Crew Cab Short Short Box

[skidder111]

Hey folks. I am considering building a CC short short box square. One catch: build a 5' 9" box. There are new GM half ton crews available with a 5' 9" box. This would become the wife's DD. I already have a classic 2000 CCSB 3/4 4x4 so a little smaller truck for around town might make sense. I picked up a loaded 1987 2wd Sub last weekend for $60. It runs great. The body is rusted beyond repair but the interior is sweet. Everything works. It would make a great donor. Thoughts?

[BigRed76]

At first glance the shorter short bed may look a little awkward but i think the truck would look neat, and it would be unique for sure

[knightowl73]

yeah ive seen a blue one on here before that i thnk they used blazer quarter panels to make it, it looked pretty sweet to me, a bt sportier in my opinion, and you could definately tell it wasnt just a regular shortbox

[b454rat]

Be almost like a suburban with no top.

[BGRAFX]

So you're going to cut 3inches out of a 6ft shortbed???

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by BGRAFX

So you're going to cut 3inches out of a 6ft shortbed???

nine inches...73-87 shortbeds are 6'-6" long

[RandyP]

I've usually had long beds, but as most when the extra cabs came out I went with short beds. Now that I'm in a 05 crew cab and have that little 5' bed, I totally miss the regular short bed. Really don't miss the full 8' bed except on rare occasion. Sorta sucks to have to leave the gate down hauling something as simple as a desk.
But, no doubt they look cooler being short. Is why I have two trucks I guess. One to work out of and one to look like my normal old hip self (yeah, that's it).

[BGRAFX]

Bigblock I never knew shortbeds are 6'6". So in order to this to look original, will he have to cut 4inches in front of the wheel then cut 5in section out of the rear of the bed.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by BGRAFX

Bigblock I never knew shortbeds are 6'6". So in order to this to look original, will he have to cut 4inches in front of the wheel then cut 5in section out of the rear of the bed.

It will be a whole lot cheaper and easier to find a long bed box to cut down instead.

This way you could cut the extra length out of where you wanted it to come from so you can place the wheel opening where you want it to be. That extra 18" of play room over starting with a short bed box could make a huge difference in the way the finished truck looks.

[skidder111]

In the parking lot where I work there happens to be a 2009 extended cab with the 6' 6" box and a 2009 crew with the 5' 9" box. They both measure the same from the wheel well to the bumper. The nine inches would come out of the front of the box. RandyP: I have the other truck for just such an occasion, as well as a trailer. b454rat: This will not be a suburban conversion; crew cab with a box. It would look more stock this way IMO. Thanks!

[bigblock73]

As Michael elduded to, you will need to modify both ends of the bed to make it look "right", just as GM did on these trucks from the factory when comparing short to long bed.

Newer trucks can pull it off because it is factory and that is what wer are used to, older trucks need more work to make it look right...IMO.

[skidder111]

I sort of did a photoshop of what this may look like (apologies to ojoe and his beautiful truck!)

[72BlckButy]

That looks good!

[Prerunner1982]

You will have to lengthen the frame as well..

[BGRAFX]

I was thinking it would look like this

[lolife99]

I agree^^^.
If you removed some of the length behind the rear wheels,... it might look alright.

[BGRAFX]

Sideview

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by skidder111

I sort of did a photoshop of what this may look like (apologies to ojoe and his beautiful truck!)

I think its looks great

[OJOE]

Originally Posted by skidder111

I sort of did a photoshop of what this may look like (apologies to ojoe and his beautiful truck!)

me like, going after the sawsall.

[skidder111]

OK. I am moving forward with this. The boss in my house told me to get 'er done. I am still undecided on the 6' 6" or the 5' 9" box. I can understand the concerns with the centering/balancing of the rear wheel well which were brought up fellow members. I agree that GM did it right with the original short box design. However, I do like the the idea of the slightly smaller size of the overall truck (with the 5'9" box) so copying GM's new truck design would save a lot of work on box modification. It would also meet our needs.
With the shorter box I figure the wheel base should be 141.5". The stock suburban wheel base is 129.5", so it may be possible to move the rear end back the required 12". Can anyone tell me if the frame height at the "box" area on the sub is same as a crew? (compared to the "cab" area). I have nothing to compare to. Thanks!

[BigRed76]

Are you starting a build thread?

[Kinghat]

I have been planning this for about a year. Here are a couple of photo chops. My plan is to have a truck exactly like the CCSBs everyone is building, except with 12" removed in front of the rear wheels.