The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 60 box fits 66 frame?

The long box fleetside box on our project truck has hauled more than its fair share of concrete and who knows what else over the years. As a result it needs lots of work, plus the tailgate is only good for scrap metal ( whats left of it ) .

I found another box complete with tailgate this weekend that is mint, basically just sand and paint. The frame its sitting on has the torsion bar front suspension which I believe makes it a 60-61? box. The only visible difference I see is that it has no provision for back up lights but when I check repro parts they list the cross sills for a 60-62 different than those from a 63-66. Does the box mount differently on the early trucks with the torsion bar suspension? I still have the cross sills from mine but the rear one is pretty bad. Anyone have any experience with this?

I can't answer your question with certainty, but if I found that nice of a box, I'm sure I could make it fit. There can't be a whole lot of difference on the rear part of the frame. Can you rob parts from the 60-62 frame (crossmembers/mounting brackets)?
Scott

I have not done this, but I do know that '63 was the first yr. of the "ladder frame" design that GM contiued until '87 The cross sills prbably just have different mounting points on '60-62 than a '63-66, but there's height to worry about too, I just don't know. I agree with Scott 'cuz here in the land of salt and more salt I find pristine sheetmetal a beautiful thing making any retro efforts worth it! I once built a pick up box trailer with the back 1/2 of a '63 c20 and I had to cut and weld a lot of bed iron to make the cross sills solid, esp. the rear one. Also welded black iron pipe to the rear sill to accomodate the 2 rear frame bolts. Rust, rust rust!

Dave:

The fleetside box on the '60-'62 is the same as the fleetside box on the '62-'66, with the exception of the rear cross sill. The mounting perches on the earlier fleetside boxes are attached slightly wider than the frame rails on the '63-'66. If the rear cross sill is good shape on the donor fleetside box, you can cut the spot welds holding the mounting perches onto the rear cross sill and mount in the correct location of the frame rails on your frame. I have a '60-'62 fleetside box on one of my '66 rolling chassis and this modification is necessary to make it work properly.

With regards to the factory back-up lights, they were a factory installed accessory starting in 1966. Prior to 1966, they were only available as a dealer option, per the factory manufacturer's literature I have.

A good used box is hard to come by and with the exception of the cross sill issues, will make a great candidate for your project. Good luck with your rig.

Tony

Thanks guys!!! The sheetmetal all looks the same and the wood has been taken out of the floor so cross sills are visible. I kept the ones from the 66 box so will do some swapping if need be.

The tailgate and front panel alone are worth more than I'm paying for the complete box so I was going to find a way to make it work one way or the other.

Some old farm trucks you find here aren't rusted too bad but the boxes have been abused. This one is as close to perfect as I'll ever find so she's a keeper!

Dave:

Good to hear you are able to make things work. Good luck on your project.

Tony