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Anyone ever rod a long bed truck?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by J Man, Jun 1, 2010.

  1. Don't see why not. You got to make the driveshaft a little longer, run a longer brake line to the rear, and run longer wires to the rear lights. Everything else is pretty much the same as building a short bed truck.
     
  2. IH TRUCK
    Joined: Jul 29, 2008
    Posts: 24

    IH TRUCK
    Member
    from d town IL

    0414101504.jpg rolling this 40 IH long bed
     
  3. ShastaStyle
    Joined: Jul 10, 2009
    Posts: 178

    ShastaStyle
    Member
    from Nor-Cal

    Here are a couple that I've come across and saved.
     

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  4. OldSub
    Joined: Aug 27, 2003
    Posts: 1,064

    OldSub
    Member Emeritus

    I've done several long beds, starting with a '66 C10 back in the late 70's. For a number of years my daily was a '72 C10 long box. My favorite has been a very non-HAMB friendly '89 Chevy 1-ton 4x4 that I used to pull my trailer. It was both very useful and looked great. Sadly it lost out in an accident a few years back.

    My current project is a '54 GMC 1-ton which didn't come to me with a bed. The factory bed would be nine feet long. I'm keeping the full 137 inch wheel base and haven't solved the bed problem yet. I will NOT be shortening the truck because I'm building the truck to pull my trailer and I want both the length and weight in the truck.

    Here it is as it arrived home a while back.
    [​IMG]
    Today the cab is off the frame, it has a GM 14-bolt rear using the stock rear suspension, and the disk brake IFS from a '72 C20. A Cadillac 500/TH400 combo is nearby. You can't really see all the problems with this cab, but I have another I may replace it with and a 3-window Chevy that I might cut up to repair this one.

    I'm building this truck to tow my trailer and want it well equipped for that task. I'd use the factory 9-foot bed if I could find a good one, but suspect I'd need to modify it because I plan to use a slid-in utility box to carry tools and equipment. I do have some ideas how to make a 10 year old utility box look right on a more traditional truck.

    Another approach I've considered are modifying the utility box to look like tool boxes setting on a flat bed and simply hanging the steel edges from an old flatbed on the bottom edges.

    My favorite approach, but clearly the hardest and most challenging, is to make a pickup bed based on the side panels from a similar year 1-ton panel. It would have a classic look but also be smooth sided. I have a parts panel I can use but am unsure if I'm willing to commit to the sheet metal work.

    So yes, I've run several and my next finished project will be yet another one.
     
  5. lazy j
    Joined: Sep 8, 2008
    Posts: 42

    lazy j
    Member

    Here's my '49 longbed 3/4 ton, has 1/2 ton suspension now
     

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  6. 100% Matt
    Joined: Aug 7, 2006
    Posts: 2,747

    100% Matt
    Member

    I think rake makes it or breaks it with long bed styleside/slab side trucks. Personally I prefer a little forward rake. I'm installing a 2.5" drop axle on my truck next week for that reason.
     
  7. 100% Matt
    Joined: Aug 7, 2006
    Posts: 2,747

    100% Matt
    Member

    thats cool!
     
  8. magsnubby
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 486

    magsnubby
    Member
    from Fresno,Ca

    Why would anyone build a long bed?
     

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  9. tjelwood
    Joined: Jun 27, 2006
    Posts: 164

    tjelwood
    Member
    from oklahoma

    My 50 is a longbed F2 now with half ton stuff. Have a couple of pics in my profile, but I don't know how to post them using my iphone.
     
  10. 510madmav
    Joined: Dec 29, 2009
    Posts: 814

    510madmav

    Thats good lookin!
     
  11. dt50chev
    Joined: Mar 15, 2005
    Posts: 596

    dt50chev
    Member

    Mine (in my avatar) started life as a 3800 one ton with a 9 foot bed. I cut 30" out of it and made myself a short bed. 9 feet is just way too long.
     
  12. turdchazer
    Joined: Dec 4, 2008
    Posts: 644

    turdchazer
    Member Emeritus
    from Spokane

    Heres Norm Grabowskis long bed hot rod...
    I love the front bumper it's carved with "Boogie till you Puke"

    [​IMG]
     
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  13. terd ferguson
    Joined: Jun 13, 2008
    Posts: 3,716

    terd ferguson
    Member

    Thanks! I sold it to a hamber in The Netherlands.
     
  14. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    Total waste of time... Nobody should build a one ton either.
     

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  15. onlychevrolets
    Joined: Jan 23, 2006
    Posts: 2,307

    onlychevrolets
    Member

    at the shop we are building a 53 International long bed for a customer, I'll get some pictures, We put a LS1 and 4L60 transmission it should haul ass.
     
  16. flynbrian48
    Joined: Mar 10, 2008
    Posts: 8,220

    flynbrian48
    Member

    You too, huh? ;) The DT above has a 6.0 (LQ9) and 4L60E with 4.10's in a Dana 70. I'm expecting adequate (as Rolls Royce used to advertise) performance. :D
     
  17. roddinron
    Joined: May 24, 2006
    Posts: 2,676

    roddinron
    Member

    Huuuuuhhh?

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Mr. Jean
    Joined: Dec 13, 2007
    Posts: 603

    Mr. Jean
    Member

    I've had both and think they they each serve a need.
    Have a short bed now, but no interest in getting a goat thank you.:D

    Here another one I've owned.
    [​IMG]
     
  19. Pooch
    Joined: Apr 11, 2006
    Posts: 867

    Pooch
    Member
    from Oklahoma

    My bed is long
     

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  20. 100% Matt
    Joined: Aug 7, 2006
    Posts: 2,747

    100% Matt
    Member

    A couple more:
    Javier's truck before the new paint
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 1, 2014
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  21. Brahm
    Joined: Oct 4, 2001
    Posts: 487

    Brahm
    Member

    I have not, but I'm in the process of it. My 52' Chevy is a long bed.
     
  22. ELDANGEROSO
    Joined: Jan 1, 2010
    Posts: 143

    ELDANGEROSO
    Member

    I'm almost done with my 59 Chevy 1/2 ton Longbed fleetside, will post some pictures when done....Sure is alot of Late 50's long bed fords running around here. Wish somebody would post some 58-59 chevy fleetsides.
     
  23. J Man
    Joined: Dec 11, 2003
    Posts: 4,131

    J Man
    Member
    from Angola, IN

    If I had one like that without a bed, it would get a flat bed. It would have to be a dually though to look right.

    I actually have a motor home chassis in the barn looking for a body.

    The one I have that this post id for is a '54 3/4 ton. It is so solid I do not want to do any cutting on it.
     
  24. Danimal
    Joined: Apr 23, 2006
    Posts: 4,149

    Danimal
    Member
    1. A-D Truckers

    I've still got that original '54 flat bed. I'd swap you for your bed sides. I also still have that '54 cab and big nose...and a '49 complete cab and short bed and S10 long bed frame and fenders. I'd swap the whole '49 for that 3/4 ton.
     
  25. OldSub
    Joined: Aug 27, 2003
    Posts: 1,064

    OldSub
    Member Emeritus

    My objectives for this specific truck make a simple flatbed the wrong answer on it.

    I own several flatbed trucks and having one more would not do anything I need to do. I also have a '54 GMC 1-ton dually Hydra-Matic truck. One of my visions of it finished is with a simple flatbed. In that approach it looks and basically is stock and isn't worked but rather is shown.
     
  26. J Man
    Joined: Dec 11, 2003
    Posts: 4,131

    J Man
    Member
    from Angola, IN

    I would honestly rather just sell it. I want to get going on one of the Ts and I have a hankering for a mid to late '30's sedan. I just figure if I can't sell it I might start messing with it.
     
  27. cj92345
    Joined: Jun 17, 2009
    Posts: 164

    cj92345
    Member
    from so-cal

    mine
     

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  28. mungle
    Joined: Jul 13, 2009
    Posts: 15

    mungle
    Member

    Not sure if my Elcamino is considered a long bed.but here's one of my 60 Appache
     

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  29. nwaringa
    Joined: Oct 1, 2009
    Posts: 173

    nwaringa
    Member

    Mine when I started.... workin' men didn't need no stinkin' short beds in the 50's.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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