What is the difference between the bed sides of a 50 F100 and a 55 F100 I think the mounting holes for the fenders are different can you use the 50 sides on the 55 truck just drill new holes? Thanks.

 

I believe that the issue will be the raised panels and not the fender mounting holes. There are many more folks on this forum that are more savvy than I on F1s but if you have the $$$ and need a bed then it may be better to buy an aftermarket repro.

 

Happy, welcome to FTE the best Ford truck forum on the World wide Web!

It would be a mess. If you drill mew holes, what do you do with the old holes? Weld them shut? Then you'll see the on both sides of the panel.

I bought 2 bed sides, the front panel, and a rear cross member from Mod West Early Ford in 2016 for $600. Today they want $700.

 

I think that the OP's original question remains unanswered. I cannot answer it but my interest is piqued. I know that the 50 F1 has a raised section in the center of the bedside...do the fenders have a step in the mounting surface to accommodate this raised panel? This aspect of the matter seems like it could be a bigger deal than mounting hole locations. Personally I don't see welding up holes as that big a deal but then again I have done a lot of them over the years.

 

Yes, The fenders made for the bed with the raised bed side panels do have a step in them to mate up with the bed side panels. They are not flat like the later beds that have flat bed side panels.

 

Thanks Tracy...I hope this helps the OP make the decision on the bed. Sounds like if the choice is made to go with an F100 bed that you may want to go with the F100 fenders as well which would make the fender mounting holes a moot point. Now you get to work on the bed mounts and crossmembers...the F1 frame is 2 inches narrower than the F100 so that may need to be considered. If your fenders are in good shape it is looking like the repop bed sides are a good way to go.

 

We need to take a little deeper dive into this to really help the OP. It sounds like he has a 55 that needs a bed, and found a 50 bed he wants to use on it. 1950 was a transition year for Ford half ton pickup beds. The early style with the raised panel bed sides have a totally different design and construction from the later beds, identified by the flat panel sides, the style which was used up through the 70's. The early bed has a subframe that the sides and front panel was riveted to, with a metal floor covering over tongue and groove wood boards. The later style was much simpler by design, and the sides essentially sit on crossmembers with exposed wood boards and skid strips. So if we're talking about what the differences are between a 50 bed and a 55 bed, we first need to find out which 50 bed we're talking about. Unless one is experienced in fabrication, trying to make early bedsides work like later ones will be difficult. They're just not made that way.

The late 50 beds (used through 52) are similar to the 53+ sides, but as noted, the bolts for the fenders, which are welded in place, will be all wrong. It will be a lot of work to remove the bolts and then weld up the holes. Doing so will likely warp or damage the panels beyond the point of wanting to use them, if you're looking to do anything nice, and it's going to be a ton of work that may be better spent elsewhere. The other thing that's different is the skirt panels that go between the floor line and the running boards and rear panel. They are a different size to match the length of the fenders. F1 fenders are longer than F100 fenders, so the skirts will be shorter, meaning you'll need to remove them and replace them with the correct parts. Still more work that's un-necessary if you were to start with the vastly more common 53+ sides in the first place.

To Charlie's comment about the frames being 2" narrower, that only applies to the front of the frame from the cab forward. The rear half is the same, standard 34", so the bed will physically interchange. It's just a lot of work to do so. FWIW, my recommendation would be to hold out and find the correct bed and save yourself no end of work and grief, which typically translates to money at the end of the day. Or just get a couple of these for $233 and have all new metal to work with, ready to go. Cheaper and less work than messing with a beat up used bed. Even if the used bed is free and you don't count your labor, the cost of materials to make it work will exceed the buy in for new bedsides.

https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford-p...yABEgKYvfD_BwE

 

Thanks so much to everyone that responded to my question about the bed sides I am going to buy a aftermarket one again Thank you so much for the information I'm glad I joined this site!!

 

That is the wise move. Let us know what you buy and post pictures.

 

Thanks Wayne...I would have never guessed that the F1 Frame tapered from front to rear. Learn something new everyday. Good luck with your bed project HappyD!

 

I forgot to tell you welcome to the best site on the web. When I did my 49 I could have saved a lot of money by putting a later year bed on that has the flat sides but it being a 49 and having the raised sides I didn't want to hear all the negative comments on why I didn't put the correct bed on. Your truck but they do look better with the correct bed on.

 

I learned something today at age 67. Don't spray paint small truck parts while wearing flip flops.

I was washing up for supper tonight and noticed my toes and instep were dirty. Then I realized it was black overspray.