Has anyone swapped the Suburban plywood for the panel board and strip setup? Is there anything that would stop it from working other than not having the seat key holes? I don't have stock seats so those don't bother me if they are gone. I have a access to a parts 53 panel that has a decent rear wood and my 54 has the plywood in good shape with chunks of linoleum still in but most is gone already. Would swapping pickup bed wood work as well? I have a set of that, too.
Just curious and have wood working friends so there's that.
This post has been edited to clarify and correct some earlier information.
The Panel truck “boards and strips” setup was used through 1949. From 1950 to 1955st, Panel truck rear floors were 3/4” plywood with grooves for the metal strips.
1947-1954 Suburban's had plywood floors (with a mat on top - no grooves)
Pickup beds were different dimensions from Panel and Suburban floors. The wood is not interchangeable.
Last edited by tclederman; 05/31/20191:27 PM. Reason: corrected and clarified information
I corrected some of my first post, and I added a link.
You would not be able to use pickup floor boards in a Panel/Suburban.
You should be able to swap the panel and Suburban floor plywood.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
How do plan to remove those floors?
It is not an easy undertaking removing/installing floor boards/plywood as one piece. - the floorboard/plywood cannot be removed without removing the metal "edge" along one side. - remove all bolts along bolt sides of floorboards - remove one of the metal edges - I think there are close to 30 spot welds that would need to be drilled out. - the floorboard would be then be angled up on one side, and then removed from below (it is too large/wide to angled out the rear door opening (I think).
If anyone has successfully done a "swap", please post your technique/experience/advice.
This post has been edited to clarify and correct some earlier information. The Panel truck “boards and strips” setup was used through 1949. From 1950 to 1955st, Panel truck rear floors were 3/4” plywood with grooves for the metal strips.
I know that's true for Subs, but are you sure that applies to panel trucks too? In Suburbans the board floors were superseded by plywood floors to prevent dust entering the passenger area. Since the rear area in a panel truck was for cargo, not passengers, I have heard that the change to plywood floors came much later (different assembly plants?). Anyway I sure have seen a lot of 50's panel trucks with board-and-strip floors. Maybe they did what our OP is considering?
"Would swapping pickup bed wood work as well? I have a set of that, too. " Do you still need an answer to this question?
Regarding panel wood into a Suburban: You might be able to cut-out/remove the Suburban plywood, and then piece-in the older-style (1947-49) panel floor pieces?
The parts panel in question is a 53 GMC with 4 boards and strips. I don't remember the assembly plant but since it came from Michigan there is a strong possibility that it would have been Flint. I did get an Ohio truck that was made in Atlanta once and one from St. Louis.
I did do the search and found that but was looking more for a swap than a plywood replacement. I'm really trying not to be "that guy" who asks the same question already asked 1000 times. I may just PM you, Tim, as I have plenty of questions and your page is the only one that's gotten me some info as it is. I just got my 1954 Suburban and am working on it when I can. I've always had pickups, panels, dumps and stake trucks in the past.
The body was assembled around the floor in Single Body Units. i.e. Panel, Suburban, Canopy Express. Replacing the rear floor in a Single Body Unit is not a easy task. Panel truck Factory Assembly line. Photo one Photo two
Parts catalogs do not show a part number for the Single Body Unit rear floors. Therefore were NS > Not Serviced Photo A Photo B
I wonder if the parts panel we have had an issue at one point in time so they reverted to the replacement with either an old style or simply built some wood and strips to "make do".
The body was assembled around the floor in Single Body Units. i.e. Panel, Suburban, Canopy Express. Replacing the rear floor in a Single Body Unit is not a easy task. Panel truck Factory Assembly line. Photo one Photo two
So the Panel Truck and Canopy Express got the one-piece floor in 1950, but there is no mention of the Suburban getting it that year. So perhaps the respective body styles DID get them in different years?
From the pics you posted the bodies REALLY WERE built around the floors! I suspect few of us would go to that level of disassembly to install a floor the way the factory did it.
1951 - Doors now have vent windows. Mid-year change from 9-board bed to 8 boards per bed.
Now that we're hijacking the OP's thread...
The above is regarding pickups. However my panel truck floor has 11 boards. Is this normal or has someone replaced/modified it sometime in it's history?
11!! Wow. I'm looking at 4 or 5 in my parts truck so I'm guessing (not just since it is a 53) that this isn't original! I'll go check it out later this morning.
