Differences between 3100 beds 47-53 and 54-early 55

[DENALI]

I am working on a 54 3100 and would like to use the art morrison frame assemby. They say their frame is for 47-53 only because the beds are different. They claim the cab of the 54 will still mount just fine but that i would have to change beds to a 53 or older style but they cant tell me why other than their "engineers" said it wont work. I am hoping for some insight into this from you guys and i also hope its something that i can overcome on my end with modifications to make my 54 bed work. Thanks

ETA, maybe what i should be asking is what would it take to make a 54 bed mount on a 53 and prior frame and make it line up correctly?

[mechanixman]

As far as I know, there shouldn't be any difference.
Before I got lucky enough to get my bed, I researched what beds I could fit instead. Everything from chevy beds from 41-80, to dodge beds.....even ford beds. Ha ha

If there IS a difference, it's going to be in the spacing between the cross pieces on the bed. Which means all you'll need to do is drill a few new holes.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by mechanixman

...Everything from chevy beds from 41-80, to dodge beds.....even ford beds. Ha ha

I can't speak for 47.5 and newer but I can tell you for sure that a '41 bed (which is the same for a '42 & '46 to '47.1) is tiny by comparison to a newer bed. It is entirely different and I know because I owned a '46 truck that; as it turned out, had a '41 cab (slight difference in how the rear window installed or I' have never known).

[Bob@ProAuto]

The 1954-55 (1st Ser.) rear frame rails don't rise as high over the rear end, so the bed floor sits lower. The side shape are similar to the 1955 (2nd Ser)-59 Chevy trucks.

The top of the bed sides (where the stake pockets would be) angle at the top on 1947-53's. The bed sides are flat on the 54-55 (1st Ser.).

[DENALI]

Originally Posted by Bob@ProAuto

The 1954-55 (1st Ser.) rear frame rails don't rise as high over the rear end, so the bed floor sits lower. The side shape are similar to the 1955 (2nd Ser)-59 Chevy trucks.

The top of the bed sides (where the stake pockets would be) angle at the top on 1947-53's. The bed sides are flat on the 54-55 (1st Ser.).

So in other words, the floor of a 54 bed can be raised/modified to work on a 53 and older frame?

[mechanixman]

correct

[Bob@ProAuto]

Yes, you'll loose some bed depth. I've had a few customers that have ordered our 47-53 chassis that have 54-55(1st Ser.) so that there is more suspension clearance for a lower stance and just raised the bed floor.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by DENALI

So in other words, the floor of a 54 bed can be raised/modified to work on a 53 and older frame?

anything can be modified to fit anything in my book

[xpickup]

_Ogre, I think like you.

Shannon

[mechanixman]

Originally Posted by xpickup

_Ogre, I think like you.

Shannon

Ditto

[Lextech]

I actually like to raise the bed a couple of inches and raise the running boards to match. The cab kind of over powers the bed on the AD trucks. When you raise it up a bit it makes the cab not look so big from the back.

Jeff

[mechanixman]

Originally Posted by Lextech

The cab kind of over powers the bed on the AD trucks. When you raise it up a bit it makes the cab not look so big from the back.

Really?
Albeit mines a bit of an exception. Trying to fab a bed to a 1 ton frame. But I think it looks pretty good. Please bear in mind that the bed is just sitting on the frame, (no mounting blocks) and it has about a 2.5 inch rake on it. But I think it'll look good when it's finished.