57/60 Bed Interchange Compatibility
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 2
From: Marietta, Ohio
There's always the option of replacing the bed floor with the bed floor from a donor truck.
I was lucky enough to aquire a complete 2005 GMC long wide bed that almost no miles on it. The bed had to be replaced because the owner failed to properly latch his 5th wheel trailer and it smashed the bedsides. I used the front panel and the bed floor in my 49.
So I guess my bed would have to be labeled a stylestepside or a stepstyleside bed.Bobby
I was lucky enough to aquire a complete 2005 GMC long wide bed that almost no miles on it. The bed had to be replaced because the owner failed to properly latch his 5th wheel trailer and it smashed the bedsides. I used the front panel and the bed floor in my 49.
So I guess my bed would have to be labeled a stylestepside or a stepstyleside bed.Bobby
that is a pretty slick looking job you did there. What did you do to fasten the floor panel down? Were there ribs spot welded to the underside or did you remove them? I'm going to be fabbing up a special bed for my son's '53 project. He is setting his '53 down on an '86 diesel F-250 4WD chassis with a dual rear wheel set up. Were going with the wider fenders on the front from 2 ton and we are going to take the inner bed floor and side walls from an '83 truck I have. That is why I took some interest in your work. I am always interested to see actual work people do.
Later Man...
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,022
Likes: 9,976
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Dave,
Right now the bed floor isn't attached at all, its just setting in place. The 2005 GMC bed floor has its own crossmembers spotwelded to the bottom of the bed which has captive nuts in it to accept bolts coming up from below. I will eventually do something similar.
Since I knew my bed wasn't going to be anywhere close to stock I made my own crossmembers.
Here's a shot of my rear bed sill that I fabbed from 2x4 rectangular tubing and 2" round tubing
Since I fabbed my crossmembers long before I had the GMC bed floor they didn't match up. I had to add some crossmembers running parallel to the frame for the bedfloor to sit on. So, where these cross the bed's crossmembers I will run a bolt up through to hold it all together.
Since the bed has its own cross members it sits up higher than the original bed floor. Basically I lost approx 2" of depth to my bed (I can live with that). Its not noticable until you have the tailgate open, then you can see that the bed floor is up higher than the level of the tailgate.
I have some pics in my "bed stuff" gallery
Bobby
Right now the bed floor isn't attached at all, its just setting in place. The 2005 GMC bed floor has its own crossmembers spotwelded to the bottom of the bed which has captive nuts in it to accept bolts coming up from below. I will eventually do something similar.
Since I knew my bed wasn't going to be anywhere close to stock I made my own crossmembers.
Here's a shot of my rear bed sill that I fabbed from 2x4 rectangular tubing and 2" round tubing
Since I fabbed my crossmembers long before I had the GMC bed floor they didn't match up. I had to add some crossmembers running parallel to the frame for the bedfloor to sit on. So, where these cross the bed's crossmembers I will run a bolt up through to hold it all together.
Since the bed has its own cross members it sits up higher than the original bed floor. Basically I lost approx 2" of depth to my bed (I can live with that). Its not noticable until you have the tailgate open, then you can see that the bed floor is up higher than the level of the tailgate.
I have some pics in my "bed stuff" gallery
Bobby
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 2
From: Marietta, Ohio
Dave,
Right now the bed floor isn't attached at all, its just setting in place. The 2005 GMC bed floor has its own crossmembers spotwelded to the bottom of the bed which has captive nuts in it to accept bolts coming up from below. I will eventually do something similar.
Since I knew my bed wasn't going to be anywhere close to stock I made my own crossmembers.
Since I fabbed my crossmembers long before I had the GMC bed floor they didn't match up. I had to add some crossmembers running parallel to the frame for the bedfloor to sit on. So, where these cross the bed's crossmembers I will run a bolt up through to hold it all together.
Since the bed has its own cross members it sits up higher than the original bed floor. Basically I lost approx 2" of depth to my bed (I can live with that). Its not noticable until you have the tailgate open, then you can see that the bed floor is up higher than the level of the tailgate.
I have some pics in my "bed stuff" gallery
Bobby
Right now the bed floor isn't attached at all, its just setting in place. The 2005 GMC bed floor has its own crossmembers spotwelded to the bottom of the bed which has captive nuts in it to accept bolts coming up from below. I will eventually do something similar.
Since I knew my bed wasn't going to be anywhere close to stock I made my own crossmembers.
Since I fabbed my crossmembers long before I had the GMC bed floor they didn't match up. I had to add some crossmembers running parallel to the frame for the bedfloor to sit on. So, where these cross the bed's crossmembers I will run a bolt up through to hold it all together.
Since the bed has its own cross members it sits up higher than the original bed floor. Basically I lost approx 2" of depth to my bed (I can live with that). Its not noticable until you have the tailgate open, then you can see that the bed floor is up higher than the level of the tailgate.
I have some pics in my "bed stuff" gallery
Bobby
One thing is for sure, with the cross members you added it ought to be plenty strong enough. I assume that since you are goung with the steel floor panel you plan on using your truck for a little more than just something to ride around in once in a while.
Later Man...
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,022
Likes: 9,976
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Dave,
Since the GMC bed was a long wide bed I have plenty of left over material to cut out some plugs to fill the holes left by the 5th wheel hitch. I will need to remove the entire bed from the truck pretty soon to run extra fuel lines when I install my fuel injection so thats when I'll patch the holes and bolt the bed floor down. After the bed floor is bolted in place I'll go around the edges with some seam sealer or a bead of silicone or some other pooky of some kind.
Yea, It will get used. Probably nothing to rough but it wil definatelly get used, heck it already does. My company truck is equipped with a camper shell, my other truck is a Suburban so if I need to haul anything that won't fit in either one of those truck my 49 gets used. When I have the bed apart to attach the floor I am also going to fab up some anchor points as well. There is nothing to tie to in these old trucks. When I helped a buddy move not long ago I had to run straps down to the running boards to tie things down.....lol
Bobby
Since the GMC bed was a long wide bed I have plenty of left over material to cut out some plugs to fill the holes left by the 5th wheel hitch. I will need to remove the entire bed from the truck pretty soon to run extra fuel lines when I install my fuel injection so thats when I'll patch the holes and bolt the bed floor down. After the bed floor is bolted in place I'll go around the edges with some seam sealer or a bead of silicone or some other pooky of some kind.
Yea, It will get used. Probably nothing to rough but it wil definatelly get used, heck it already does. My company truck is equipped with a camper shell, my other truck is a Suburban so if I need to haul anything that won't fit in either one of those truck my 49 gets used. When I have the bed apart to attach the floor I am also going to fab up some anchor points as well. There is nothing to tie to in these old trucks. When I helped a buddy move not long ago I had to run straps down to the running boards to tie things down.....lol
Bobby
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas, NV
Yeah I like the idea of the GMC floor panel, Hence the title of this post, bed interchangeabilty. Im looking around and talking to people. My brother in Law says he could do the bed floor in red oak....He's a cabinet maker though. I don't know if thats good or bad. My welding skills and equipment are up to par as far as technoogy goes. Good job Dave..I like it! also gives me more options and ideas thanks all.
4wd Low
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
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Can someone tell me how to post a question on this forum? I've been looking for over an hour and cannot find anything on how to do it. Thank you in advance.
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Refyred
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Southern Nevada
Can someone tell me how to post a question on this forum? I've been looking for over an hour and cannot find anything on how to do it. Thank you in advance.
Scroll down to the bottom of this page and in the lower right corner where it says "forum jump hit the go button. That will take you to the front page of this 48-56 forum. Then on the upper left corner area you will see a button mark new thread hit that and fire away!
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 91
Likes: 7
Howdy all I am wondering if anyone has replaced the steel floor in a 57 f100 style side with wood? I am currently restoring my 57 short bed. After sand blasting I am try to decide on patching the steel floor or just cutting it out to replace with wood? I do really like the wood look. Pictures are great for this old guy. Thanks
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