Step Bed Sides Compatibility

[javadoc]

Hey gang. I am looking for some decent short step bedsides, and it seems like in my area there are a number of 67-72 truck beds for sale. My biggest question is if the fender bolt holes are the same for these as the 60-66 trucks. Does anyone know?

[k1rodeoboater]

IIRC the holes are drilled in slightly different spots.

[javadoc]

Yeah, kind of what I was thinking, but I'm not sure. New panels are crazy expensive.

[Bowed]

Step Bed sides are basically interchangeable 55 thru 87 . There are differences in fender bolt hole location ( which you can rework ) ... depth of the side where the step locates can vary and also stake pockets on some years are different depths,

[lakeroadster]

When I bought my truck it had a 67-72 bed. Rather than replace the entire bed I purchased a couple 58-66 era fenders and steps at a swap meet.

The step brackets are slightly different for each "era" of step and the step is different for each "era" fender so you have to match fenders and steps.

Here is how I went about the fender swap:

1. Use blue painters tape to mask the upper flange on the steps and the fender mounting flange,
2. Using the 67-72 step bracket, bolt the bracket to the 67-72 bed,
3. Bolt the 58-66 step to the 67-72 bracket (as I recall one hole works, one needs redrilled),
4. Transfer the step upper lip flange mounting holes using a pen or a pencil,
5. Temporarily clamp the step flange to the bed with a c-clamp.
6. Bolt the fender to the step,
7. Level the fender with the bed top rail,
8. Transfer the fender mounting holes from the bed to the fender using a pen or pencil,
9. Remove the fender and step,
10. Center punch the step upper lip and fender flange using the transferred hole locations,
11. Drill the holes in the fender,
12. Debur all holes and bolt the step and fender back to the bed,
13. Rinse and repeat,
14. Step back and enjoy.

[javadoc]

Excellent, sounds pretty simple. Thanks! I was just afraid that I'd have to drill new holes in the bedsides. I wasn't thinking about it right.

My '64 fenders and steps are in great shape, luckily.

[javadoc]

I found bedsides, front panel and tailgate, all new... for a 1947-55 short step. These have the older slanted tops of he bedsides (best description I could think of, sorry), if I recall. Am I wrong, or won't this work also, but have the different tops? I kind of like that style... if it'd work on my frame.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

I'm used a 49 gmc bed on a 57 pickup and it worked fine, doesnt have a mount for the steps though since those trucks had running boards.

[johan 1]

I bought two sheets of metal,lay out the bedside,cut it out with a zip cut.
brought to the metal shop to break the side up,than on the out side where the crull it break it a just a bitt.than also cut out the metal for the rear part where the tailgate sits and,break that piece to .than weld that piece to the bed side. I bought a one inch pipe what I bound to the side wat i bend just a bitt. don,t weld the pipe it will worp. I also bend new stake pockets,but you could use your old ones.

[javadoc]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. It's a continual learning curve.

Johan, you *made* bedsides from just flat steel and 1" piping? Looks amazing.

The bed that I found is already painted (RED, yes!!!), so if it would fit on my truck, I could save a ton of body/paint time/money, and just end up painting the cab and rear fenders to match.

[javadoc]

Well, SWMBO, aka the woman who lets me live in my house, veto'd the early bed, after we did a bunch of photo comparisons last night. She likes the more period correct bedside design, ah well.

I need to get some photos up of my truck's bedside 'issues' to see if they're worth working on, or if I should keep looking for bedsides. There's some rust bubbling up under the paint on the left-hand side, around the fender. On one bedside (forget which), it looks like a PO welded a steel patch on the inside of the bedside, then painted over it. Also the end curls back by the tailgate are abused and mashed up from a PO.

[lakeroadster]

Sounds like your bed is a lot like mine was when I got my truck. It had some previous PO "badly executed" repairs. I did the fender swap I discussed above and then replaced the back stake pockets with new ones from Mar-K. I also had to rebuild the rear stake pocket holes.

If I may, I would suggest you think aboout how you really want the truck to end up: looking brand new, or looking like a good working truck. I went with the "good working truck" approach. My bed sides are dented, but that was OK for me. Now I can still use the truck without fear of a load shifting and denting something.

It's all good though. Just formulate a plan, or theme if you will, and then try to stick with it.

Here are some photos of what I did for your reference. It took some time and effort, but the results came out pretty good, IMO:

New fenders, old stake pockets:

Drilling out factory stake pocket spot welds:

Old Stake Pocket after removal:

Installing the new stake pocket:

New Stake Pocket Installed:

Stock abused stake pocket opening:

Rebuilt stake pocket opening with radiused bed rails:

[Clyde65]

contact this guy, he is pretty close to you and ad's on another forum but is a good guy from what I hear


Email rjsisneros@ria.net or call
1(719)250-5057 cell

[javadoc]

Lakeroadster, I like what you did with the radiused ends. Your bed's before shots are better than my bedsides look (the ends are mashed, but the stake pockets are perfect). I want the truck looking as straight as I can get it. The hickory bed floor that I'm making will be too nice to drop tools on, so I want the metal to be as good. Otherwise I'd probably just take a hammer to the end bits and straight them up till I was happy.

Clyde, thanks for the guy's contact information. By the area code, he's just down the road from me a bit.

[Clyde65]

The Stepp beds are pretty common around here, 55-66 will fit but finding one near you is the trick, look up RJ, hopefully he can help you.

[javadoc]

heheh, a Texas road trip is quite a drive. I sent RJ an email, so we'll see if he has anything. Thanks!!

[Clyde65]

here is an option if interested.

http://wichitafalls.craigslist.org/pts/2106285539.html

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by javadoc

heheh, a Texas road trip is quite a drive. I sent RJ an email, so we'll see if he has anything. Thanks!!

I got my fenders from RJ... he's "good people". He even gave me a couple free t-shirts.

[javadoc]

I hadn't realized that you were in Colorado, John. I called RJ yesterday and will probably run down there (2.5hr drive for me) when I'm off for the next holiday in a month. Seems he has a boatload of 60-66s out there.

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by javadoc

I hadn't realized that you were in Colorado, John. I called RJ yesterday and will probably run down there (2.5hr drive for me) when I'm off for the next holiday in a month. Seems he has a boatload of 60-66s out there.

Probably to late in the game but ask RJ if he is going to the "Polar Bear" swap meet up in Adams County this Saturday (see data below). He might be up for meeting you there? It's kind of a local deal but I believe he is aware of it.

He did that for me when I bought my fenders... talked to him via email and he brought the fenders up to a swap meet they were having at "The Ranch" in Loveland, CO

Polar Bear Swap Meet
Event Date: Saturday, January 22, 2011
Time Information: 8 a.m.

Location Information: Exhibit Hall
Adams County Regional Park
9755 Henderson Road, Brighton

Contact Information: Mary Boetcher, 303.770.0086

[javadoc]

Man, I wish that I could get up there this weekend!