HOW TO: Shorten a Step Side Bed (and Raise a Bed Floor)

[@ciscolm]

Just found your channel and loved it your humor is what got my attention i retired after 50 years a body man and loved it all my life and still do some restorations, i did this same truck for a friend on the side, two years in the making and it's still complete about 25 tears later, i also hate the paint work, too much nit picking but oh so satisfying when people can't find the previous damage. I have a friend that gave it up to be a shop teacher and loves it, and makes one hell of a Santa Clause every year, just thought i would throw that in. Thanks i will keep in touch with your videos. .

[@GregWellwood]

My hat's off to you body guys!

[@Firion13]

Man you did some serious work. And good work at that! Keep it up!

[@maggs131]

Dude that was an awesome video. I've been searching for a year and a half for a decent c10 preferably 63-66 and my desire for anything quickly turned harder as I convinced myself I needed a shortbed stepside. This unfortunately is the most desirable style so rusted out dumpsters are going for insane money right now SO I've switched gears considering cutting down longbeds. Today I found a 69 long step and your video showed me exactly what I was hoping was possible. I know fender shapes on a 69 are obviously different but the process should be almost the same

[@GregWellwood]

The beds themselves are basically the same from the 50's to the 80's. It was kinda fun to do, it worked really slick. Good luck!

[@pd6637]

Motivated by your video- I undertook the same shortening only... I took a 84 C10 Longbed Stepside and cut down to a shortbed stepside. Not quite finished yet but all the cutting and welding is complete. One thing I did to better hide the work- I cut the bed 1" in from the inside of the tailgate and welded a piece of the bed behind it that also extends 1" further. This strengthens the rear bed AND is completely hidden inside the rear stake holder. On the front- after measuring what I need as a final length, I added another 3/4". This is bent inward (towards the other side) and allows for the front bulkhead to bolt to the pillar AND ALSO remains hidden behind the front stake holder! This allows for a clean top to the stake holders with only the middle left to address. Thank you again for your video- careful forethought and planning ended with a very clean nice job!

[@GregWellwood]

Very cool!!

[@myoneblackfriend3151]

I ended up drilling out the clutch head bolts. They did their job for decade. The drill bit did its job in mere minutes.

[@ABANDONEDCARREVIVALS]

Hey there! I am Don muir's son in law. He was just showing me your channel as i have been working to grow mine. Keep up the good work!

[@pd6637]

I've finished my 84 Long bed Stepside into a Shortbed Stepside truck due in very large part to your video, Thank you! I managed (through careful measuring) and the middle remained in tact!

[@pd6637]

I loved the video- I'm shortening a 84 Chevy Longbed Stepside into a Shortbed Stepside for my 78 K10. Very worth while watching. Thank you for the video- I've watched this several times and will again and again as I undertake this. The one item not covered is my shortbed will now have a middle stake pocket the other shortbed do not have. Again- thank you !

[@GregWellwood]

I shortened my daily driver '77 C10 about 7 or 8 years ago too, but I used a factory short fleet bed I found, which was easier than fixing the rust I had.

[@jubalwright421]

I can say you'll never have to worry about the trex bed, used the stuff to make stairs into my pool 4? years ago, stays underwater 5 months a year, still looks excellent

[@pawpawsgarage4641]

Good stuff, and if you are going to comment throughout the time lapse, I'd watch your video on paint drying. You sir, are very entertaining.

[@cgrocen]

Very well explained. You made it easy now for others to do the same. Thank you!

[@adamschewe7166]

Absolutely beautiful truck

[@dannygeouge8459]

Awesome work brother!

[@IowaMercMan]

Looks great! The time lapse was almost too fast, I would enjoy observing more closely how the cuts were made in the bedsides, and how it all fit together... always appreciate seeing more of this truck.

[@backyardbowties]

Awesome I think ill use the method you talked about where they cut it down the middle. My ocd cant handle the uneven pocket holes. Awesome solution for the stepside mounts though!

[@GregWellwood]

Could just remove the pocket and plug the hole. I mean, you've got the welder out anyway, and these scrap of bed rail kicking around now....

[@edwardvalencia291]

How did it turn out? I’m thinking of just cutting the 20 inches out of my 1969 c-10 from the center where most of the weld be hidden.

[@factoryratgarage]

Awesome job, looks amazing

[@patmurphy5237]

Great video 👍 I learned something and laughed a lot

[@patmurphy5237]

Truck looks cherry

[@zluca05]

Great build, thanks for taking the time and sharing. I found your channel this weekend and binge watched all 15 parts of this build, great job. You have an entertaining way of explaining in your voiceovers, enjoyable to watch. I have a 64 that I've started to assemble parts for, I'd be curious to know what your running cost is so far, (Truck, front end, steering rack, sheet metal, etc....), and what you think the final cost might be. I, like you, am trying to reuse as much of the original truck but some things are too far gone and are being replaced with crappy repo parts. Thanks again, looking forward to the next video.

[@rustysparks8645]

Awesome work! You've got my sub. 👍

[@davidbrown-55]

Very nice work. Great stance. Would have liked to see some of the work in slower speed. How’s the truck now?

[@GregWellwood]

Check the various videos in the description. Over the course of project and in subsequent videos I show things a bit slower. Truck is all painted, and going through finishing details to get it on the road.

[@PhilipJongejan]

Nice work! Nice to see this in video form. (53Sparky)

[@bryantspeedcustoms9795]

Love this video please make more content!

[@GregWellwood]

Hood repair, bed rust, and front fender repair videos in the works. :)

[@bryantspeedcustoms9795]

@@GregWellwood love the channel going to start filming more and posting soon needed this as inspiration just sold my 64 and have a 91 OBS short 77 step side short with and LS and a 55 Chevy truck short step side with an LS

[@shelbyadams524]

Great job

[@AndricLibreSinn]

@1:21. It's annoying when people complain about how you spend time and money on your own stuff that doesn't affect them. Heck yeah shorten it! Do what YOU want with YOUR car and YOUR money. Jeebs.

[@larrycollar1322]

The panel in front of the bed next to the cab gets really bowed when you chuck the spare tire into the bed and later slam on the brakes on your way home trying to miss a deer in the road. Don’t ask me how I know.

[@srchastain859]

Nice work !!

[@adamthomas4638]

That looks so good I can't stand people who get all into purist it would only be worth keeping completely stock if it was totally flawless but even then I would rather have what you did here than a goofy long bed good choice on wheels the fit

[@KCwant2fly]

Looks Good!!!

[@manytrickpony695]

Commenting.... because you want me to.... but, cool work.

[@mattchastain1770]

Do you have any suggestions on how to fix squished curls that are over the top side of the bed? Fortunately, not completely smashed, but has dents the size of small craters on the moon. Mine was a well used farm truck, and those took it pretty hard.

[@GregWellwood]

I've worked a few of them out reasonably well with a torch to soften the metal and various bars to push them out enough for "an acceptable level of filler." My tailgate is right knackered, and I'm debating seeing if I can fix just for the challenge of it, or just fire up the Visa.

[@heathwells3273]

Looks great! I would also appreciate a slightly slower time lapse, maybe 3x? But what do I know, I am just a spectator...

[@hermyherm365]

Subscribed buddy

[@RCTrend]

Looks awesome! What colour are you thinking of doing? I think Forest Service Green would be a cool choice, as that looks to be what it was last painted

[@GregWellwood]

Well it "was" a Forest Service truck..... All will be revealed in the Painting video, hopefully this summer. Or when you see it driving around town after it's re-assembled (grin).

[@matthewdupuis232]

New sub, here for the shortening. I have questions... Will contact you.

[@solmora6495]

Did you cut the frame to or it was already a short bed frame? Nice truck by the way

[@GregWellwood]

Shortened the frame previously. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYq4nWx_d8ybqs0

[@idriwzrd]

Why subject yourself to all of that inner torment when you more-easily replace a couple sheets of OSB every year, or so?

[@Darkconnectionracing]

Hi, how do I get a password? I can’t send a email in the contact section. I’m in the UK.

[@GregWellwood]

Look closely at the email and make the necessary changes. It's altered to reduce spam and slow down the angry people.

[@Rawnchy1]

Did cutting more from the front of the bed and less from the back affect where the wheel sits in the wheel well?

[@GregWellwood]

Yes, but if you look at a factory stepside, on the longbed the wheel is too far forward, and on a shortbed the wheel is too far back. The cuts I did result in a factory sized shortbed.

[@Rawnchy1]

​@@GregWellwood I appreciate the response! I'll be cutting my bed using your method in the next few months. Thanks!

[@Rawnchy1]

​@@GregWellwoodHad back surgery and it put a hold on my build. Finally got the truck running and now working on the bed. I was thinking about buying the replacement side steps from cjpony. If I cut the bed this way would the replacement steps be the correct length? Appreciate your help and your videos. Helped me alot thru my build.

[@GregWellwood]

@@Rawnchy1 "In theory," yes. I did inquire on the cutting lengths at the 67-72 Chevy Truck forum, and I used the numbers that consistently came back, but I did not have a physical pickup to directly measure off of by myself, so I had to trust others. 1) Order the short steps FIRST, and cut the bed to match, or 2) cut the steps you have and then you KNOW they match (plus, those steps are pricey). I'd love to see your progress!

[@Rawnchy1]

​@@GregWellwoodI have never really been about recording what I do. I just posted a short video as I just got it running. I'll make sure to take some more along the way. Steps are not to pricey. $140 for the pair. I'm not the best welder so I figured it would be easier to purchase the set. I'll try to remove mine and see their condition first. Thanks for the response 👍

[@ramrodou812]

absolutely awesome content and narration. well....except for the "ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round" thing. yeah, it's lost on me.

[@emiliohuerta2658]

I haw a Sawzall and a welder and I'm not afraid to use it.🥺

[@ritchiemccoy4306]

Dose anyone know how many inches to cut on a mid size bed to convert to a short bed

[@GregWellwood]

C10's have 78-1/8" beds, 98" beds, and 108-1/4" beds. Math will tell you how much to cut.

[@idriwzrd]

... unless you're drunk when you put it back together. Then it'll be a piece of cake... and not even close to square or true. But you won't care.

[@FACEBOOKS-WBDS]

When I did mine I cut the frame 13" becuase i hated the 1" gap between the bed and cab.