Why does everyone LWB to SWB?

[R.L.]

I like long steps, go for it and post the build.

[68/72 HotRod]

Wow, I wasn't expecting so many responses. Thank you everyone for answering my question

[Chops1969]

Man, I feel your pain. I bought a 67 LWB stepside a few weeks ago. I was going to chop it up for the front clip and cab for a SWB 67 I already have in progress. Brought it home on a trailer. Turns out the thing runs like a sewing machine. Everything on the truck works accept 2nd gear. Paint and body looked good. This weekend I washed it and it turns out the body is in great shape, paint even shines. Now what do I do? I feel terrible if I tear it apart. Heck, I think the whole truck is original. Has a 250 with a three on the tree. I think I'm going to lower it, slap on some rallys with wide whites, fix the trans and drive it. It may take a while, but I'll post some pics when its done.

[luisduran]

to me it is like a 2 doors vs 4 doors old car.

[weasel29gm]

The only thing I'm haulin' in my SWB is the cooler!!!!! LOL!!!

[67_C-30]

It all comes down to preference. I prefer shorties overall, but I also love some of the LWB's out there and on this board. My problem with actually spending a lot of money on a LWB is because of the difference in finished value. SWB trucks are always worth more if they are comparable in condition and options to a near exact LWB truck and they always will be. This is true with all years and all makes, not just these trucks. The reason is that there are many people out there that won't give a LWB a second look. There's a guy here in town a few years back that had very nice, clean original 68,000 mile '71 Cheyenne LWB that he tried to sell at local Jeep dealer for about a year and half. He wanted $4500 for it for and it never sold. He rounded up a pretty fair SWB bed (not near as nice as the rest of the truck) and cut the frame under the cab and made it a shorty. He marked it up to $5000, and it sold in less than 2 weeks. He told me he paid $400 for the bed and paid a guy $300 to cut the frame, so he technically lost $200 off his asking price, but he said he was getting was $2000 and $2500 offers for it as a LWB. That was kind of a wake up call for me, and I've hoarded SWB's since then!

[ChevLoRay]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

Never knew you could tell by the VIN.
Being a long/step, you'll get lots of nay-sayers.
Screw them... do what ever you want!

I'll give you this one. My damaged brain was saying VIN when I knew that was wrong. There isn't anything in the VIN to say what it was before it was cut, or stretched. It's only on the SPID that there would be a style number to indicate what it was before. So, nothing in the VIN says anything about what you have.

Thanx for keeping me straight.

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

It all comes down to preference. I prefer shorties overall, but I also love some of the LWB's out there and on this board. My problem with actually spending a lot of money on a LWB is because of the difference in finished value. SWB trucks are always worth more if they are comparable in condition and options to a near exact LWB truck and they always will be. This is true with all years and all makes, not just these trucks. The reason is that there are many people out there that won't give a LWB a second look. There's a guy here in town a few years back that had very nice, clean original 68,000 mile '71 Cheyenne LWB that he tried to sell at local Jeep dealer for about a year and half. He wanted $4500 for it for and it never sold. He rounded up a pretty fair SWB bed (not near as nice as the rest of the truck) and cut the frame under the cab and made it a shorty. He marked it up to $5000, and it sold in less than 2 weeks. He told me he paid $400 for the bed and paid a guy $300 to cut the frame, so he technically lost $200 off his asking price, but he said he was getting was $2000 and $2500 offers for it as a LWB. That was kind of a wake up call for me, and I've hoarded SWB's since then!

Its those young kids who have no respect for timeless classics anymore.

[rcrahn]

Not everyone wants a SWB. True, many do. Why, I guess they just want to fit in or to follow the crowd. Too be safe. Or they are completely focused on "what will it be worth in the end".

If everyone thought that way we wouldn't even be driving a truck. We would all drive a Camry or Accord. That would be the end of the story. And how boring life would be.

Myself, I like the LWB. Not only that but I like the C20 LWB fleetside. It has been a long road building it but fun. We (my son and I) had it notched and bagged (courtesy ChiefRocka) and it is now a smoking foundation. Yes, we retained the 8 lugs. Long and lowwwwwww. To go along with the heft of the 3/4 ton frame we added a 14 bolt rearend w/discbrakes and a custom built watts link. Drivetrain will be an LQ9/4L80E. NOW THAT IS BEEF. This will be our show/tow/ and go working vehicle. When we pull into any car show I guarentee it will stand out among the hundreds of look alike SWB out there. And that my fellow board members is in my opinion what this hobby is all about, being different from every other guy and having fun......

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

I'll give you this one. My damaged brain was saying VIN when I knew that was wrong. There isn't anything in the VIN to say what it was before it was cut, or stretched. It's only on the SPID that there would be a style number to indicate what it was before. So, nothing in the VIN says anything about what you have.

Thanx for keeping me straight.

I was bustin your chops and messin with you. Shoulda made it more obviouse. You are right though, the wheelbase is shown on most SPIDS when they bothered typing it in.

[68/72 HotRod]

Originally Posted by rcrahn

Not everyone wants a SWB. True, many do. Why, I guess they just want to fit in or to follow the crowd. Too be safe. Or they are completely focused on "what will it be worth in the end".

If everyone thought that way we wouldn't even be driving a truck. We would all drive a Camry or Accord. That would be the end of the story. And how boring life would be.

Myself, I like the LWB. Not only that but I like the C20 LWB fleetside. It has been a long road building it but fun. We (my son and I) had it notched and bagged (courtesy ChiefRocka) and it is now a smoking foundation. Yes, we retained the 8 lugs. Long and lowwwwwww. To go along with the heft of the 3/4 ton frame we added a 14 bolt rearend w/discbrakes and a custom built watts link. Drivetrain will be an LQ9/4L80E. NOW THAT IS BEEF. This will be our show/tow/ and go working vehicle. When we pull into any car show I guarentee it will stand out among the hundreds of look alike SWB out there. And that my fellow board members is in my opinion what this hobby is all about, being different from every other guy and having fun......

My other truck is actually a '72 C20 LWB Fleet that all i've done to is bodywork and primer. Its the truck I use to haul my '68 around. I've been thinking about doing the drop on it but haven't made it that far yet. But I gotta admit, I love both my trucks and wouldn't convert them to SWB for anything.

[Skirkpat]

Alot more people drive long beds, I think that would make them more popular, the Shortbed's supposed superior value is a result of the supply and demand since fewer were built not because they are more popular. If they truly were the "most" popular truck GM would have built them in larger numbers right?

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by Skirkpat

Alot more people drive long beds, I think that -ould make them more popular, the Shortbed's supposed superior value is a result of the supply and demand since fewer were built not because they are more popular. If they truly were the "most" popular truck GM would have built them in larger numbers right?

That's kind of an apples to oranges comparision. Trucks in that era were made primarily to use for work and utility. The vast majority were LWB's, so naturally there will more of them around, but that doesn't make them more popular. Go to a car show and somewhere like the Chevy/GMC Truck Nationals in Maggie Valley, and you'll see overwhelming numbers of SWB trucks. There have been several polls on this board over the years, and the SWB's always win the popularity polls. With that being said, these are just facts and numbers. If someone has a LWB truck and they you love it as it is, they shouldn't have to answer, justify, or defend it any way. Variety is what the world go 'round. Whether you like the SWB, LWB, GMC, Chevy, stepside, fleetside, 67-68, 69-70, 71-72, it doesn't matter. They are all great.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by rcrahn

I guarentee it will stand out among the hundreds of look alike SWB out there. And that my fellow board members is in my opinion what this hobby is all about, being different from every other guy and having fun......

Well said. That is the reason I'm building my '67 C-30 diesel dually. I wanted something totally different. It's a LWB, fleetside, and stepside all in one!

[STOCKISH]

They're all awesome, just build one. And please post pics, thanks

[Bob 68327]

Originally Posted by rob32472

I think most people would agree a swb looks better lowered than a lwb. If you lower a lwb it looks 10ft longer

I would not agree !! SWB is for someone who couldn't afford a whole Truck !! I say this in good fun so nobody get bent over it . It is getting harder for us LWB lovers to find good ones with everyone cutting them up to make SWB's . Bob

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by Bob 68327

I would not agree !! SWB is for someone who couldn't afford a whole Truck !!

That's a good one!

[Longhorn Man]

bob... you are still 6 inches shy of a real truck!

[Bob 68327]

Here's mine Long and Low and I wouldn't trade it for a ShortBed !!

[Bob 68327]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

bob... you are still 6 inches shy of a real truck!

I have my eye on a Longhorn 50th that I can't get the guy to part with yet. If he gives it up I will own it !!! Bob

[Longhorn Man]

THAT would make you cooler than me!
Stilllookin has us both beat

[bsgmcc20]

Its in the eyes of the beholder....... I owned a 70' swb . But now i own 1- 70' gmc LWB and 1- 72' Chevy LWB both C20's

In my humble opinion, The swb trucks i see are not used for anything but show here in Cali. But if you find a lwb he uses it for what it is a TRUCK. I was at a home depot doing a drop for work. I watched a guy pull up in his c20 lwb and they threw stuff into the bed. But it was clean, and had that used but cared for look.

So its all up to what the owner is looking for and what he wants to do to his truck.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I like them both but prefer the looks of a shortbed over a longbed. A shortbed truck looks more "proportional" to me.

I also prefer a fleetside over a stepside.... says the shortbed stepside owner

[breeh]

Originally Posted by rcrahn

Not everyone wants a SWB. True, many do. Why, I guess they just want to fit in or to follow the crowd. Too be safe. Or they are completely focused on "what will it be worth in the end".
......

... or maybe they just like short bed trucks

[enaberif]

I like my truck bed like I like my womans legs.. long.