I have a 97 F150 XL, with an ex cab and an ex bed, but the bed is way bigger than what I want, and I was wondering if it would be possible for me to switch that bed out with a stepside? And if it is possible how hard would it be? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

I believe the ext bed makes a lwb truck, so the frame is longer than that of a 6' bed or a stepside bed. So, you would probably have to cut the frame, shorten it, weld it(safe?) and deal with things like the fuel lines, driveshaft, brake lines, ect beign too long. I would just stick with the long wheel base and keep and eye out for a supercrew, keeping your truck unmolested is sometimes a good thing.

 

The cost of putting flareside bed on and longbed truck would be about 3 times what your truck is worth and that's if you did all the labor.

The difference between your longbed (8ft) and a flareside bed (6.5ft) is 18 inchs.

That whole 18 inch differnce is between the cab and the axle.
The length from the axle to tailgate is the same on both trucks.
The wheelwells are the same distance from the axle to the tailgate on both trucks.

So, if you just remove your longbed and slap on a flareside bed, there will be an 18 inch gap between the cab and bed.
The truck won't be any shorter, same parking problems or whatever the problem is.

The only way to do it and get a finished product is the way joschmo86 outlined above, replace everything under the truck (smaller gas tank, new driveshaft, cut frame, etc, etc....). Basically cutting out the middle of the truck and glueing it back toigether.

If you do it, take pictures along the way.