The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Newbie with a question

Hello, new to Stovebolt, must say all the info on here is amazing!
I have a '66 Chevy short wheelbase that is actually a '66 cab on a '63 frame. Guess I have a few question, one is the '63 frame the same dimensions as the '64-66's? It appears they are the same from looking at the Mar-K website, all the part no's are the same Didn't have a bed and just purchased a short fleet bed for it that is supposed to be from a '64-66, but only one cross sill lines up with the mounting holes on the frame. It is the second set of brackets back from the cab, all the other sill holes are too wide to line up with the frame. is the bed only supposed to bolt to the frame at the second sill back and the rear sill, or do I have the wrong sills? Is the '60-62 frame wider than the '64-66 frame? I can take pics if my rambling is not clear. Thanks for any help you can provide, Joe

welcome to the garage Joe, THE place to sort it all out

if the 63 frame had a step bed originally, the mounting holes on the frame for a fleet bed could well be different - the step beds are the same 55-66, and fleet beds fit the same frames, making the 60-66 fleets interchangeable ... don't quote me, but I believe the fleets all have at least 6 frame mount bolts, the longer ones 8, and there should be 'pads' on the bottom of the cross sills where they sit on the frame, the spacing [width] on those shouldn't be any different 60-66 ... sure your looking at the right holes?

pictures would definitely help some of the 60-66 experts see what yer up against

Bill

Thanks for the welcome red58!

here are pics with the sills in the approximate places where they should live,
Linky of the sills
as you can see none of them line up, I was wrong about the second one back it doesn't line up either. Everything I'm seeing says the 60-62 frames are different than the 63-66, bed wood and sill part numbers are different between the two. It would be helpful if some one would be kind enough to give me dimensions on the frame mounting holes on a 60-62 frame and maybe pics. I hope I can just buy the '63 sills and all will be good, is it possible I might have to replace the front mounts that are riveted to the frame? Thanks, joe

Joe - I can't see those sills being correct, there can't be that much difference in frame width - my first thought was they're 67-72 sills, but the guy to check with is Tony "4-5-6trucks", who has a lot of info about the 60's trucks [see the bottom of that page!] ... haven't noticed him around in awhile, but you could email him if someone else doesn't chime in here shortly

Bill

Thanks Bill. we just sat the bed on the truck mostly to store it and do some sanding/body work. and even the rear sill mount holes, under the tailgate where it sits on the frame, are enough to wide that they miss the frame. I am pretty sure it is a bed off of a 60-62

Measure the rear cross sill mounting spacing. If it is 39-5/8" wide, then the bed is a 60-62. If it is, then you will need to buy new cross sills and rear cross sill to fit a 63-66 frame. The 63-66 spacing is 7-15/16" narrower (or 31-3/4" at the rear cross sill).
And, by the way, I noticed you are in Norman, OK. We make the parts you need right here in Oklahoma City! See our website www.mar-k.com

Thank you much, That is a big help! I am familiar with you guys, will definitely be buying some stuff from you guys soon as I recover from X-mas!