So I'm thinking the only way I'll be able to get a longbox flareside for my 81 f150 is to have a custom made one. I'd probably want one that did not have a wood bed, has anyone ever done this before?

 

uh not that ive ever seen/heard of. and i dont see the point in this. they were only on certain years. i think 67, 68 and 69s. i may be wrong though. and to me wouldnt fit any other year or body style.

 

You can search for a long box and then add the 80 to 86 fenders to it. They made the boxes from the 50's to the mid, late 70's. Still hard to find. Bed rails went flat in the 70's i think. Before that the rails were at an angle.

 

Well I found a 67 stepside/flareside whatever the term is on craigslist not too long ago for $300 but it was waay too far away. It also had a diamond plate bedding in it.

 

Here's a 73-79 Longbed...



According to this thread,79 was the last year for Flareside 8' beds.It also states they are hard to find,so you'd have a hard time finding one.You're best off making one from scratch.

 

You could probably take two beds, and use one to graft in your stretch pieces. Problem is you'll probably have to stretch both before and after the fenders. Lotta work but that'd be the easiest. At least you wouldn't be trying to hand make filler pieces.

 

I was going to say the same thing, but I believe the length behind the wheels is the same. Between the cab and wheels is where they are longer IIRC.

 

Just make one out of some 4x8 sheets of 16ga steel

 

The problem is,finding a good used Flareside bed is hard enough,and most are attached to a truck so you end up with more than you need.You could always sell the truck,but not alot of people want a truck with no bed,so you could try parting it out,but you still might not recover your money.These Flareside 7th gen trucks seem to be everywhere,but I rarely see any for sale,and if they are they're too far gone.

 

Now that's what I'm talking about, I'm thinking that is exactly what I'd want. I'm thinking that making one out of sixteen gauge steel and getting the fenders from this type of style side from LMC truck.



Currently I'm at that "dreaming" stage still no money to take this part of my dream truck on.

EDIT/ After looking over the LMC catalog after thinking about this for a bit it seems that LMC does not carry parts for a longbed. Though I've only looked through the 70 - 70 catalog.

 

Step side pickups had the same beds from 53-79 (I own 2-56's & 1-79). You can still get long bed sides from MidFifty 2010 catalog page 110.
https://midfifty.com/

 

If you want a metal bed floor order the 79 bed floor from LMC trucks and weld it in. I'm not sure if its long enough but, if not buy two and cut and weld in.

 

Interesting idea, I think it would look better with the 80-86 fenders but that's just me.

Not to jack the thread but does anyone know if anyone makes the sides for the stepside for 80-86 or is it only possible to get them custom made (quoted $1200 a side), or would other years bolt on?

 

they are fiberglass so they never rot. Keep looking you will find a set. I just saw a complete bed on CL for 35 bucks yesterday

 

Sorry, that's not correct. The rear frame rails are wider behind the cab beginning in 1973 (37 1/2" vs 33 1/2"). So not only are the beds different, so are the rear bumpers, brackets, rear axle housings.

The rear fenders are the same 1957/79. The tailgates, front panels, floor pans are not the same after 1972. The bed sides are the same thru 1975, different 1976/79.

The 1957/66 F350 Flareside bed is unique, as it's 9 feet long.