47-54 1 ton truck owners, I need 9' bed measurements!

[65Ch3v3LL3]

Hey guys. I'm new on the board here. I just purchased a 52 GMC 1 ton truck but it just has a flat bed on the back. I know you can't order reproduction 9' bed sides so I'm planning on building my own. I can order the stake pockets individually and everything else seems to be the same or close enough on the regular beds. What I need is some measurements from those of you that have a 9' bed. I've looked around and just can't seem to find one of these for sale or even anyone that has one so if you can help me out that would be great. So what I need are the following:

1. Total length of bed side
2. Measurements for the center of the 4 stake pocket holes starting from the cab side working back to the tailgate
3. Height of the bedside, from bottom to the bend. I think this is the same as the regular beds but just in case

What I plan on doing is just shearing and bending some 14gauge steel for the sides. I'll add the curved edge with some pipe welded on. Then it should just be a matter of adding the stake pockets, cutting the pocket holes, cutting the fender holes, and then assembling the bed.

So if you can help me out that would be great. I'm currently working in Afghanistan so I can't really get out there and make any measurements, but I would like to get parts on the way so that when I get home I'm ready to get this thing going.

Plans for the truck right now call for a 14 bolt rear from a 3/4 ton truck, Duramax and Allison transmission, and possibly grafting the 3/4 ton IFS onto the stock frame but that's going to take a bit more research. I'm picking up a 05 2500HD as a donor.

Tim

[OrrieG]

Take a look at the manual site in my signature. you will land on a 56 truck page. Scroll down to year index and pick your year. It might have the dims you need.

[65Ch3v3LL3]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Take a look at the manual site in my signature. you will land on a 56 truck page. Scroll down to year index and pick your year. It might have the dims you need.

Thanks but I've already looked through those. It doesn't give me the stake pocket dimensions and the dimensions for the bed length are not clear enough to read.

BTW I also have a 65 Chevelle SS. Saw in your sig that you had a 64. Mine is on my ever growing lists of projects.

[mr48chev]

I believe that the info you need is in the 48/54 Assembly manual but I won't be able to look until I get home in about 8 hours.

[Dan in Pasadena]

That truck is gonna be a beast.

When I was younger I never appreciated the long beds. Especially not the 9 footers. Now I think they are really neat to see because they're such a throw back to when trucks are truly work only vehicles.

Are you in the military or a consultant? Thanks for serving over there, either way.
Posted via Mobile Device

[mechanixman]

Oops
overpost

[mechanixman]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Thanks for serving over there, either way.
Posted via Mobile Device

Ditto.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=566022
This should help ya out.
If you need to bounce some ideas of anyone, just let me know. I have a longbed frame, but I bought an 8 foot bed for $200. I'm going to graft a bedside to the front of that so I get the full long bed look.

[mr48chev]

I got home a bit ago and dug the book out and it has NO info on any size of bed in it. Tons of stuff on the cabs and frames of all sizes of AD trucks but no beds of any size or any kind.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by 65Ch3v3LL3

Thanks but I've already looked through those. It doesn't give me the stake pocket dimensions and the dimensions for the bed length are not clear enough to read.

BTW I also have a 65 Chevelle SS. Saw in your sig that you had a 64. Mine is on my ever growing lists of projects.

Mine is an original survivor 64 Malibu 2DR HT I use as my daily driver. Original engine started acting up at 140K so I dropped in a 350/350 until I get the truck done and can rebuild the 283.

[65Ch3v3LL3]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

That truck is gonna be a beast.

When I was younger I never appreciated the long beds. Especially not the 9 footers. Now I think they are really neat to see because they're such a throw back to when trucks are truly work only vehicles.

Are you in the military or a consultant? Thanks for serving over there, either way.
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks Dan, I'm a contractor here. I've been in Afghan for a little over 2 years now, also did 3.5 years in Iraq, and 5 years in Kosovo. I should be home for good in about a month so I can finally start working on all my projects at home.

I really like the 1 ton trucks. You just don't see them that much and being a GMC its even more rare. I've always had GMC trucks also. This truck won't be a show queen. I plan on using it to tow and haul stuff. It's a work truck and I plan on keeping it as such which is why I decided to go with the Duramax and the brake and suspension upgrades. I want to be able to drive it reliably. I currently have a 2012 Sierra Denali 2500HD that I tow with, but its too damn nice to throw stuff in the bed LOL. The 52 will become my shop truck.

I think the only thing that might be tough though is getting the radiator, the intercooler, and the A/C condenser all packaged behind the grill. All the rest should be pretty easy.

[65Ch3v3LL3]

Originally Posted by mechanixman

Ditto.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=566022
This should help ya out.
If you need to bounce some ideas of anyone, just let me know. I have a longbed frame, but I bought an 8 foot bed for $200. I'm going to graft a bedside to the front of that so I get the full long bed look.

Thanks. I have seen these dimensions at another website but at least these are clear and legible. However it still doesn't give me the distance of the stake pockets which I really need. I would like my bed to be as accurate as I can make it.

I also considered getting a long bed and extending it but its not that simple. To get the fender in the right place, the front section would need to be extended and the rear section would need to be extended and the two additional stake pocket frames would have to be added. Once I thought about all the sectioning and butt welding, I determined it would be easier to make one from scratch. Plus most of the long beds around here are beat up anyhow.

I have been checking out your build though. I'm looking forward to seeing it come together.

[65Ch3v3LL3]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I got home a bit ago and dug the book out and it has NO info on any size of bed in it. Tons of stuff on the cabs and frames of all sizes of AD trucks but no beds of any size or any kind.

Thanks for looking.

[65Ch3v3LL3]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Mine is an original survivor 64 Malibu 2DR HT I use as my daily driver. Original engine started acting up at 140K so I dropped in a 350/350 until I get the truck done and can rebuild the 283.

My car was my father's first new car he ever owned. Originally was a 283, 4-speed. He had it all my life until the mid 90s and for some reason sold it. In 2000 I found the guy that bought it from my Dad and I bought it back. It's got a 400 now but I plan on doing a LS3 and T56 swap on it soon. Dad passed away a few years ago so I'm really motivated to get her re-done now.

[65Ch3v3LL3]

Here are the pics from the auction.

[Coneboy]

Hey '65, Did you ever find the dimensions you were looking for? If not, let me know. I just picked up a complete '52 GMC 9ft bed, minus the wood. I would be glad to send pictures and dimensions for your project.

[T-P Auto]

Hey 65;
Ck out my post,I show a 3/4 ton bed in pics.
I think the 1 ton an the 3/4 ton are the same.
The inside of my bed is 14" deep from the floor to top rail.
As the pic shows you have 3 up right surports for the bed.
The first one at cab the 2nd is 24" back then the fender set in between the 2nd an rear one. the rear one is like 6" behind the fender.
Dont have the measure handy.
Will try to sent them in another post to you.
Hope this will help you some. Tim

[whitedog76]

I'm going to go wrench on my 54 tomorrow. I can help you out with dimensions.

The 3/4 ton and 1 tons have different beds.

[mechanixman]

Originally Posted by T-P Auto

I think the 1 ton an the 3/4 ton are the same.

I'm afraid they're quite different. One is 7.5' long the other is 9' long. I posted a link to the dimensions earlier.
Here is my 1 ton truck with a 3/4 ton bed on it.

[T-P Auto]

mechanixman n 65ch3v3LL3;

that looks just like the bed I have to work with.
I was also miss informed on the two being the same.

Tim

[mechanixman]

Cool Cool Cool
Thanks for posting the measurements for the depth though, very helpful.
My bedsides don't have the lip that the bed wood rests on, so it was just guessing until now.
Here is a picture of one of my 9ft bed sides for comparison.