Not sure what I got , but its mine now I guess. Its 9 foot long. Actually 9ft 2 inches along the rolled rail. 50 inches wide floor from seem to seem underneath, if I remember right. Tailgate has a unique GMC marking on it. Hard to see in pics. Floor still has wood in it, but topped with a steel plate. It is a 60 inch cab/axle bed. Round mismatched taillights with a steel circle around them like a steel pipe? The guy I got it from had it chained to a rear frame section and was using it around his farm as a trailer. Steps are super solid. 1 fender is really rough and probly not useable. Probly cant use either because its going on a 63 dually chassis and the fender lip to fender lip measurement is aprox. 76 inches. Im just happy to land a 9 foot box to get going on. Any help with year specific would be a great help?
Going from the tail gate from 55 second series to 1959
To the best of my knowledge the tailgates were all the same for the Step Side boxes from 1954 thru 1967. Can you share what's different between the 1959 and 1960 tailgates?
Mike B
Mike Boteler
1956 Chevy 3100 Resto Rod 1952 Willys M38 Army Jeep 1983 Jeep CJ7 Laredo 1984 Jeep CJ7 +++++ Silver Spring, MD
My 54 first series has the gmc letters in a old letter look this gate has the m underlining the g and c if that makes sense the newer ones have the gmc in more of a block letter.
That style GMC tailgate script went from 47.2 thru 1963 on Fender side. Then block letters, rectangular boarder 64 thru 87 on Fender side. Wide Side Script 58-66. Stylized block script and boarder. (quadrilateral trapezoid) Fender shape indicates 55.2-66 Rare bed size Home made tail light cans Original color/paint
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
As always, I knew I would get the right answers on this site. Once again the wealth of info here is unsurpassed. Thanks to all. Whats funny about the color is that its the same color as the original color on the cab and clip I used from a 66 c20. My next question is... Is there any precise "blueprints" of sorts to actually get this bed to work on a 63 GMC dually chassis that im using? My c/a measurement is correct, 60. My length is correct, 9ft. But the width of the bed itself would put it into the inners rear tires. Needs wheel wells installed into the bed area I guess?? Or, I really didn't really want togo this route, but lose the duallys and get a set of single wheels all the way around? Not even sure its an option?
Well got the fenders off, lights off, cans off. And by gully the tailgate actually works. lol. The little things in life.. Bed seems to be in better shape than I thought. Abit of welding at the light, can area. Im keeping da duallys, so whatever it takes, I guess ill figure it out. Also need bed supports. And again another bridge to cross. Ideas are always welcomed.
You are likely going to have to extend the fenders or tub the bed depending on where the tires are in relation to the side of the bed.ðŸ›
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
According to the tape measure. Looks like Im gonna have todo both unfortunately. Wasn't sure if there was a templet, or rule of thumb to follow. Im pretty good at winging it, but im sure my luck will run out. lol
Another thing that might affect this project, be sure the fenders match up to the position of the rear axle/wheels. Since the bed is 59 or older and the frame is newer, they might not line up even though the 9 ft bed is correct length. I know that for the 3/4 ton trucks they did not match, I don't know about the 1 ton but it should be checked.
Yea. im seeing some differences on lengths comparing em. One way or another this bed is marrying this chassis. Well, hopefully. lol. Im kinda wondering also what should be the minimum tire/bed clearance ? Any suggestions??
Yeah the 9' beds like that weren't really designed to go on trucks with duals, so winging-it is a good option when you tub the bedsides and widen the fenders lol. As for the tire to bed clearance, I'd say whatever you think looks good/right.
Funny enough, I picked up a '60s Chevy 9' bed. Also green. Also turned into a trailer haha
What a quinkydink. Looks to be in atad better shape than mine . I guess Texas helped. Yours might not hold gravel tho. lol. Yea im winging it say the least. See what it turns into,,
I'll be following you on this because I'm working on putting a TF 8' bed on my 3/4 ton 41.
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery 1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter
I've been looking at bed to tire clearance as well. My brother said he would allow 5"-6". He said you'd be surprised how much distance is needed when you hit a bump with a load on it. I have a '59 one ton with a flat bed on it and it does have about a 5-6" clearance. I'm putting a '59 8' bed on my 41 and don't want go any higher off the chassis than I need to. I do have a decent pair of fenders if you are interested and I'm about 3 hrs. from you. I plan on using the '41 fenders on mine. But we're not supposed to talk about selling anything in this section or the moderator will get mad at me. So PM me if you're interested.
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery 1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery 1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery 1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter
Ok well, moving forward. Like the bandit, "W e're going todo what they said cant be done" Sing it with me.. Lol. I have the bed now on the frame. I mounted a 1 by 2 inch rectangle stock on both sides of the bottom of the bed from front to back along cross members at mounting points. Front of frame towards cab got two 4 by 4s stacked. Rear only got 1. I had 8 U-bolts made. Fronts were 3 1/2 by 17 and rear were 3 1/2 by 11. The bed is sitting alitta high, but I think it going to work good. And because of the height, I didn't have to mini tub like I first thought. Got 5 1/2 plus inches of clearance at the tires. Bed height at rear is 55 1/4 or so. Rear tires are about 2 inches out from fender, but fender is just sitting there for pic purposes, not mounted. Probly close tho. Tires also sit atad forward, but acceptable for me. And wont hurt the function. I digging it really. Glad it was even close...Check out pics.
Yeah, that's looking like a really good fit Glenn.
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery 1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter
The bed is a great fit, looks like it should have left the factory like that.
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
To VEW. Thanks today for the fender. Nice meeting ya. Ill post pics when it hung. Probly tomorrow? Wanted to let cha know about the difference in the step from and 8 foot bed to a 9 foot bed. Obviously there is length added in front of the fender also. I really didn't need the step anyhow. Fender is also somewhat the same color also as the rest of this monster. Couldn't of planned it any better. 400 miles = tank of gas 2 hours of conversation, knowledge, sight seeing = time well spent 1 new friend = priceless
Hopefully we cross paths again. Cant thank you enough...
Was great meeting you as well, Glenn, and thanks for all of your time and valuable advise. It was just the thing I needed to proceed on my bed. But I won't be doing it tomorrow . I guess that makes sense on the length of the step, given your bed is 1' longer. Look forward to seeing your progress. Thanks again.
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery 1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter
Well moving right along... Pass fender that I got from Vic in Va yesterday is permanently attached and in better shape than the other which I considered my good one. ha. I also had the time today to mount my newly acquired tail lights. Havent wired em yet but soon. About the only thing I need is a rear bumper that's fits this build. But that wont keep it from the road. I guess insurance and registration will help too.
Nice! Looks like your outside tires may sling some mud on your rear view mirrors I really like the look of it!
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery 1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter
e're going todo what they said cant be done" Sing it with me.. Lol. I have the bed now on the frame. I mounted a 1 by 2 inch rectangle stock on both sides of the bottom of the bed from front to back along cross members at mounting points. Front of frame towards cab got two 4 by 4s stacked. Rear only got 1. I had 8 U-bolts made. Fronts were 3 1/2 by 17 and rear were 3 1/2 by 11. The bed is sitting alitta high, but I think it going to work good. And because of the height, I didn't have to mini tub like I first thought. Got 5 1/2 plus inches of clearance at the tires. Bed height at rear is 55 1/4 or so. Rear tires are about 2 inches out from fender, but fender is just sitting there for pic purposes, not mounted. Probly close tho. Tires also sit atad forward, but acceptable for me. And wont hurt the function. I digging it really. Glad it was even close...Check out pics.
