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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: okiesinmt on April 20, 2010, 11:00:45 pm

Title: question on truck beds!!
Post by: okiesinmt on April 20, 2010, 11:00:45 pm
Will any year bed from 73-87 fit on all the chasis from those years?  Are they all interchangable or will some work for certain years?

Mine is a 75 short bed, very rusted looking for something easier to start with.

Thanks,
Sean
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: 80stepsideguy on April 21, 2010, 03:01:50 am
Yes 73-87 will all work prefectly...

thanks
pat
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: VileZambonie on April 21, 2010, 03:29:00 am
There are minor differences but they'll all interchange. Fuel fillers changed, tail lights on stepsides, and tailgates changed designs and hardware over the years.
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: okiesinmt on April 21, 2010, 01:39:05 pm
Thanks,

Sean
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: Captkaos on April 26, 2010, 11:29:34 pm
Just adding info to the post but on LWB's the bolt hole locations changed.
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: Lucky73 on April 27, 2010, 11:55:54 am
Really.How? ???
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: Captkaos on April 27, 2010, 02:41:45 pm
The second set is in a different location.  (spaced further.)
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: jcfisher on May 14, 2010, 11:49:20 am
I agee with capt. and can attest to it with my '76.  My bed was ruined by a friend who drove it thru a stop sign.  I replaced the bed with one from an '84 chevy.  It was almost perfect, no rust, no dents, etc.   But, two of the mounting holes dont line up.  So it is bolted down with 6 of 8 bolts.  I still haven't drilled the frame for the other 2 holes, but in time i will. 
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: VileZambonie on May 14, 2010, 05:22:31 pm
My 74 Bed bolted right onto my 87 frame. All the holes lined right up.
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: Bitzer! on May 25, 2010, 02:49:23 pm
I agee with capt. and can attest to it with my '76.  My bed was ruined by a friend who drove it thru a stop sign.  I replaced the bed with one from an '84 chevy.  It was almost perfect, no rust, no dents, etc.   But, two of the mounting holes dont line up.  So it is bolted down with 6 of 8 bolts.  I still haven't drilled the frame for the other 2 holes, but in time i will. 

Hey wouldn't it be easier to drill up through the frame using the original holes and make new holes in the bed rather than vice versa?
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: three8six on May 25, 2010, 03:03:14 pm
Yes if you would be ok with an empty set of holes in your bed. I do know they are trucks, but I sure would try to avoid drillin holes in my sheet metal.
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: VileZambonie on May 25, 2010, 04:47:34 pm
I'm confused here as I've never had a one not match up. Where exactly is there a difference and what year is this change?
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: Bitzer! on May 26, 2010, 08:06:18 am
Yes if you would be ok with an empty set of holes in your bed. I do know they are trucks, but I sure would try to avoid drillin holes in my sheet metal.

Personally I'd use the original frame holes and drill new into the bed, far easier than trying to re-drill the frame. As for the "old" holes in the bed, I'd drop short bolts through to make it "look" like they should be there so no holes would be seen  ;)
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: ccz145a on May 26, 2010, 01:12:49 pm
I'm confused here as I've never had a one not match up. Where exactly is there a difference and what year is this change?
The holes do not line up when you put a newer bed on an older frame. the two sets of bolts at the back are fine, the front set closest to the cab is fine, it is the second set back from the cab that are different.
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: VileZambonie on May 26, 2010, 03:54:31 pm
I'm curious as to why I've never run into that problem and I just put my original 74 bed on an 87 frame.
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: ccz145a on May 26, 2010, 04:20:23 pm
There must be the both sets of holes in the newer frames, I always went the other way... putting newer beds on older frames.
Title: Re: question on truck beds!!
Post by: Captkaos on May 27, 2010, 02:46:04 pm
Going forward is ok, going backward is not.