Calling all 72 SWB Owners S.O.S

[72tutone]

Gents-
I need to know the IL measurement of a 72 swb. I cut down my lwb to swb and im having difficulties installing my bedsides. Now, they are repop sure. But my floor is still the OE bed floor cut down. I measure 78". When looking at the 72 book of dimensions it shows IL <Inside Length> at 78. What's really strange about this, is 71,70, and 69yrs all show the IL at 78 1/4.


When hanging my bedside the end where you weld the bedside is about a 1/4 off.

I'm wondering if I didn't cut it down right? Or perhaps the book I have is a typo? It seems strange for a 72 to have the same overall length of 188 1/2 as previous models. The book does say there was a dimension change for 72. The only thing I can see is the IL is now 78 vs 78 1/4

I'm questioning this whole process, simply because the bedsides dont fit up to the front bed panel, nor does the wheel well. The wheel well shouldnt have moved as the cuts I made were fore and aft of those. Those bolt holes dont even line up.

I might have just the whole reproduction syndrome fit. Can someone measure for me? The IL is measured from inside the front bed panel back.