Unknown Brackets under bed - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

stope4 · 04-01-2006, 03:54 PM

I have a 71 fleetside short bed. There appears to have been some brackets under the bed on the frame rails and frame rail cross brackets that I have no clue what they were for. Here are some pictures showing the cut brackets. In the first picture there's a cut bracket in the middle of the cross member and one on the frame rail. Can anyone identify what these were for.

This is the third cross member from rear of truck. Theres another cut bracket on the other frame rail across from the one in the picture.Here's a better view of the bracket welded to the frame rail.

The following is a picture of a bracket that was cut and is bolted to the frame rail in same place as the bumper brackets. There is another one on the other frame rail. Could this mean my truck started out with a different bumper.

Any help would be appreciated.

Rollie396 · 04-01-2006, 05:04 PM

Just a WAG but mebbe they were for a sparetire hanger?

Batmat · 04-01-2006, 05:32 PM

Another WAG, but it looks by the location that they might have been used with an old style trailer ball hitch. The old ones that fit against the bottom of the frame rails and were bolted (or lincoln locked) onto the truck. What you have doesn't look factory (for what my .02 is worth). As for the bumper, it may be original and they just added the pieces. Hope this helps

1LoC10 · 04-01-2006, 05:49 PM

maybe they were the old exhaust hangers?

matthufham · 04-01-2006, 06:05 PM

no stock brackets would be welded to the frame. the front shock mounts have a dimple welded into the frame, but no welds other that that i think. exhaust or spare tire mounting brackets it looks like in the 3rd pic, that's the only one working. it's not a bumper bracket, unless there was some aftermarket bumper at some time, but usually those have brackets with many holes so it can bolt to all varieties of trucks.

**Palf70Step** · 04-01-2006, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1LoC10

maybe they were the old exhaust hangers?

That would be my guess too. I found some on mine is a similar position, but they still had the tailpipe hangers on them.

qksilver · 04-01-2006, 09:59 PM

I had a set of dual exhaust hangers on a truck I stripped, they were riveted in. Factory did not weld brackets on to frames

1LoC10 · 04-01-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qksilver

I had a set of dual exhaust hangers on a truck I stripped, they were riveted in. Factory did not weld brackets on to frames

Didnt say they were factory....the trucks going on 40 years old...its prob been to 20 muffler shops in its day

jc · 04-01-2006, 10:50 PM

trailor hitch??

matthufham · 04-01-2006, 10:53 PM

with those first 2 pics now working for me, those are DEFINATELY exhaust hangers.

BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 · 04-02-2006, 03:06 PM

They all look like exhaust hanger brackets to me, look how close your pipe is to all of them.

stope4 · 04-03-2006, 06:33 PM

From everything I've read so far, I guess this is something I do not need to worry about. In other words, I'm not missing anything original.

04-01-2006, 03:54 PM	#1
stope4 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 434	Unknown Brackets under bed I have a 71 fleetside short bed. There appears to have been some brackets under the bed on the frame rails and frame rail cross brackets that I have no clue what they were for. Here are some pictures showing the cut brackets. In the first picture there's a cut bracket in the middle of the cross member and one on the frame rail. Can anyone identify what these were for. This is the third cross member from rear of truck. Theres another cut bracket on the other frame rail across from the one in the picture.Here's a better view of the bracket welded to the frame rail. The following is a picture of a bracket that was cut and is bolted to the frame rail in same place as the bumper brackets. There is another one on the other frame rail. Could this mean my truck started out with a different bumper. Any help would be appreciated.

04-01-2006, 05:04 PM	#2
Rollie396 someday it will be done! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lloydminster,AB. Canada Posts: 1,620	Re: Unknown Brackets under bed Just a WAG but mebbe they were for a sparetire hanger? __________________ '72 C-10 Proud owner of a million new and used pieces that used to be and will once again be(god willing) a testament to the term "they don't build em like that anymore. '80 LWB 2wd beater '67 GMC long fleet (cab donor) '66 long step (parked till it's turn comes around) '65 short step (parts truck that will donate it's bed and possibly frame to the '66) '06 Grand Prix wife's car (she hardly lets me touch it) my pics

04-01-2006, 05:32 PM	#3
Batmat Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 28	Re: Unknown Brackets under bed Another WAG, but it looks by the location that they might have been used with an old style trailer ball hitch. The old ones that fit against the bottom of the frame rails and were bolted (or lincoln locked) onto the truck. What you have doesn't look factory (for what my .02 is worth). As for the bumper, it may be original and they just added the pieces. Hope this helps

04-01-2006, 05:49 PM	#4
1LoC10 Insert Title Here Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 5,679	Re: Unknown Brackets under bed maybe they were the old exhaust hangers? __________________ BOBBY _69 SWB_ 1000 pics of 67-72's>> http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-72/?start=all <<

04-01-2006, 06:05 PM	#5
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	Re: Unknown Brackets under bed no stock brackets would be welded to the frame. the front shock mounts have a dimple welded into the frame, but no welds other that that i think. exhaust or spare tire mounting brackets it looks like in the 3rd pic, that's the only one working. it's not a bumper bracket, unless there was some aftermarket bumper at some time, but usually those have brackets with many holes so it can bolt to all varieties of trucks.

04-01-2006, 09:59 PM	#7
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: Unknown Brackets under bed I had a set of dual exhaust hangers on a truck I stripped, they were riveted in. Factory did not weld brackets on to frames

04-01-2006, 10:50 PM	#9
jc Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Jackson, New Jersey Posts: 1,560	Re: Unknown Brackets under bed trailor hitch?? __________________ 2004 Silverado 2500HD Crewcab 4x4 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 1971 CHEYENNE LWB (THE LOVE SHACK) 1967 c-10 lwb (THE FARMERS DAUGHTER)

04-01-2006, 10:53 PM	#10
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	Re: Unknown Brackets under bed with those first 2 pics now working for me, those are DEFINATELY exhaust hangers.

04-02-2006, 03:06 PM	#11
BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 Firefighter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Yellville, Ar, USA Posts: 1,943	Re: Unknown Brackets under bed They all look like exhaust hanger brackets to me, look how close your pipe is to all of them. __________________ '72 Chevy SWB 350 Auto '67 GMC LWB 350 4 speed '70 Chevy 4x4 Stepside 350 Auto Yellville, Ar. USA

04-03-2006, 06:33 PM	#12
stope4 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 434	Re: Unknown Brackets under bed From everything I've read so far, I guess this is something I do not need to worry about. In other words, I'm not missing anything original.

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