The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1953 frame vs. 1955 first series frame.

I found a very good frame from a 1953 truck. The frame from my 1955 five window first eries short bed has some issues. Will the 1953 short bed work for my 1955? It looks very simular. What should I inspect closer?

RB55

The 1954 and later beds mounts differently than 47-53 beds.

What drivetrain would you use?

The 55-1st has an open driveshaft and the rear axle mounts differently from earlier 3100s.

The hump over the rear wheels (frame) is more pronounced on the 53. Your bed won't fit without pretty major modification. Use your 55 springs and rear end and it will bolt right up but not sure about driveshaft fitment after. Should be okay.

Honestly, I would fix the frame you have if at all possible. The bed work alone would be enough to balance most frame repair work. What is wrong with the frame?

You could use the 1955 drive-train components from the engine backwards.

Is the 55 bed good?

The 55 frame is pretty rusty. The 53 is in perfect shape. From what i can see the measurements are okay . Only the rear cross brace is different. The U-channel is horizontal not vertical.

Just measure it carefully and do it, no biggy. The front cab mounts are the same, just a bolt and a pad, and if the rears are different swap out or use an S10 mount pad between rear floor crossmember and top of frame. Run a strip of masking tape across the back of the cab even with the top of the box and cut bed mount blocks to hold bed in same position on 53 frame. I wouldn't pay for more than one days time for this job. Here is a shot of one just backwards of your plans; a 53 bed and front sheet metal on a 55 first series (note one piece curved windshield).

http://s32.photobucket.com/user/coilover/media/Picture018.jpg.html

Deve got it right. It would work fine except for the 53 frame is taller over the rear axle and will hit the 55 bed floor. 53 bed on 55 frame will work, 55 bed on 53 frame not so well without surgery

If you want to keep the bed at stock height move the angle strips up on the sides, put an angle strip across the front panel and a spacer between the rear bed crossmember and the new bed floor height or leave the gap and put a panel between frame rails to hold a spare and tools---kind of a poor mans Cameo. Longer bed mount blocks will fit between the frame and raised bed crossmembers. This 51 GMC sets on a 72 Cadillac Sedan Deville frame which has huge kick ups for the rear coil springs. With the repositioned angle strips the bed is only eight inches deep (about directly behind the GMC letters on the tailgate) but it never hauls anything anyway. Some just mount the bed and leave the floor out. Still think this job only takes careful measuring and common tools. If you want it to be a high point restoration then disregard above.

http://s32.photobucket.com/user/coilover/media/51GMC009-1.jpg.html

The bell housing/center crossmember is different also. The 54 and later trucks use the later V8 style crossmember. You would need to swap the crossmembers, or use an earlier bell housing.