Damn that is some redneck stuff lol.. I can now see why you want a short bed lol

 

Took the bed off, took off the drive shaft, and dropped the tank today.




In doing this I found two new "problems"
One being I need new rear shocks, and the other being originally I was planning on using the longer piece of the two-piece drive shaft and shorten it. But, I found both pieces are two short (I thought I remembered reading it could be done, maybe it was a 4x4)
So now I need to figure out what I should do as far as a drive shaft.
Should I have one custom made or should I buy a used one and have it shortened? Are 1500 and 2500 drive shafts the same?

Now the truck will sit at my friends house for at least two more weeks, we plan on cutting it 4/7.

 

I called a drive shaft place today and got a quote of $300 to make a drive shaft for the truck, and I'm at about $260 to buy a used one and have them shorten it, so I have a few other places to call but I think $300 for everything new sounds good.

 

What size tube, and will it be balanced?

$300 isn't bad.

 

Thats not a bad price.

 

If I remember correctly they said 3" tube. And he said about $300, said $150 for labor and about $150-160 in material.

 

I picked up a tailgate the other night, should be cutting the truck on Sunday!

 

Got the truck cut and the outside of the frame welded, next weekend planning on cutting the back of the frame and welding a plate on the inside of the frame.
Hopefully going and getting the drive shaft made sometime this week.

 

Those frame welds don't look safe. Are you putting any kind of bracing around the cut/welded area? You could use the removed frame chunks as plate to strengthen the joint.

 

Yes we are plating the inside of the frame