The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Purchasing a bed

Backstory: My 48 Chevy 3800 was purchased with no bed at all, just the frame rails, and I have been considering a flat bed for it.

I was also really wanting the original truck bed as well but was going to just build a flat bed since it would be easier and cheaper to do. I know they come up for sale every now and then and have seen people purchase used truck bed for AD trucks, but is there a reliable source for parts for the XL long beds that the 3800's had? Do many come up for sale at all even?

I have a 49gmc 1 ton. I’ve been searching for a 9ft bed forever. Not many out there to find. Every time I see one its 2000 miles away. Lol. John. I’ll keep digging

We just happened to be rummaging around with "bed" questions ourselves this morning.

Maybe this Tech Tip will help you (with the 1-ton ?) -- "Irwin's fight song: "Where’s the fun in that?" ... With the help of Mar-K Quality Parts, we held a "virtual clinic" in our forms on " Making a Stovebolt Bed." Irwin Arnstein did just that -- a flat bed complete with a nice utility box. Click on the pictures to get a larger view. ~~ Editor


Then there's three others under General Body Work:

BED - Building Truck Bed Sides and Front Panel -- Make new sides for the truck bed by Vic "vickraft" Leger
BED - DIY Flat Bed (with utility box) -- Step-by-step instructions with some help from Stovebolts R Us -- by Irwin Arnstein
BED - Rebuilding wooden bed in your truck -- Sometimes a frightening task, but this one went fairly well -- by Mark Marmon


Also, use this search to find "making a bed." There we a lot of threads that popped up in there.

Maybe a start (reading) while others chime in.

Thank you Peggy

I have been reading up on making a bed and trying to build something to 'look' like an original bed. I have designed up and 3D modeled a flatbed that I do like but just wanted to know others experiences with trying to purchase a 9ft bed somewhere. Seems like they are even less common to find than the rear brake drums for these trucks....lol

FYI, there was a member who made his own bed sides that were modeled after the original ones by welding exhaust tubing of the correct size to the angled top. One could make a bed of any length, but you'd either need a 10' sheet metal brake or other method to make the bend in the top of the bed side for a 9' bed. The stake pockets can be bought from Mar-K or other vendors and welded on to the fabricated bed sides.

[on edit] Found it in the Tech tips HERE