The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Build a Longbed or Shortbed??

It's a common question which the answer almost everyone gives seems to be go the shortbed route. Considering we have a 41 Longbed on hand, it would seem to be much easier building the truck back into a Longbed as opposed to shortening the frame and putting a shortbed on it.
With these old Chevy trucks, and especially this year model, would it be all that bad having a hotrod with a Longbed, or could that even possibly make it look better and be more rare??? For a "Longbed" truck,, these beds aren't actually that long. Or should I say just look funny or too long like some, especially late model trucks look.

It's all personal preference. Again, most guys build a short bed because the proportions just look better, and they actually fit in their garage.

I shortened my '46 bed from a long bed to a short bed but kept the extra stake pockets, for a unique look that I rather enjoy.

I've seen longbed hot rodded trucks that look great, I just wanted the shorter bed so that's what I did. It's entirely personal preference.

I agree it's all about personal preference.

My 56 short bed was too long.
So I chopped 4" out of it and the fenders but kept the pockets for the side racks look.
It fits my 88 toyota much better now

bed pictures
Is this truck a Longbed or shortbed???? Half or 3/4 ton??

Measure your bed and compare with the dimensions on this page.

There was no such thing as a 1941 Chevrolet truck short-bed or long-bed.

There was a:
- Light Delivery Pickup bed (78" bed, 115" wheelbase)
- 3/4 ton Pickup bed (87" bed, 125 1/4" wheelbase)
- 1.5 ton Pickup bed (108 1/8" bed, 134 1/2" wheelbase)

If it's the 124" or close to wheelbase (I don't remember the exact number) then it's the 3/4 ton. It looks like a 3/4 ton length wheelbase and box. Click here to find the Information Kit for your truck, it has all the measurements for you to figure out what you've got.

It's the 125" wheelbase so therefore it is a 3/4 ton. Looks like were building a 3/4 ton hotrod. At least it's not the norm half ton short bed !!

You don't have to build it as a long bed if you don't want to, it's still your choice. I did the S10 frame swap to a shorter wheelbase and shortened the bed and running boards. Looks like your boards are already cut at the back of the cab?

I guess so. Looks like the boards from there to the fenders are missing.

Well being that we have to put a new IFS front end on frame etc. I guess shortening it a little bit ain't no biggie if we want to go short bed route. Only thing is I almost think this original bed and fenders could possibly be saved. Saving me on the build.

Just my opinion....Since it's a 3/4 ton, I think it looks good in the picture. The long bed matches the long hood. I would leave it as is, if it were mine.
But as everyone says, it's your preference.
I mean, you know, anyone can have a short bed, but everyone cannot have a long bed.

I don't get what you're saying about original bed and fenders? I shortened the original bed on mine but kept both stake pockets so it's very unique. I also shortened the original running boards. Bed length has no effect on fenders...

Just got my first stovebolt ('40 1/2 ton). I need to replace the wood, and want to make the planks myself. Do you know of a place/person who might have the specs for these planks? I need to double check, but it looks as if not all the planks are the same width?

Thanks!

You'll get better results if you post on a new thread instead of hijacking another one. I've seen the links before, someone will give you the link if you ask on a new thread.

Have you tried the search function yet?
I find answers and links going back more than 6 years.

I think we are going to keep the 125" wheelbase. Shorten the bed to a shortbed. And extend the cab itself about 6 inches. Making for a custom look and much more room in the cab for us 6'+ tall guys
I know I'm not an artist lol. But I made a quick sketch of how the truck would look with an extended cab compared to it having the standard cab. Let me know what you guys think!!
extended cab sletch

Well after more searching online obviously I'm not the first one with the extended cab idea they even make an entire extended cab kit. I've found one other truck on the web that has an extended cab and it's here
Custom Extended cab 41 Chevy

I've got a couple guys that can do his for me so it looks like now I need to figure out what I'm going to do with the frame and rolling chassis etc. this truck is going to be a lot of fun..... And money.

That one you linked to is an entire reproduction cab that's been stretched. I believe it's fiberglass, here's their full website. They also reshaped the rear fenders so they look more like the front. I don't like it, but custom stuff is very much personal taste.

Some guys stretch it so the door is the same length but you just have extra cab behind the doors. Too much hassle for not much gain for me. I fit just great in mine at 6'2", and it's very comfortable on long trips. Part of the fun and allure of these old pickups to me is that the cabs were much smaller and just the way everything was shaped and fit together. Upsizing it to more modern dimensions takes away a lot of the unique characteristics of these old trucks, to me.

Whatever you do I hope it turns out as you want it.

Man I actually love the look of that silver truck with the stretched cab not only is it unique and very few out there. But the extra room would be nice. Sitting in the truck now without it even being chopped yet just seems so tiny inside. I know the seats will have to be lowered but my head already almost hits the roof before it's even chopped. But I also agree that part of the history and look of these old trucks
So my question is. You guys don't think that if I kept the standard cab length, and also kept the long bed. That it would look funny chopped and dropped and still sporting the long bed??
I do agree somewhat with one guy who said the long bed matches the long hood. And keeping the long bed, and not stretching the cab, would save some serious coin to do other things to the truck.

Yes, it will probably look goofy, but to me so will a stretched cab. I think they look best in original proportions, or well thought out chopped proportions. It's your truck, and you'll get 1000 different opinions on whether or not it will look good. Look at pics of other trucks until you're tired of it to decide what you like.

Just a thought, gents .... Instead of cutting up hard to find 3/4-ton and 1-ton bed parts, why not just use 1/2-ton bed parts?

Just a thought to ponder from an original 1-ton guy ...

Thanks!
John

Have you tried finding 1/2 ton bed parts or even rear fenders for a 41-46? That's why.

1/2 ton beds are nearly impossible to find, as there seem to be many more cabs left than beds, and when you do find them they're extremely pricey. No one seems to want the 3/4 ton and 1-ton stuff, other than the odd guy. As often happens, when I got my truck it was essentially discarded as too far gone, now I get harped on for rodding it...

When's the last time you searched for bed parts in Maryland, USA or the current selling prices of trucks in Texas for that matter? IMO there is nothing that looks goofier than the resulting bed depth after an S10 frame swap. Seems like a stretch to even refer to the result as a truck.

1946 GMC 3/4 ton - S-10 Frame, 455 Buick, TH400.

Swap out the first component and it's just another hot rod isn't it?

I don't need to live there to know how unavailable bed parts for these trucks are. However, I know exactly how hard they are to find because me and a friend were looking ALL OVER North America for original bed parts for his 46 and couldn't find anything reasonably priced.

That's your opinion, and I don't really care what you think so it doesn't matter.


Obviously a deliberate insult with no value to answer the post, I've reported your comment to the moderator.

Dude... At least I didn't call it a Rat rod

You've deliberately insulted me twice on this thread alone, and both your comments have now been reported. You're trolling for no reason at all.

Why don't you all get back on topic? You all lost me after you started circling.

Peg

Rendering Drawing
Checkout my pic of my drawing(rendering) of the truck. We've decided swb shortbed for sure. No stretching the cab or nothing. Just going to shorten he bed, or get a whole new bed all together.
Looks like we need to get an S-10 Frame and get started

I googled and found some trucks that look similar to your rendering, just for a better idea. Hope it helps. The first two are stock roof height and the last 2 are chopped.

Truck 1 Click Here
Truck 2 Click Here
Truck 3 Click Here
Truck 4 Click Here

Holy crap man!! The 4th truck is almost EXACTLY what I'm looking to do. Only difference is I really want to lay frame on ours. But be able to lift it enough to actually drive the truck. That truck is so close darn ours wont be the only one

I'm glad that helped you out. When I had planned everything out for my truck including the look I wanted, I found a truck that was almost identical, except for a few items. After I finished mine I found updated pics of that truck where he changed things to make it even more similar to mine. Oh well, you'll likely never see yourself coming down the road!

I figured the 4th one was what you were thinking. I came back to update because I found a few others, one has a nice colour, the other two are the wrong colour but the one has the stance I think you want and the other is the best looking longbed Art Deco I've seen. Google images of 46 Chevy truck, 46 chevy truck blue, or similar keywords and you'll find pictures of truck until you're sick of it.

Truck 5 Click Here - Teal Colour
Truck 6 Click Here - Stance
Truck 7 Click Here - Awesome Longbed

Yeah I had looked at many pics, but hadn't seen the baby blue one with chrome grille like you found. Now that long bed truck makes me wonder why not keep the long bed again lol. I could keep all original metal and keep the value higher on this truck. If I shorten the bed I would think it would be better to just buy a whole new bed rather than shorten this stock longbed.
I'm really considering to go wild on this truck and showcase it at SEMA this year.

Don't worry about all original metal affecting the value. The value is more affected by the finished product. And you can easily keep original metal and modify it anyways.

If you're worried about value, then you might be up for disappointment in the end. Do it as you want and you'll be happy with it, value comes second, to me at least.

I'm still glad I shortened the bed. It's not really that hard, but it depends on how solid your stock bed is.

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Oh, I was just glad to see you all had gotten back on topic. That is my version of standing around with a happy face!