The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Truck bed and Truck model

Ladies and gentlemen,
I’m trying to collect info for Peg and John for a tech tip about wooden truck beds and running in to some problems. I don’t know enough about the differences in truck models from Chevrolet and GMC through the years. I am running in to a Fleet Side Longhorn, a ½ ton long bed etc. and I want to be sure I am writing no nonsense.
Q 1.
Is there somewhere on the www a site that will list them all neatly by the year, just so I can figure out how I can wrap the different sizes, board numbers and width of the boards in a readable form. I have been to several websites like GMCPaul and a few others. There are simply too many changes over the years to put it all on one sheet without causing confusion.
Q 2. Have any of you rebuild his/her truck bed and are you willing to share the knowledge, like pictures, supplier, difficulties, the coating and your experience in time with that coating.

To save Peg and John some time you can mail any info directly to this address [email protected] or answer here. I’ll just collect the data and try to write a page. I mail the page to the Stovebolt staff and the final decision in this is with the Stovebolt staff of course.


Thanks for your cooperation and time

Richard

the board widths appear to have differed in different series, so you might have to break it down by year series in about 3-4 pages - most years had 3 different lengths of stepside, and then after 58 there's 3 lengths of fleetsides as well, to 72, but the board widths will be the same

the only way you'll collect the information for the whole range of pre-72 is to find it at one of the places that sells bed wood like Bruce Horkey or Mar-K - even then the individual truck may not match the "established" pattern - the short fleetside I'm working on had different widths than those 2 sites specify, and while the overall width comes out the same and the number of boards is the same, use of their boards would not match the holes in my cross-sills

Bill

Bill

Bill, I don't recollect but what year did the stop with the wood beds and go to steel?

Hi Guys,
very good, I got some more info now.
Yeah what year did they stop with booden beds?
And I have a list of the "right" width of the boards found on GMCPaul's website http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72%20BedWood%20Info.htm
And if I may bug red58 for a little check with the original width of his boards and these
4 1/4" 7 1/4" 5" 7 1/4" 7 1/4" 5" 7 1/4" 4 1/4" then I can be almost sure that Paul has listed the right dimensions.

Thank you very much, I'm getting closer with every step.

Richard

yeah, like my sig above!
you can delete one of those by clicking on the little paper/pencil icon above it and then check the "delete post" box at the top of the edit page

that list of widths is the stepside, mines a fleet, and tho Paul's says there 12 boards for the 58-9 fleet [correct] he only lists 10

the fleet widths, including the 'stubs' in front and behind the wheel whells, on mine anyway =
4½" 5" 5" 7" 7" 5" 7" 5" 5" 4½"

Bruce - the 67 was the first steel floor, with wood floor still available until 72 - common to find a 67 w/ wood, but rare on a 72

Bill

Thanks I know it, you know it, but we shouldn't tell the whole world how #@#% I am.
I'll drop Paul an email and see were he kept that last board or I stick with your width.
Great this stops at '72, no wonder that I couldn't find any info. Pre '47 will also be hard to find, but I have seen/found some manuals of those, it might be easy.
Thanks for all the help, I might even get it done this week
And anyone else with info or expierence with replacing a bed, please feel free to bug me.

Richard

Thanks Bill. I was thinking it was late 60's or early 70's. Think I remember the stepsides still using wood for a year or so longer when the fleetsides went to the steel floor. Is what you're saying is that you could specify a wood or steel floor when buying/ordering a truck?

Hi Bruce,
That's what I found too, the 1/2 and 3/4 long box step side and the long box fleet side could be ordered with a wooden bed till '79.
Another thing I discovered, the Cameo and the Suburban Carrier had a box, was there any wood in there? :confused:
If..... Yes please
and thanks for the help so far.

Richard

yes, after 67 either was optional - no price difference from what I've heard

the cameo style box was just the standard short step box w/ fiberglas panels pasted on the outside and a different tailgate

Bill

wow. sure glad my flatbed has whatever the person wanted to throw on it. but the hard part is not the size of the boards to use. its how to duplicate the wood rot.. :p .

ok to be serious, which is so not me. i am looking into new wood on my 48 GMC, and it seems not too many of the flatbeds seem to be the same in looks. :confused: way too much to have to learn and stuff into my empty head. but ill keep trying

I don't want to make it too simplistic but it is not necessay to find board widths from anyone, it's right in front of you. Just measure the distance between the bed strip bolt holes and bingo that is the board width. I usually use the rear crossmember because it's stationary. Good luck; Evan