So I recently got 4 gold capped Sylvania lifeline VHO lamps with the sun etch. I'm wondering how I'm gonna light these. I'm thinking of maybe converting a F40T12 fixture to VHO. I'm curious if most F40T12 fittings would even be long enough to accommodate the VHO sockets? Would I be better off chopping down an 8 foot strip light to convert to 4 foot VHO?

You would need a HO or VHO fixture to chop down as HO and VHO ballasts are taller than the F40T12 and slimline ones. As for lighting them up, if I remember correctly, you should be fine using a HO ballast to light them but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Lameee. Idk where I'll find a HO fixture that is 4 foot. Figured i could just chop down one of the billions of F40 fixtures. Oh well.

Nice finds!

A F48T12 fixture is the exact same length as a F40T12 fixture, You'd need to make different lampholder brackets is all.
A VHO (and most HO) ballasts will require a deeper fixture due to their large size.
If you're fine running the lamps at HO level, there is one model of 2xF48T12 ballast that'll fit in a standard 2xF40 strip. (I can see if I can find one of mine & post the model# if you want.)
You can also use an electronic VHO ballast (most will only run at HO level though)

Or you could mount a VHO ballast ontop of the fixture...not pretty or code-compliant, but it would physically work.

Note: for testing, a standard HPF F40T12 ballast will light/run the F48 VHO lamps just fine (at 40w ofcourse)