I'm thinking about fabricating a Flareside bed for my '72 F-250. I have a '73-79 bed, but it's really beyond saving. I do have some good parts from it, though. The question I have is about the side steps. The ones I have are only 14" longer than short ones, yet the long bed wheelbase is 16" longer. Add to the confusion is that the '73-79 wheelbase is even longer than the '67-72! I'm wondering if Ford used different side steps for the '73-79, or if they just used the same part number. In looking at pictures of long beds, it does look like the steps are mounted a couple inches behind the front of the bed.

 

Sent you a PM

 

Here you go:
1970: https://www.fordification.com/tech/images/bb70/p144.jpg
1976: http://fordification.net/tech/images...lareside76.jpg

 

Yes, and no.
Short bed 115" W/B were 17" long. Fit Bumps and earlier trucks.
Long bed 131" W/B were 30 5/8" long. These fit Bumps and Dents up to 1975 Dent's serial number A75,000. After that serial number Dents changed to 14.5" ones.
F350 Bumps with a 135" W/B took a different set that were 37.5" long.

 

Thanks for the info. It is what it is; they'll work OK. Side steps seem to be rare, especially the long ones. I've though about pulling molds off of the originals and making fiberglass re-pops to sell.

 

Several months ago on Springfield Mo Craigslist there was a set of long steps. Haven't seen them lately. If they pop back up I'll get with you.

 

I have a set of long steps. I have a set of short ones, too. Like I said, I've thought about pulling a mold off of them to offer re-pops for sale. I imagine the long bed market is tiny, though.

 

Yes not many around.