1963 highboy bed ?
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2009
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1963 highboy bed ?
hello. i'm looking at maybe buying a 63 highboy 4x4 3/4 ton longbed. i really like the truck but to be honest hate the mismatched bed (bed is the factory 1960 style). my question is can i swap a 1966 or older bed on that matches the body lines of the 1963 truck?. what years will look right?.
thank you for any assistance.
sgettin
thank you for any assistance.
sgettin
Welder User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 50
From: northwest MT
I did this bed swap on my 63 2wd LWB about 10 years ago....... It's no picknick. Seems the 63 has a 6" shorter wheelbase than the 65-66, Somethin to do with the uni-bodystyle I think. So you have 2 choices, lengthen the wb, or shorten the box. I chose to shorten the box....I cut 6" out of the front and welded it back together. I'm a bodyman, so this wasn't a huge thing. You also have to cut off 6" from the end of the frame rails. Then it bolts right on! simple!LOL Actually the 7.5 foot box makes the truck look better, but I can't put a topper on it now. I'd post pics, but The camera died. Good luck, T/M
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,060
Likes: 7
From: Glendale Arizona
The bed you have is factory correct for all F100 4x4 61 to 65 and F250 4x4s 61 to 66.
Best way to approach it i have seen is mount the bed then move the wheel opening to the desired location to match the wheel base.
Garbz
Best way to approach it i have seen is mount the bed then move the wheel opening to the desired location to match the wheel base.
Garbz
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More Turbo
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hello and thanks for all the help. it's a good thing i asked because i was about to just assume it to be a simple bolt on. shortening the bed is at the upper limit of my body work cababilaties.
also thanks numberdummy for the correction on the highboy thing. it's also listed as a "camper special".
you all might have seen it on craiglist. neat truck and would be an easy trip for me as i'm fairly close. but i just don't think i can get past the bed on it. i think i'll keep looking for a- 1961-66 f250 4x4 352/390 4sp longbed styleside original, rough but driveable. tons of em out there i'm sure (sarcasm).
thanks again.
sgettin
also thanks numberdummy for the correction on the highboy thing. it's also listed as a "camper special".
you all might have seen it on craiglist. neat truck and would be an easy trip for me as i'm fairly close. but i just don't think i can get past the bed on it. i think i'll keep looking for a- 1961-66 f250 4x4 352/390 4sp longbed styleside original, rough but driveable. tons of em out there i'm sure (sarcasm).
thanks again.
sgettin
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Both F100's and F250's were available thru 1972, and ALL are 2WD.
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More Turbo
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all things considered though, it's still a cool looking truck. damn why did ford put that mismatched bed on there?. not one of there "better ideas". although at the time i assume the people buying them were'nt to concerned about appearences.
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Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Nanaimo, BC
Actually, I kind of like the looks of the 58-60 style box. The wheel openings are bigger, which might be why ford used it because on the 250s you could get 17 or 19/19.5? inch rims. If you've seen any early broncos with the same quarter panel style as the 2wd f100s, then youve seen lots of EBs with cut out quarters to fit larger tires. Another reason I like to see 4x4s with the mismatched box is because it is almost a dead giveaway that the truck is a factory original 4x4, not some ressurected old 2wd thats been slapped on a newer frame. There aren't really alot of factory 4x4 slicks out there anymore, especially in decent shape. I wouldn't let your opinion of the aesthetics of the box to sway your decision to buy the truck. You may learn to like it, and you'll have something different than most.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
aarrrgh. it also says "custom cab". hopefully the add is correct about atleast one thing.
all things considered though, it's still a cool looking truck. damn why did ford put that mismatched bed on there?. not one of there "better ideas". although at the time i assume the people buying them were'nt to concerned about appearences.
all things considered though, it's still a cool looking truck. damn why did ford put that mismatched bed on there?. not one of there "better ideas". although at the time i assume the people buying them were'nt to concerned about appearences.
Most people bought trucks back then for work, caring not a bit about styling.
IMO: If the doors of 1961/66's didn't have that dogleg scallop line, the 1957/60 beds wouldn't look odd.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,060
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From: Glendale Arizona
Ford spooled up in 59/60 to produce uni bodies as the primary trucks of the future. The four wheel drive introduced in 59 carried over with the new 61 cab and old bed with the same wheel base as Ford did not plan to make unitized body with ladder frame four wheel drives. Ford had no bed tooling in process as they put the eggs in the uni basket and for a mere 4000 four wheel drive units a year new bed tooling was not economical.
That is why there are no split bed 61 with the old beds other than 4x4s but they appear in 62 on 2 wheel drives after the uni was realized to be a total failure, more than the Edsel.
Simple bean counting...
Garbz
That is why there are no split bed 61 with the old beds other than 4x4s but they appear in 62 on 2 wheel drives after the uni was realized to be a total failure, more than the Edsel.
Simple bean counting...
Garbz
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Ford cancelled the Uni midyear 1963. Why?
When the bed was loaded with cargo, this caused the frame to flex.
Since the bed was integral with the cab, the flexing frame caused the doors to POP OPEN!
Lap seat belts were an option back then, no shoulder harness seat belts were available. Most of these trucks had no seat belts, period.
When the doors popped open...people could and did FALL OUT of the cabs.
When the bed was loaded with cargo, this caused the frame to flex.
Since the bed was integral with the cab, the flexing frame caused the doors to POP OPEN!
Lap seat belts were an option back then, no shoulder harness seat belts were available. Most of these trucks had no seat belts, period.
When the doors popped open...people could and did FALL OUT of the cabs.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 762
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From: Monroe, Louisiana
I'm thinking you can use a 64 Styleside bed. I plan to use a long bed Flairside to replace the "wrongbed" on my crew cab. If I can't find one I'll probably shorten the frame and use the 64 bed I have.
