67-72 With Newer Sportside Beds

[toomanytoyz]

The stepside bed on my 67 is pretty much trash, Currently looking for another for it...........

If no luck in finding a decent canidate Im going to look at going with the newer style bed, Any pics & or advise on this would be appreciated


Thanks, Rick

[mtndewmaniac66]

I have been looking into this for a couple of years myself, but the price of the 88 and newer beds were off the charts. Body lines match up nearly perfectly, only will take minor mods to frame to bed mount brackets, unless you have a long bed like me, then the wheelbase will have to be shortened. A pic of one will be on the way soon.

Here is a link to the pic as promised. Hope this helps get your motivation rolling.

http://www.hotrodhotline.com/feature...memor2_14.html

[Longhorn Man]

actually, body lines don't line up very well if you were to look closely.
This is a love it or hate it mod, I think it looks too funny personally. The top of the bed sits too high, the wheel openings don't match, the lower line is only close by steevie wonder's eyes, plus, you have boxy and classy up front with gracefull lines, to a bar of soap and funny lines in back.

[mike nutt]

here's a couple of pics of mine, but it has been highly modified. and the body lines match great , also you will notice that the top of the bed is not all up in the back window. not every one here likes the newer bed on our trucks, i actually did not use the rust free stepside bed for the truck , because i like to be different.

[blacktruck]

with longhorn man

[smitty62]

Mike;
I happen to like your truck, particularly the orange! Yes, we've heard all the arguments regarding this bed swap and yes, you do notice the lines being off a little except when some one does it right like Mike did. As for the different wheel well shape, well I wonder if we would be so critical if GM had made them that way originally---and don't tell me that GM don't make designing errors like that........look at the Avalanche or the SSR, for God's sake!

Mike, if you like it, I love it!

[Bob Moore]

Maniac - if you like it - dew it. Seriously those beds do not look all that bad. We all do not have to have the same truck. I am not particulary wild about "restorations" but I appreciate the work that goes into them. Same with 4X4s. Some people get upset when they see a "hot rodded" truck. I have a 67 C-20 with disc brakes, power steering, and a 454. Is it original? No - but I like it. Same thing with my current project - 67 swb GMC with 502 and 4L80E - but it's mine.

Go with what you like - Bob

[1969k10stepside]

Rick,somewhere else in Indiana there is a orginal swb bed for a 67-72.I know because there is another shortfleet in my small town and several others within 30 miles.Keep looking and you will find one.IMO the newer beds on these look like sh!t.I would drive without a bed or my old bondo bed that was once a nice shortbed before I put a newer style on it.I seen a link not to long ago about taking a 73+ shortstep and turning it into a 67-72 style shortstep.Maybe look for one of those and convert it over.

[toomanytoyz]

Thanks to all for the Replies & Suggestions, Like most have stated Im in favor of staying with original Look for the Truck............

Here are some pics of my Current Bed, I Guess It could be saved. Would still prefer to find one needing a little less Work for Now..........

Thanks, Rick

Each step has the hole in it from some previous Owner having Stacks on it

[1971custom]

here my 72 gmc sorry for bad picture hope to have done soon i personally like it for now but i might put anorginal on it later thanks enjoy

dennis

[bowtiehotrodder]

here is my

[68GMC454]

personaly i like the swap..if i had a short bed would do the swap...but to each thier own..its your truck do it how ever you want....but i agree your bed needs alot of work,,and you would be better off to find one that needed less time and money to get it into good shape..

[sick69]

I have to agree with Bob and Mike. not everyone likes this swap, including me, how ever that is whats great about this site and the common interest of these trucks. everyone has a different view of what they want theirs to be, and as long as the owner likes it thats what counts. I would venture to say that everyone here can and does respect the work that goes into it whether they like any given mod or not.

if you like this swap then by all means do it!

Frank

[jimmydean]

I'm torn as well. I like being different and I've seen a few that to me looked great. I'm not a huge fan of step beds because I put too much crap in the back and I need as much room as I can get (that's why I roll a long bed)

[toomanytoyz]

Spent a Couple hrs searching the subject & found 2 good link's concerning Subject.................

Feeling are very mixed concerning this Swap..................

Thanks, Rick

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=step+fenders

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=196299&page=1
&highlight=step+fenders

Hope i did this Right

[fine69]

I like both. My 69 is getting an original bed. You can find them. I bought an Oklahoma bed a few years ago at a swap meet. Wasnt cheap. But its what i wanted.
Do what you want. Both can look great as witnessed by the above orange truck.

[gringoloco]

Old pic of mine. It has a fleet bed on it now...

[jay6891]

I have a newer bed on mine also. Same reasons as you, original to far gone to save. Paid 500 for my bed in Chicago. Here is a pic of one version with new bed.

[Dano69c10]

I believe that everyone can do what they want with their truck.
If I was going to a newer bed, I would at least change the wheel openings, remove the rear step, and use some old school tail lights.
It seems like a lot of those trucks have some pretty expensive paint jobs, why not modify the wheel openings?
Just my $0.02
Dano

[whatnow123]

Originally Posted by jay6891

I have a newer bed on mine also. Same reasons as you, original to far gone to save. Paid 500 for my bed in Chicago. Here is a pic of one version with new bed.

This has got to be one the best looking trucks with a newer bed I have ever seen.....

[abadsvt]

Originally Posted by jay6891

I have a newer bed on mine also. Same reasons as you, original to far gone to save. Paid 500 for my bed in Chicago. Here is a pic of one version with new bed.

WOW! That is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I wonder if the headlights are original The truck is nice too

[Bishops Trucks]

Originally Posted by abadsvt

WOW! That is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I wonder if the headlights are original The truck is nice too

Hey man, your talking about my wife! Oh wait a minute, I'm awake, that can't be my wife.

[72armyswbtruck]

I love the swap as long as someone takes the time to widen the newer style bed so the lines match up with the body, it's pretty simple to cut straight down the middle of the bed and add a stip of metal to make the lines match up. JM2C

[bigblockc10]

Here's mine

[71 lowrider]

i am really surprised that nobody has suggested using the mid 80's "FORD" sportside bed.they are very similar,but the rounded wheelopening comes much closer to matching the fronts on these old chevys.i personally feel that the squared off sportside fenderwells look kind of mismatched on the old trucks.