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![Keepin' It On The Down Low ... And Quiet A Blue Oval, Abridged Title](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-title.png)
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ith our longbed-to-shortbed conversion on our ’69 Ford F-100 a wrap as far as the chassis goes, it’s time to turn our attention to the part that will really bring to life the transformation, the shortbed sheetmetal assembly. In the past there was no easy way to convert the longbed sheetmetal down to shortbed specs. Slicing a full 16-inch section out of the front bedsides and floor, as well as an additional 4-inch section out back, makes for a ton of cutting and welding, not to mention the grinding and sanding involved to get the sheetmetal smooth enough for body and paint. A challenge on the double-walled smooth bedsides to be sure, but grinding the two seams nice and smooth on the corrugated steel floor would be something akin to Chinese water torture. For most homebuilders this put the conversion out of reach as far as skill set or budget resources allowed. But thanks to the recent introduction of reproduction steel bedsides from Golden Star Classic Auto Parts, converting that longbed Ford down to a shortbox Fleetside is a simple matter of swapping a few sheetmetal components.
While this might sound labor intensive, assembling the bed and welding the panels together for our project F-100 was accomplished in less than a day. Compared to modifying all the panels that are required to be sliced and diced to take the longbed sheetmetal down to shortbed specs, this process is not only much faster, but will result in a product that is ready to send straight to the paint shop, with minimal bodywork required. Spending a little more money up front, while saving a massive amount of time, labor, and money on the back end, makes assembling a new shortbed out of Golden Star sheetmetal a much more sensible approach.
![inspecting each panel](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-1.jpg)
![placing the complete bed floor assembly on our previously shortened frame](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-2.jpg)
![the front bed panel is slid in place](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-3.jpg)
![The two stake pockets slide over the corresponding crossmembers in the bed floor](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-4.jpg)
![a sheetmetal screw is installed to temporarily hold the top corners to the front panel](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-5.jpg)
![Proper alignment of the two bedsides is reliant on the fit of the tailgate](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-6.jpg)
![A speed square is used](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-7.jpg)
![a simple ratchet strap is used to temporarily hold everything in place](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-8.jpg)
![a sheetmetal screw is used to secure each lower bedside corner to the floor](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-9.jpg)
![our sheetmetal assembly thus far](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-10.jpg)
![welding prep](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-11.jpg)
![ITGM Tech Center manager Jason Scudellari takes a couple measurements before attaching the wheelhouse panels via sheetmetal screws](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-12.jpg)
![plug welding](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-13.jpg)
![Scudellari drills a handful of 1/4-inch holes in the stake pockets, which will serve to attach each bedside to the floor panel](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-14.jpg)
![Before the front panel was removed, it too was marked for plug weld locations.](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-15.jpg)
![A pneumatic punch](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-16.jpg)
![cleanly knocked holes](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-17.jpg)
![the bed is reassembled](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-18.jpg)
![Sheetmetal screws were once again used to temporarily fasten the bed panels together.](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-19.jpg)
![The tailgate is installed, along with the necessary latch mechanisms, release lever, and internal components.](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-20.jpg)
![The wheelhouse panels attach to the bed floor in the same manner as the four surrounding floor panels attach](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-21.jpg)
![before punching holes on the panel’s flanges.](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-22.jpg)
![The panels are then clamped in place](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-23.jpg)
![before punching holes on the panel’s flanges.](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-24.jpg)
![a successful plug weld](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-25.jpg)
![our shortbed box is finished and the truck is rolled out so the team can take in the fruits of their labor](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-26.jpg)
![Tech Center](https://digital.classictruckperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ctp-aug-22-blue-tech.jpg)
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