1947-1953 pickup bed

[wuss721]

R all these pickup bed the same? I just bought a 1949 chevy pickup and I need to look for a tailgate. But the tailgate area looks big or did I buy the truck with a different bed?




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[lazypineapple]

flat top sides, i think thats a 54

[robroller]

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[wuss721]

I would but to long of a drive
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[SCHRUMGMC]

Yeah looks like in the 50's or so to me

[G&R's57GMC]

That is a 1954 - 1955 1st series bed. so that will be the tailgate you'll be looking for.

Remember a lot can happen over 6 decades to these trucks, who knows how many times is been rebuilt.

[RedneckRodder]

I have the same bed on mine, I've seen very few with the fender stamped sides, most I've seen have been flat sides. Not sure of how common they are, but its deffinetly something different that will set your truck apart.
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[wuss721]

Thanks for the info. Let the search for the missing tailgate begin.
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[G&R's57GMC]

Originally Posted by wuss721

Thanks for the info. Let the search for the missing tailgate begin.
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I found these at Brothers. Shop around the tailgate you need fits 54-87

[RedneckRodder]

Order the new trunions with it, those gates hold water in the hinge points and they're the first thing to go. You probably don't have them anyways, considering the gate was already gone.
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[robroller]

Wow I was just kidding about swapping beds and admins are all over my post. Anywho~54/55 beds had stamped sides to match fenders with flat tops instead of angled. The 56-87 bed sides are pretty much the same with holes to match the corresponding years fenders.I.E.~56-66 same/67-72 same/73-87 same.The beds were also deeper top to bottom to allow for holding more stuff and lower loading height due to a slightly different frame in the rear. Most 54/55's also came with a "dent" in the rear drivers side fender for a spare tire to be mounted to the side.

[chev3600]

Def a 54-55.1 bed, I really like the sculpted side panels on these. Keep in mind that if you intens to add a floor you would need to raise the bed floor to clear the frame rails. You can even see the rails poking up through the floor in your first pic. No biggie, it's just another thing to add to the list.
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[wuss721]

I was talking to my buddy about lifting the floor an 1 1/2" or 2". Just to clear the frame. Thanks for the information
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[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by lazypineapple

flat top sides, i think thats a 54

That is what I see. I think the embossed lines in the bed sides are 54/55 first series too. The 47/53 bedsides are smooth inside.

Where's that smack self on forehead smile thingie/ The stake pockets are obviously 54/55 and I flat missed that the first time.

If you raise the bed floor set it up so that it is raised behind the tailgate, you will just have to run a piece across to raise it what ever distance you need it raised and build a filler panel to go under it. That would allow you to put the gas tank behind the axle and raise it a like amount so it wouldn't hang down "or" build a slide drawer or drawers to hold your tools and supplies under the back of the bed that would be accessible when the tailgate is let down. You could even do both with short drawers behind the gas tank to hold a few tools and cleaning supplies.

[wuss721]

WOW the ideas just keep on coming.
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[RedneckRodder]

Does anyone know when they changed the bedsides to this style with the fender shaped pressed into them? There's a dairy farmer down the road from me with an original '54 he bought new in February of '54, and it has the flat bedsides. Saw another one at a show last summer with the same thing also. I know the flat top rails started in '54, but I haven't found any info on the embossed sides.
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[chev3600]

All the originals I've seen have the pattern. My 54 shortbed, and my early 55 long bed both had them. Not sure about the one tons though.
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[Johnny49]

Pretty sure those tail lights aren't original...

Sorry, couldn't resist...