Bed Swaps

[magwakeenercew2jh]

I know some people will slap me for this, but I want to make the long bed fleet a short bed. I have an opportunity to get a cherry '87 short-stepper bed off of a GMC for $50.

After the frame mods, is this do-able?

Anybody done it before?

If I could find a short fleet for a 60-66 that is as cherry as this I'd jump on it. Pretty sure it wouldn't be fifty bucks, right?

Thanks.

[jonzcustomshop]

It will work. however some stuff that you should prepare for...
you might need to redo/fabricate brackets to bolt it to the frame.
the 73-87 fendes are completely different, so in order to use the correct 55-66 fenders you will have to weld up all the 73-87 holes, and put new ones in for the 55-66 step fenders.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Not sure on the track width of the 73-87 trucks, but I am using a 72 step bed on mine.... If the 87 and 72 have the same track width, then it will be a bolt-on affair. The four bolts will line up perfectly.

[the lights]

i did this on a 63 a few years back and the steps on the 73- whatever are different. i had to fabricate a filler peice to connect the 60-66 steps to the bed. and re fit the fenders as mentioned in the previous post. unless your going to keep it as it is.

[kizer]

Heres a few photos from this build of the frame mod so you know what you will be getting into shorting the bed.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=333241

As for the slapping Ive thought about it a few times and then decided the Chevrolet Gods made it long and its going to live it long. Heck I'd go for it if you have the skills and the patience. I personally wouldn't go fleet to side step, but thats just me.

[jason65]

Another shlong bed is going to die.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by jason65

Another shlong bed is going to die.

Probably not. It is what it i$.

If I had a bigger budget and some more skill....Or is someone threw a bed my way. The guy w/ the $50 cherry stepper bed hasn't written. Maybe that's a sign.

I like fleets. My other truck is a stepper. I miss my '72 fleet. With friends, I built her. No biggie, but she made the Feb (I think) '04 issue of Classic Trucks in the Reader's Rides section. Actually, a pretty nice spread for that section with all the stats and a little story.

Alas, I put about $26,000 into her and untold hours. Sold for $12,000 when funds were needed. But the hours I had were about 90% fun...5% driving...and 5% pure hell....

[kizer]

Wow that is a clean truck.

You know I was just flipping you some grief about the steper.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by kizer

Wow that is a clean truck.

You know I was just flipping you some grief about the steper.

Sure. No problem. Love the comments...

[TwoFiftyShifter]

I was on a parts run and a guy had a '71 that looked JUST like that truck..... Had a 250 under the hood though.....