55.2-59 56 stepside long bed panels

[Phungki]

Have they stopped repopping these? I put off getting these because it wasn’t a priority. Now I can’t seem to find any at the usual places.

[Hcb3200]

I seem them on Jim Carter web site as well as a couple others.
Assuming the ling is a typo, and you meant long bed as in 1956 3200 etc

[mr48chev]

Most all of the long stepside panels that the vendor were selling came from Mar-K.

I was hoping that another company would step up and buy what was left of the company and the inellectial properties out and reproduce them again but that may be tied up in court for a while and probably in a law suit against the former CEO as to where the money went. Somewhere along the line there is a mishandling of funds and most likely embezzlement of funds.

[Phungki]

Originally Posted by Hcb3200

I seem them on Jim Carter web site as well as a couple others.
Assuming the ling is a typo, and you meant long bed as in 1956 3200 etc

Yes its a typo. Fat fingers vs tiny buttons. I’ll check there
Thank you

[Phungki]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Most all of the long stepside panels that the vendor were selling came from Mar-K.

I was hoping that another company would step up and buy what was left of the company and the inellectial properties out and reproduce them again but that may be tied up in court for a while and probably in a law suit against the former CEO as to where the money went. Somewhere along the line there is a mishandling of funds and most likely embezzlement of funds.

Ok, well it sounds like someone is going to jail and I’m probably not buying any anytime soon.
Maybe I just need to cut it down to a short bed. Was mulling it over already anyway. Im sure there is a kit out there. Unfortunately Ive already got all the lines run, exhaust done and driveshaft installed.
Thank you

[nvrdone]

how about taking 2 sets of short bed panels and making one set of long bed sides?
Shouldn't be too hard.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

how about taking 2 sets of short bed panels and making one set of long bed sides?
Shouldn't be too hard.

A huge expense to gain a few inches if you have to buy 2 sets to do it.

The beds are the same from 55.1 up as long as they made stepsides with the bolt on fenders. and the fenders are the same except 68 and up with the side marker light holes.

[Hcb3200]

I would think making longer sides from shortbed sides would be faster and easier than cutting that frame down.
I went out and did some quick measurements of my 3200.
The fenders are the same so you only need to add on each side of fender section. if you notice in the posting MR48 posted
Distance from the rear axle hub center to end of bed is 42.63 and on the short bed its 41 ish hard to read but basically they added 1.5 to 2 inches behind fender to end of bed.
from fender to front of bed would be 46.38 or so compared to 35.12 on shortbed.

If I was in a hurry and didn't want to cut down the frame. I would buy a left and right short bed sides. The add metal between front and rear end post and fender. Nothing fancy about this section so should be a basic weld or really easy for a weld shop to do. 9 inches to front and a 2 in piece to rear between post and fender. (with only a 1.5 inch difference you probably could add to 11.88 front and just let your tires sit in well off a little).

[mr48chev]

I'd be out looking for a mid 60's long bed Stepside bed as they are the same bed and should be easier to find in decent shape.

I just wish another outfit would step up and buy what is left of Mar-K and the intellectial property and start making bed parts again. I saw over the weekend that Southern Rods bought what was left of The Fatman suspension company after it went broke for pretty well the same reasons that Mar-K failed from what I understand.

[Hcb3200]

Reach out to these guys. The are manufactures that resell with authorized dealers.
show them what they are missing. But more importantly ask them if you can custom order or how to custom order via dealer. worth the shot.

Contact Information:

Original Equipment Reproduction®

P.O. Box 12049

Westminster, CA 92683

info-desk@OERparts.com

[mr48chev]

OPG only lists short box and like other parts vendors don't make their own parts in the US and have everything made and shipped from overseas.

Mar-K was one of the few sheet metal sellers for 47/59 that actually made parts in the US and the only one who supplied long bed parts. No matter who you bought long stepside bed sides from they came from Mar-K.

[57tailgater]

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