Stepside Bed

[57chevyman]

Hey y'all.

I'm thinking about attempting to make my '88-'98 stepside bed look more like a '57 bed. If I remove the fiberglass sides, I can install '57 fenders and steps.
I imagine that will look pretty much like the correct bed from the side.
i'll sell the fiberglass sides to recoup some of the cost of this project

replacing the tailgate with the correct tailgate is not happening. I don't mind the tailgate I have...but I do want to remove the existing tail lights and install the correct ones..... im not sure how involved that will get....

Any one ever heard of this being done? any pictures of a stripped down 88-98 bed would help.

[Katrina/10]

If you want to go to all that trouble, I think you should just buy a 57 stepside bed and swap the whole thing out. Then you could sell the 88 bed intact for more money.

[57chevyman]

Hard to find a good used bed round here. I know I can get a new one but it will run about $2500.00. Does anyone know any resources near Long Island ?

[G&R's57GMC]

Converting your bed won't work. The shape of your beds interior walls is what you'll see when you remove the fiberglass sides. There is no flat side to mount the step side fenders to and there are no stake pocket structures to mount early tail light brackets to.

I've seen many beds like yours that have the step removed and replaced with a fiberglass custom made panel. This requires a bunch of work to the side and lower front portion of the fender.

If your looking for a used bed, try looking for converted trailers .

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

Converting your bed won't work. The shape of your beds interior walls is what you'll see when you remove the fiberglass sides. There is no flat side to mount the step side fenders to and there are no stake pocket structures to mount early tail light brackets to.

I've seen many beds like yours that have the step removed and replaced with a fiberglass custom made panel. This requires a bunch of work to the side and lower front portion of the fender.

If your looking for a used bed, try looking for converted trailers .

I could be wrong, but it does look like removing the fiberglass sides will reveal flat steel bedsides.

ill continue to search ebay and craigslist, but I haven't had any luck. were all the beds the same from 56 thru 87, other than the fenders?

[G&R's57GMC]

Or you could add a bit to the lower rear corner of the cab to blend the line of your newer bed's step. I've seen that done more often and its easier.

[akdg87]

Could buy the fiberglass rear fenders for the 55-59 truck and integrate them into newer bed...

[G&R's57GMC]

The shape and size of the beds are the same BUT the fender bolt patterns are different.

55-66, 67-72, 73-87 are the three fender bolt hole patterns. So if you find a bed other then 55-66 you'll either have to fill and drill holes or use the correct fender for the bed.

You might have to search old wreaking yards out of the rust belt or perhaps rural areas for farm trucks.

[blackdiesel]

I seen a mid 90's truck that the guy had the fiberglass fenders off of today. It is not flat metal behind them at all. Not even close to working. Wish I would have snapped a pic. of it for you. Look at my build thread I made my bed sides and then put the OEM fenders on them.

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

I seen a mid 90's truck that the guy had the fiberglass fenders off of today. It is not flat metal behind them at all. Not even close to working. Wish I would have snapped a pic. of it for you. Look at my build thread I made my bed sides and then put the OEM fenders on them.

Yep you're right. I didn't look close enough. I'll continue searching!

[57chevyman]

I think I have a good prospect, as long as he can ship it for a reasonable price ( under $200?)

if you have a moment, check out this ebay auction and tell me what you think. it looks like surface rust..... I do not want to buy a bed that needs a lot of metal work
im waiting to hear back from the guy for a shipping quote and a more detailed description of the condition

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-TO-1966...item3389273f7c

[59stepside]

Not really the feedback you are looking for but that patina looks sick! But the bed looks pretty good as far as pictures can tell. There seems to be some pitting on the pass side step. Can't tell if the worst of the rust is deeply pitted or just surface rust.

[57chevyman]

since y'all love pictures.... here's the bed that I have my eyes on. I agree, the patina is awesome...and the blue looks like it would go with the rest of my truck....

[57chevyman]

[57chevyman]

[57chevyman]

Can somebody weigh in on this.... How much should it be to ship this from CA to NY ? I assumed that since retailers charge around $150 for freight shipping, it would be in the ballpark . This guy says its $900.00 for shipping.

[_Ogre]

i'd charge half that to crate it up. if you ship it that far do a full sided crate.

[vht]

I had 1 company tell me it would be $300 to ship 2 51 bed sides. I thought that was bad. Shipping is terrible anymore. I wish I could find a bed that good for mine.

[57chevyman]

The guy probably doesn't want the hassle of shipping it.

[57chevyman]

Oh just to clear it up, this is a bed that I want to buy. It's in CA. I'm in NY

[G&R's57GMC]

A month ago I shipped two 65" flatscreen tv boxes with truck doors in them that weighed just under 200 pounds and cost $ 285 via Greyhound from CA to OH.

The truck bed assembled would have to be on a pallet and shipped via truck freight, so $ 900 from CA to NY is not bad.

A year ago I had 1 pallet with Trailer axles and boxes of parts shipped to my house from Southern Cal to my house in Northern Cal and cost me $ 580 This was by Truck freight.
It would have cost a bit less if I picked it up at the truck terminal but would have been a P.I.A.

I also had a pallet shipped from TX to me by truck freight and Cost $ 550.

So bottom line weigh the cost of rust repair on a local bed or the freight charge for a clean California bed, $ 900 sounds like a deal.

[1958Warrior]

57chevyman, be patient there are a lot of good beds out there , most are trailers now,
there will be others closer , trust me. find one closer and cruise down there after taking you bed off, set it on your truck and go,it will be cheaper and you get a chance to see some of America ,it be cool , keep watching craigslist search 55-66, and 1955- 1966, and trailers. they are out there.

[57chevyman]

if I got a good deal on a long bed, can I convert it to a shortbed by swapping the bedsides and steps? could also see if he can sell me just the bed parts that I need

http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/pts/4255876385.html