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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 78 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 78 | I figured somebody over here has seen or done this before. I'm putting my '66 lwb on a '77 4x4 frame. I know I have to shorten the frame 5 inches. I'm trying to see the best way to do it. i.e. what type of cut, where, and what type of reenforcement to put on the splice.
thanks guys.
"The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!"
Elanor Roosevelt
1966 c-10 stepside
1966 c-10 fleetside
1964 c-10 fleetside
1964 c-10 short bed
1964 c-30 flat bed
1964 c-60 dump truck
1968 Impala
1969 Nova
1971 Nova
1975 LUV
1976 C-30
1977 K-20
1966 SS El Camino
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 | cutting the frame is not for the timid. I would box the frame if you do cut it. My truck is a totally different animal, but same theory. what if....... you mounted the cab back a little bit and the bed back a little bit more for a bigger gab between the cab and bed? just an idea | | | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 36 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 36 | Mine is just cut and welded and plated on the inside. Works fine BUT, I think the best (or at least better) would be to cut down to the center of the rail, then along the rail perhaps 8 inches then down out the bottom, sort of a half a swastika sorta cut. this would give way more bonding/welding surface than just a straight vertical cut like mine. If you want (and you're patient) I can take some pics of mine but it may take awhile. I'm working long hours these days and, unless it rains, won't have time for awhile. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | make a jig. The last frame I shortened was an S-10 frame. I made a jig that picked up the front half of the frame section and the rear half. I drilled 4 locating holes in the frame. The jig had 4 additional holes located at the new location.
I took a photograph, drew dimensional lines and measured frame height, diagnals, lengths, etc. Then using a calculator, I had a list of measurements to check everything.
I ground out the factory welds cleaned up the frame sections, then trimmed, and re-assembled the frame. located the frame with the jig, verified the dimensions, tacked the frame, re-verified the dimensions, then welded it up.
If you are not shortening the frame where the factory front/rear connect (middle of a c-channel section) then you would need to use fish plates for every splice that is normal to the frame rail
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 355 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 355 | Well not sure if this will work for mine or not but i have a 59 that i am using a 68 chevy frame for the wheel base is the same for both so just hopeing its going to be a simple mater of redrilling mounting holes and figuring out body mount block hights  of couse mine is going to only be a 2wd
1937 1/2 ton
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 78 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 78 | thanks guys, I like the jig idea and appreciate the info on the factory welds. I found this site where a guy was painting his frame and used an engine stand on either side to spin it. can't find it again. darnit. but I think I just might try it out to level out the welds. there I go over engineering again...
"The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!"
Elanor Roosevelt
1966 c-10 stepside
1966 c-10 fleetside
1964 c-10 fleetside
1964 c-10 short bed
1964 c-30 flat bed
1964 c-60 dump truck
1968 Impala
1969 Nova
1971 Nova
1975 LUV
1976 C-30
1977 K-20
1966 SS El Camino
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | Frame rotiseries are common
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 78 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 78 | well I guess I need to pull my head out from underneath the hood more often.
"The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!"
Elanor Roosevelt
1966 c-10 stepside
1966 c-10 fleetside
1964 c-10 fleetside
1964 c-10 short bed
1964 c-30 flat bed
1964 c-60 dump truck
1968 Impala
1969 Nova
1971 Nova
1975 LUV
1976 C-30
1977 K-20
1966 SS El Camino
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 23 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 23 | How about lengthening the bed of the truck or Use the extra long longbed on it I think they were 6inch's longer then the regular 8 foot bed.
Bob | | | | | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 888 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 888 | Chev man I did a frame flipper using two engine stands in a thread here. Have fun and good luck Dan | | |
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