Box Question
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: West Michigan
Box Question
hey all long time lurker, first time poster here. Have a question about boxes. See i have an 81 long box that has seen its better days, the floor is severely rusted and rotten, and the box side panels all the welds are seeming to come apart(old farm truck). Now I cant seem to find a bed in this specific era to replace it with, whuch keads me to my question. I have a line on a box from and 88 that the floor is in great shape but the box sides are in need of replacement. Now I would love to keep all the body lines the same so I was wondering if I were to get some new 80-86 side panels would they fit and 88 box? Thanks for reading and any help you can give.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,951
Likes: 2,718
From: Virginia
What I would do to make sure, is to go to LMC truck and look up the inner part of the box. If the part numbers are the same, they should fit. I just thought of something though, the inner part may not be the same because they used a different number of bolts to hold the box to the frame, so that might not work as a indicator it will swap.
That's a lot of work and money though, to get a bed. You can't find a later model bed that is good on the inside and the outside? All you would have to do is put the early style patch panels over the wheels.
That's a lot of work and money though, to get a bed. You can't find a later model bed that is good on the inside and the outside? All you would have to do is put the early style patch panels over the wheels.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: West Michigan
Thank you for your response, I have been looking for a decent bed for a while, and the only decent ones I come up with are outragious in price. I thouight that it may have been cheaper to order the bed side and pick up the other bed. I suppose I should just keep looking, I'm bound to find one eventually right? Again thank you for your insight.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,916
Likes: 4
Thank you for your response, I have been looking for a decent bed for a while, and the only decent ones I come up with are outragious in price. I thouight that it may have been cheaper to order the bed side and pick up the other bed. I suppose I should just keep looking, I'm bound to find one eventually right? Again thank you for your insight.
Just need a way to mount the lights.
When I do the flatbed on my truck, I'm going to do it out of wood, 4x4's, and lag bolts. For lights I'm going to figure up some way to use either flare-side tail lights or trailer light housings. Should be pretty slick.
A quick search on google yielded an '80 F150 with a metal flatbed and headache rack:
1980 f150 flatbed image by fordzilla1 on Photobucket
And here's a metal flatbed with running boards:
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...0001_large.jpg
And here's a Ranger with a flatbed like I want to do:
1986 f150 flatbed image by shran_album on Photobucket
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: West Michigan
1983F1503004x4, Thanks,
I had thought of putting a Flatbed on the back for a while, was up in the air back and forth on it. it would come in handy taking the quads out. guess im still undersided. Man o man decisions, decisions. Thanks for the pictures with your response helps to get a better idea on what it would look like.
81oneton400
I had thought of putting a Flatbed on the back for a while, was up in the air back and forth on it. it would come in handy taking the quads out. guess im still undersided. Man o man decisions, decisions. Thanks for the pictures with your response helps to get a better idea on what it would look like.
81oneton400
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 6
From: Florida
The inner bed panels and the front bed panel are all the same, 1980-1996.
You CAN use the 88 bed, and just re-skin the outer panels with the correct panel. Keep in mind though that the replacement sheet metal isn't exactly known for quality or thickness.
You CAN use the 88 bed, and just re-skin the outer panels with the correct panel. Keep in mind though that the replacement sheet metal isn't exactly known for quality or thickness.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 17
From: Dryden, ON, Canada
The inner part of the bed is the same from the 70's through 97. You can put the earlier bedsides on a later bed if desired.
Personally I would not do a flat deck. I have one on my 96 F250 and had one on my 82 F100. The biggest pain is all the stuff you would normally toss in the bed that you can't easily tie down ends up in the cab. That said the deck I picked up for my 96 has one of the nicer tail treatments.
Personally I would not do a flat deck. I have one on my 96 F250 and had one on my 82 F100. The biggest pain is all the stuff you would normally toss in the bed that you can't easily tie down ends up in the cab. That said the deck I picked up for my 96 has one of the nicer tail treatments.
Trending Topics
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 17
From: Dryden, ON, Canada
Its actually the early trucks that have more bolts. There are no cross members involved, the bed bolts directly to the frame rails.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: West Michigan
Your guys's insite into these old trucks is great, Thank you all very much for helping me out with this. I went to a local JY today and found a great condition bed for a great price. Off a 1990, I will prolly keep it the way it is without changing out the side panels. I dont think it will look to bad I guess we will find out. I will have to post some before and after photos to show you guys the progress. Thanks again.
81oneton400
81oneton400
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
wildcard221
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
9
Jan 21, 2012 09:19 AM
rockdawg84
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
7
Nov 15, 2007 08:52 AM
