question on truck beds!!

[okiesinmt]

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

[80stepsideguy]

Yes 73-87 will all work prefectly...

thanks
pat

[VileZambonie]

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.

[okiesinmt]

Thanks,

Sean

[Captkaos]

Just adding info to the post but on LWB's the bolt hole locations changed.

[Lucky73]

Really.How?

[Captkaos]

The second set is in a different location.  (spaced further.)

[jcfisher]

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. 

[VileZambonie]

My 74 Bed bolted right onto my 87 frame. All the holes lined right up.

[Bitzer!]

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?

[three8six]

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.

[VileZambonie]

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?

[Bitzer!]

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 

[ccz145a]

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.

[VileZambonie]

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.