I'm slow to this party, but I agree with those who say don't cut it. If it were a '54/'55 1st I'd be one of those willing to swap a 1/2-ton bed for it, or a 3/4-ton bed except I don't have one of those...
I'll grant not a lot of people want the 9-foot bed, but there are more of us than 9-foot beds available, so you won't have any trouble selling it or swapping it to get something closer to your needs.
