once the frame is shortened by removing a section under the cab, it is put back together with laser-cut C-channel reinforcements that are
bolted in place (CPP does recommend welding as well to ensure longterm structural rigidity). Included in the kit are step-by-step instructions on how to modify the frame and all the necessary hardware.Now that the chassis modifications are complete, next time we’ll wrap up our short story by showing how to assemble a new shortbed.
In the July ’24 editorial in Classic Truck Performance magazine, editor Rob Fortier covered the so-called controversy concerning the conversion of a longbed C10 pickup into a shortbed. As always Rob looked at both sides of the issue while pointing out that General Motors sold far more longbed trucks than shortbeds, something like three times as many between 1967 and 1972. Like many things, how pickup trucks are viewed today is far different from the ’60s and ’70s. Back then pickup trucks were simple, rugged utilitarian vehicles so it stands to reason that so many buyers opted
for longbeds due to their increased carrying capacity. As a result, after years of service, many longbed trucks have the telltale signs of leading a rough life. Although longbed Chevy and GMC trucks have their followers, there’s no question that the shortbed versions are more popular
with classic truck fans.
1 (CPP) engineer Danny Nix
positions the template that will
serve as a guide to cut a longbed
GM frame down to shortbed size.
3. CPP’s shortening kit can be
used to turn any long wheelbase
(LWB) 1963-72 GM pickup into
the more desirable shortbed
configuration.
4. To begin the transformation the original
bed and bumper were
removed followed by
the driveshaft, exhaust,
rear wiring harness,
parking brake cables,
and brake and fuel
lines. The rear suspension stays attached.
5. The rear spring
hangers are removed
by cutting the heads
off the rivets then
driving them out with
an air hammer; this is
necessary to properly
position the template
that will be used.
6. CPP’s dual-purpose
template is used for
bobbing the rear of
the framerails and for
shortening the frame.
7. Here the template is
used to drill new bumper mounting holes
8. After cutting the
’rails, an abrasive disc
was used to knock off
the sharp edges.
9. The rear frame hangers were bolted back in
place with the supplied
hardware-note the
new bumper mounting
hole in the center of
10. Nix points out the
front bed mounts that
will be removed. The
bed mounts to the rear
stay in place.
11. Gary Ash knocked
the heads off the
rivets holding the
bed mounts in place
and drove out what
remained with a punch.
12. With the back of
the cab supported
with a floor jack, the
1963, 1964, 1965
rear body mount bolts
and cushions were
removed, the cab
mounting brackets are
then removed from the
frame as they will be
relocated.
13. With the frame in
four points by jackstands, the supplied
template is put in
place. Note the four
holes behind the template where the cab
mount was attached
14. To properly locate the template it is bolted in place through existing holes in
the framerails. There are also locations for pilot holes to be drilled for the frame
reinforcements.
15. Using an abrasive wheel the frame is cut using the slot in the template as a guide
(the template is also cut at this point).
16. With a floor jack providing support, the rear
of the frame is rolled out
from under the cab.
17. A reciprocating saw
was used to make the
final cuts on the rear portion of the framerails.
18. To secure the C-channel reinforcements, the
previously drilled 1/8-
inch pilot holes are next
to 3/8 inch.
19. Using the supplied
hardware the reinforcements are bolted to the
rear section of the frame.
20. To properly position the
relocated rear cab mounts
the rear portion of the
frame was leveled (note
the template is marked for
1963-66 and 1967-72 cab
mount locations).
1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972,

[@autometaldirect]

This is great!