The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Looking for 40 long bed info

MAR-K is doing some research on the 40 Long beds and we are looking for anyone who could supply pictures and information regarding these trucks. We are now making the 40 short bed sides and wanted to know the differences between these and the long beds. Particularly - the diameter of the bed side curl, the way the tailgate fastens to the bed sides (specfically, is it like the short beds), and any other helpful information. We have many parts that we believe could fit these beds, but we need this information to be sure.
We are also looking for an original 1940 tailgate chain (short or long) if anyone has one and could share pictures, etc.
You can respond to the post or email me directly - webmaster@mar-k.com
Thanks so much for letting us be a part of the community!

I can't help you much with that, but I will be following this thread very carefully! When you have collected all that 411 and release those long bedsides... I would like to be first to recieve them!

Keep up the good work!

John

Any chance on pre-ordering a complete 1940 longbed kit minus tailgate?

John:
I'll put you on the list. We don't make any parts until we get accurate information. So I hope we get some responses!

Mar-Ktech, I have a 1939 AC-102 GMC Long Bed. Unlike the Chevy's the GMC's have the same bed in '39 and '40. The truck is apart currently, but the bed is still all in one piece. If you could give me a list of exactly what you need I will be glad to take some pictures and measurements to help you out. Let me know. Thanks, Al al_kasishke@yahoo.com

All the 1.5 ton Open Express trucks from 1932 to 1940 used the same p/n 460081 tailgate. I can send you some pictures of the end gate if you can email me your postal address and pay for the postage. The Chevrolet box sides are the same for 1939 and 1940 p/n 471715 left hand and p/n 471716 right hand. believe the tops of the box sides were a smaller diameter tube shaped top on a flared out box top.

I am going to post this in the Making a Stovebolt Bed section as well!
Thanks for the responses so far.

I'm going to move the whole post over there because there is some good info here that will come in handy to someone in a future search.

In reading through these responses, it looks like there's some confusion about what you mean by "long bed." To be technically correct, there were actually three pickup beds offered -- 77" (half ton), 87" (3/4 ton), and 108" (1-1/2 ton). The 108" beds are pretty rare and few people know they even existed, so they refer to the 87" as a long bed.

I'm almost certain that the 77" and 87" inch beds were unchanged from 40-46. I know the beds were narrower in 39, but I'm not sure about pre-39. In all cases, though, the tailgates, front panels, support rails, etc. were common between 1/2 and 3/4 ton models--the only difference being the length of the bedsides, wood, etc.

If you're interested in the 1-1/2 ton (108") beds, well these were a totally different animal. They share no parts at all with their little brothers. The "bed side curl" is actually triangular in cross section, rather than round like the small beds. This bed was unchanged from about 1932 (I think) to 1946. (There was a 9' bed offered in 47, but it was a different design.) If this is the bed you're interested in, email me directly, and I can get you all the information you need, including the chains.

Bob

I might be interested in purchasing a 108" bed for my red 1942 1-1/2 ton, if that's what is being considered. What about the dually fenders, will they or, are they, being reproduced by MAR-K or anybody else?

John

We appreciate all the input. Yes there is confusion and maybe I should have cleared it up sooner. We do not have plans to make the 1-1/2 ton "heavy duty" version at this time, but all the information shared is very valuable and helpful to others who are restoring that truck bed.

We are interested in information about the 3/4 ton at this time, as we are tooling for the 40 bedsides now for the first time. While the 40 - 46 beds are the same dimensions, there are several subtle differences that distinguish the 40 from the 41 and we want to get it right.

Some examples,
It looks like the rear wood block is not attached to the 40 1/2 ton bedside but in 41-46 it was bolted to the bedside. In 41-46, the 3/4 ton rear wood block was bolted to the rear sill but the 40 1/2 ton rear sill we have does not have the bolt holes for the wood block. If 3/4 ton rear wood block is bolted to the rear sill, it means the rear sill was different for 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks.

The brace under the rear sill is different for 40 than 46.

Of course the tailgate and chains and hinges are different for 40 than 41-46 and we will provide the correct chain/hook latch system for the 40. I do not have a correct 40 chain hook, is it twisted like the 41-53 or just straight? Is the 40 hinge like the 41-46 or unique to the 40?

The number 2 cross sill (from the front) on a 41-6 has extra bracing to the bed sides. Is that bracing also on 40 3/4 ton?

These are the kind of questions we struggle with when developing new tooling. People restoring these trucks are wanting their parts to be like original or at least to be made aware of differences before purchasing them.

Again, we appreciate all the input. Sorry for the long post, but hopefully, I have answered a few questions and cleared up what our needs are.

Mar-Ktech

I'm glad you are on are side! It is very refreshing to see a restoration company that has such a commitment to quality. Made in the USA with pride! It is very nice to know that you can still get American made parts for American made trucks, with more parts being reproduced, the right way... here in America!

The absolute expert on the 1940 is Barry Weeks, perhaps you can e-mail him directly.

I have a 40 3/4 ton and have been looking for a bed for quite some time with no luck. So like the rest of the folks here, I'm hoping you find all the details.

On the subject of the 108" bed, I have an orgininal on a 1 ton 47 first (46 late?) if you ever decide to make those. I have mixed thoughts on the subject as it would be nice for folks but I kind of like having something unique.

Did some crawling around in my junk pile, and found pieces of the bedsides that came with my truck. I had cut them up with the intention of scrapping them. The Long bed that came with my truck didn't have a tailgate, and it wasn't bolted down, So I have no way of knowing if it was the original 1940 longbed. It was about 48 inches wide, had 3 stake pockets, and a metal floor (GMC). The tailgate latches are still intact, but the tailgate trunions have been farm rigged. I could take pics, measurements, or even send you the partial sides.

John