I have a 1981 F100 Custom and the spare tire has always been in the bed of the truck. I picked up some years back what I thought would work at a wrecking yard but it seems to be to long or maybe I am missing something. The channel I have is 49" long part# E3TA 1443 AA. The eye bolt I have is 7 3/4" long. The bolt with the square hole in the head is 8 1/4" long. The through tire bolts I have two are both 5 1/2" long. I know by the part number the channel I have is for a 1983 but where they different for the 80-82 models? I have an LMC catalog and looks like I have all they list for the spare tire carrier. I notice they do not list a channel for the 80-82 but all the other parts they list are for 80 and up.
They only list two channels:
Channel-49" F-Series 83-89
Channel-49" F-Series 90-96
Channel-45" F250 93-96
I have two braces between the frame rails one up closer to the rear end and one back closer to the tailgate. The one close to the rear end has the hole on the drivers side and the one closer to the tailgate has the hole on the passenger side. I thought the channel would hang between these two holes but it is to long for that. Is there something I am missing that would make this set up I have work or do I have the wrong channel and hardware? I have included 6 pictures of what I have and some from under the rear of the truck. Any help suggestions or pictures of a 81 with the original spare tire carrier would be much appreciated.

Here is a link to the pictures

My Web Site - Photos
Thanks,
Eddie