Shortening wheel base...

[stallion85]

Who has taken a long bed truck and shortened the wheel base by moving the spring hangars? I am removing the bed on the M1008 and have an ORD shackle flip that needs to be installed. Can you just remove the front hangars and re mount them and move the shackle flip down the frame rail?

 

[miniwally]

Can you just remove the front hangars and re mount them and move the shackle flip down the frame rail?

Sure can.

Just watch the lift height if you start moving the front hanger lower down the frame and the rear higher it can get a bit weird.

 

[Citizen Rider]

And to add to what mini has said, if the front of the spring is lower and the rear is higher pinion angle will be greatly different.

 

[85mudblazin]

I think it would be easier to just take a section out of the frame. Just cut however much out you want in the straight part in front of the front spring hanger, then just re-enforce the frame where it gets welded back.

 

[stallion85]

It was just a thought, I might tackle this after Blazer Bash. Right now I am slowing grinding and drilling rivets out

 

[crazyhole812]

i just got done with my truck. i had already bobbed it so i took a 12" section out of the middle. i made an 18" fish plate and welded it on the outside. i also made an inner plate that is about 4' long. it runs from under the cab back past the spring hangers. it is bolted in. if you want some pictures let me know

 

[dheavychevy38]

Don't mean to hijack but could u post some pics

 

[WRENCH-HEAD]

Shortening wheelbase

It is actually quite easy. I did it on my truck to reduce wheelbase and to mount some 63" springs at the same time. The frame is level for a good ways in front of the original hanger. All I did was remove all of the rivets and replace them with grade 8 Hardware when I remounted the hangers. As for the bed I cut the bed and shortened it by about a foot and then riveted the remainder back together. I can spot weld the rivets as I am now in the process of painting the truck, but they have grown on me. The following pics show the truck and then if you look close you can see where the old hangers were on the frame.


My only problem now is the crappy overhang, so next are rear coil overs and bobbing.

 

[MNorby]

a friend just moved the hangers and cut off excess frame on his k30 with a IH Traveller body. Wea easy. HArdest part was drilling holes to re-attach all the hangers

 

[crazyhole812]

i just got done with my truck. i had already bobbed it so i took a 12" section out of the middle. i made an 18" fish plate and welded it on the outside. i also made an inner plate that is about 4' long. it runs from under the cab back past the spring hangers. it is bolted in. if you want some pictures let me know

i'm not a member but if you want pics let me know [email protected]

 

[NJBLZ]

i just got done with my truck. i had already bobbed it so i took a 12" section out of the middle. i made an 18" fish plate and welded it on the outside. i also made an inner plate that is about 4' long. it runs from under the cab back past the spring hangers. it is bolted in. if you want some pictures let me know

I'd like to see some pics, I'm thinking of doing the same thing and making a flat bed.

 

[crazyhole812]

pics

got pics but need your e-mail to send them i can't post them on here

 

[NJBLZ]

njtsam22@yahoo

 

[NJBLZ]

in the latest issue of ol skool rods there is an article about this guy Eddie Paul, he was paid by pixar to make a life size version of the tow mater truck from the cars movie, out of a 1977 2wd dually big block. it was shortened 24". they didnt give much detail on the shortening. but he made some kind of eleaborate dollies to hold the frames together while it was being welded back together. they probably welded some plates to the frame also.

 

[stallion85]

Hey my kids like the pic....lol

 

[desertrat67]

I moved mine on my old crew cab. It ended up being 23 13/16 inches total move. Lopped 4 feet off the ass end after this.

 

[desertrat67]

I don't have a good resizing program right now, but can e-mail more pics of how I did it

 

[crazyhole812]

NJBLZ did you get the pics? had to load on computer at work and send them through outlook. i think it worked

 

[big dan]

Ive shortened my truck twice. the first time we took a section out of the frame so I could put a short bed on it. still wanted it shorter so we cut the bed 9 inches and moved the spring hangers. If I had it to do all over again I would have just bought a blazer and lengthened it with 56" springs which would give me the same wheelbase only easier. but if your going to shorten it I say move the spring hangers cause it was a little easier, plus you dont have as much to worry about as far as keeping it straight and breaking the weld.

 

[beater_k20]

would be stronger and LOADS easier to leave the rail intact and move the mounts further up hte rail.