The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline frame shortening

I have the chance to buy a complete rolling chassis from a 53 3/4 ton and have a chance to buy a 2 ton former log hauler 53 chevy. My vision was to transfer the cab from the big truck to the 3/4 ton frame and possibly shorten it to 1/2 ton specs. I went online and researched long bed to short bed conversions and found no articles on the AD frames. Has anyone tried this conversion? By the way, I am aware that I will need to find a front clip from a smaller truck. George

Put all those thoughts and ideas out of your mind. Just wait and buy a 1/2T and fix it up. I stopped counting all the issues of your "vision" when I got to 50.

That conversion is possible, but it is a lot more work than it sounds like.

What do you want to have when you are done? How handy are you with tools and mechanical work? Both will have a significant impact on what makes sense for you.

I have seen all kinds of frame pieces mixed and matched, so that came out well and some that didn't.

If you wanted to go down this path, I would recommend pulling the frame diagrams from the vehicle information kits and seeing if they could be joined reasonably.

I agree with the other guys. More work than you want to tackle.

To start with, the frame rear of the frame on the 1/2 ton is 48" wide versus 36" on the 3/4 ton. Just that knocks over a bunch of dominoes (spring mounts, etc)

I have very good fabricating and welding skills but assumed there was a good reason there are no videos online relating to converting a long bed AD to short bed . Conversely, there is a lot of info on doing the same to 55-73 Chevy trucks. The only frame diagram that I found seems to show that the 3/4 to frame is narrower at the rear. I have owned and enjoyed a low mileage 53 1/2 ton for over 30 years and have resisted selling it. Lots of new people moving to my area lately with lots of cash offers for my truck. I have turned down nearly 20 grand but am finally tempted to sell and start building another one. One other option I have considered was to change the rear end and front hubs to 1/2 ton and build a long bed 53 half ton, similar to the long bed 1/2 ton GMC trucks of the same era.

I have converted a 56 GMC 1/2T to 4x4. Using the 56 frame......and body of course.
Keep in mind for resale, a short bed sells for more usually. At least 55.2 and up.

So buying a 1/2T and fixing it up and adding 4x4 would be a good project. But TF would be easier than AD as far as I can tell, unless using Napco 3/4 T donor. I used "modern" axles, knuckles, 205 Xfer case, etc.

Two ton fenders have larger cutouts for tires!

Ed

I wouldn't do it. 3/4 ton brake drums are hard to find, kink pin replacement is much more difficult than on the 1/2 tons, and all of the suspension replacement parts are more expensive than what 1/2 ton parts are.
There is the easy way, the hard way, and the smart way, but the interpretation of these ways is up to who's truck it is.
You will have fun regardless of which way you choose to go i am sure.