'50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

My truck was basically finished, but I can never leave well enough alone! Several weeks ago I replaced the leaf spring bearing...which led to wanting to flip the axle... which led to wanting to make it a short bed! I'll probably end up painting it as well! Hopefully I'll be road ready by the spring!

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

These are the c-notches I purchased. They were supposed to bolt on from the outside, but I decided to reverse them and install on the opposite side to serve as a box plate. Picking up a posi from a 68 Camaro tomorrow.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Picked up the rear end, only paid $75 for it! Posi with 3.23s but will probably swap them out for 3.73s. Gotta swap the disc brakes from my old one. Also started on the bedsides. Surprised to find all the rust. Thinking about only cutting off 8" off the bad sides (9" off the frame). The extra inch will bring it a little closer to the back of the cab to fill that void a bit.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Well to my surprise the rear end was an even better deal. Turns out that it’s not an 8.2 with 3.23’s, but an 8.5 with 3.73’s. I mocked it up the flip tonight and what a difference! The bedside is just hanging on there to give me an idea of what it’s going to look like but so far I like it!

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Making some progress. Removed 9” and straight welded doesn’t the middle, then took the section that was removed used it to box that area.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Got the stake pocket removed and running board shortened. Some of the spot welds didn’t want to cooperate so I’ve got some holes to fill.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Mocking up the bed and see a couple of issues to deal with. With the axle flip, the rear of the fender rubs. I didn’t really pay much attention util now how much the back of the fender tapered.

I’ve also got to address the drive shaft. Besides needing it shortened, I see that it hits the rear crossmember & ebrake bar. I already had plans to remove the bar and reuse it for the upper shock crossbar. May have to notch the remaining crossmember.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

looking great! solving problems on the go too, we could hang out I think!

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Definitely!

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Been working on the shock mounts. Repurposed the ebrake bare to use for the upper shock mount.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

I once shortened a 3600 box to fit on an S10 frame. You're doing a nice job.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Thanks! It’s been a leaning experience for sure!

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Just about finished with the shock mount, still figuring things out as I go along. One of which is the bed sides. I've always thought there was too much of a gap between the cab ad bed. I left an extra inch when I shortened it but think it could have been more. Also trying to decide if I'm going to add the stake pocket and if I do, I may weld the bolts to the bed panel then weld the pocket to cover them. The I know I won't be able to get to the long threaded bolt at the top of the panel but I don't think that ones necessary because the remaining 4 on each side are enough to hold the sides on with no problem.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Still working on the bed. I tacked the nuts as I mentioned before with plans to weld the stake pockets to hide them. I want to get them as close to the back of the cab as possible.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Wither the axle flip, the old rear tank I was using hung too low for my comfort. I opted to use the mustang tank and with minimum trimming on the frame, it’s a perfect fit. I also picked up the Spectra internal pump/sending unit (SP169A1H) to run the tpi.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Finally had some base time. Went a different route on the shocks. Hey were below the scubline so I had to mount them on the leaf springs. Also got the tank mounted. Built a frame out of 1” square tubing and slid it between the frame rails.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Making some progress. I was a bit concerned about getting the bed liner I’d sprayed on it stripped off bur a 60 grit flap wheel made short work of it.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

looking great! keep it up!

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Nice job...Jim

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

A few more mods. Rounded the bottom of the stake pockets and filled the gap at the top.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Enjoying following along, great job, like the Mustang tank much better, thinking of switching to one myself, my Blazer tank hangs too low

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Nice work. The bed mods look great.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Thanks All for the encouragement. This has defiantly been a learning process. I've hit a significant snag that's has me wondering what to do. I noticed that there is a significant warp in the drivers side bed panel that I suspect developed when I was welding up the stake pocket. I tried heating and tapping it out but made it worse. Looks like I'll have to take it to a "professional" for some assistance.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

This is the old tank I got from my brother. He was going to use it in his 68 but sold it. It worked fine, but after flipping the axle, it was to low for comfort. It’s almost twice as tall as the mustang tank.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

What lights do you have on the end of the bed rails and how are they mounted? Looks pretty clean.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Thanks. I bought them on eBay awhile back. They just slide into the bed roll and fit perfectly. They’re LED and very visible. Here’s a link:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-Bed-Rol...-/193379897015

Mine have the clear lense but the bulb is red.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Wanted sonpmething different for tail lights. These are bagger led’s.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

very classy!

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Thanks Joedoh, I see Bickle is coming quite nicely as well!

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Aftermarket parts are hit or miss. My old hinges were chewed up so I purchased these. Kinda hard to tell from the pic but there's a noticeable gap between the tail gate and the bed.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Added another mod to my to do list. Got a set of Miata door latches.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

i saw you post that in the door handle thread and wondered if it was going to be part of yours. haha! neat stuff

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Yeah man, I hadn’t planned on it but I stumbled across the post and liked it and thought why not?!

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

we have a door handle thread ?
sure do...found it....
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...+handle&page=2
http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com/DoorLatch.html

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

This may come in handy as wel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmfx...&feature=share

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Not much progress but I'm finding more and more stuff to fix. This mess under the dash has to go. Got a new harness from Speedway, thinking about putting it under the seat for easier accessibility. I’m getting too old to be doing contortions to get under the dash! I already have the TPI computer under there now. May end up moving the Dakota Digital components under there as well.

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

oof thats a mess for sure!

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

No real progress lately but a lot of planning. I was looking into replacing the rear springs but after looking over prices, I’d be better off using a 4 link kit. There are a plethora of kits for the 1/2 ton but few offerings for the 3/4 ton. I see Fabquest makes one that interests me. Anyone have any experience with them?

https://www.fabquest.com/search-by-t...reet-rods.html

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

Just read through your build. Great work. What was the new axle out of? And how wide is it?

Re: '50 3600 re-do. Shortening things up!
 

It’s a 8.5 10 bolt posi with 373 gears. The person I got it from said it was the original unit in his 68 Camaro, but everything I find shows that car only had 8.2s.