What year box do I have?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

C

Cousin_Eddie

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2024
Posts
6
Reaction score
15
Location
South Dakota
First Name
Clyde
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
Hello there everyone. I have been lurking here for a while now and I have gained so much valuable information. I just wanted to say Thank You for all the help I have received even if you didn't know you were helping.

Now for the ask. I have a 1984 K10 long box that I purchased several months ago. The box has been replaced at some point because it now has the round filler hole on both sides. The passenger side of the box is caved in badly beneath the filler neck all the way to the front of the wheel well. The front of the box is also bowed toward the cab where I assume something heavy slid forward and crashed into it. I should also mention that it has the original 1984 tailgate.

How do I identify what year box I have? I know it is a 70's model box but I have no idea what year. When I looked at panels on LMC Truck it says there are two versions. Version 1 is 73 -76. Version 2 is 76 -78. I watched some Youtube videos of replacing the bedside panels but really wasn't able to find anything that helped me identify the year of the box. The one thing I know is that my current box has 5 bolts per side connecting the front and side panels. The videos I watched had 4 bolts per side. I would appreciate any help you could give me.

Thank You.
 
legopnuematic

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
2,613
Reaction score
6,886
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
From AMD's website on the 73-76 and 76-78 bedsides fitment.
You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach
 
C

Cousin_Eddie

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2024
Posts
6
Reaction score
15
Location
South Dakota
First Name
Clyde
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
Thanks legopnuematic. That's what LMC's website says as well. But my tailgate is original to the 84. (It matches the cab and front end). It has the post. The box is a completely different color so I know it's been swapped. I tried to search online for the 5 bolt pattern on the front of the box but couldn't find anything. The front bed panel says it fits 73 -87 so maybe it doesn't matter what the bolt pattern is.
That leads to the question of whether the only issue is that the hardware for the tailgate latches is different or mounts differently. If so, maybe the hardware could be swapped.
 
Rickf

Rickf

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2017
Posts
574
Reaction score
716
Location
Grafton NH
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1974, 1954 & a 1937
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
The bed of my '74 has 5 bolts vertically holding the side to front panels. There are 2 fairly close together at the top next to the stake pocket.
 
C

Cousin_Eddie

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2024
Posts
6
Reaction score
15
Location
South Dakota
First Name
Clyde
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
Update, so I called the guy I bought the truck from to see of he knew anything about the box swap. He gave me the name of the local salvage yard he got it from. I went over there and asked if they remembered selling the box and he said yes. Long story short the cab was still there and he said i could go look. Vin plate was still attached to the door sill so I took a picture and turns out it's a 78. So that solves my problem, it's version 2. Thank you both for your help.
 
J

JBswth

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2022
Posts
236
Reaction score
194
Location
Vallejo, California
First Name
James
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C25
Engine Size
292 cubic inches
Cousin_Eddie said:
Thanks legopnuematic. That's what LMC's website says as well. But my tailgate is original to the 84. (It matches the cab and front end). It has the post. The box is a completely different color so I know it's been swapped. I tried to search online for the 5 bolt pattern on the front of the box but couldn't find anything. The front bed panel says it fits 73 -87 so maybe it doesn't matter what the bolt pattern is.
That leads to the question of whether the only issue is that the hardware for the tailgate latches is different or mounts differently. If so, maybe the hardware could be swapped.
Click to expand...
The late 76 - 87 tailgates are all physically interchangeable, even though they are a little different, but if 80s tailgate is used on a late 76 - 80 or so with trim, the bottom tailgate trim piece will not line up with the lower bedside trim pieces.

J. B.
 
J

JBswth

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2022
Posts
236
Reaction score
194
Location
Vallejo, California
First Name
James
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C25
Engine Size
292 cubic inches
Cousin_Eddie said:
Hello there everyone. I have been lurking here for a while now and I have gained so much valuable information. I just wanted to say Thank You for all the help I have received even if you didn't know you were helping.

Now for the ask. I have a 1984 K10 long box that I purchased several months ago. The box has been replaced at some point because it now has the round filler hole on both sides. The passenger side of the box is caved in badly beneath the filler neck all the way to the front of the wheel well. The front of the box is also bowed toward the cab where I assume something heavy slid forward and crashed into it. I should also mention that it has the original 1984 tailgate.

How do I identify what year box I have? I know it is a 70's model box but I have no idea what year. When I looked at panels on LMC Truck it says there are two versions. Version 1 is 73 -76. Version 2 is 76 -78. I watched some Youtube videos of replacing the bedside panels but really wasn't able to find anything that helped me identify the year of the box. The one thing I know is that my current box has 5 bolts per side connecting the front and side panels. The videos I watched had 4 bolts per side. I would appreciate any help you could give me.

Thank You.
Click to expand...
You have a 74 - 77 or so bed. If the 2nd pair of bed to frame bolts is much further apart from the 1st pair than the 3rd and 4th pair are, then you have a 73 bed. The original 73 bed floor was one year only, but you no longer can get replacements for that year. You have to drill your frame to accept the 74 - 87 bed floor. That's what I had to do.

J. B.
 
Grit dog

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
7,090
Reaction score
12,473
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
JBswth said:
The late 76 - 87 tailgates are all physically interchangeable, even though they are a little different, but if 80s tailgate is used on a late 76 - 80 or so with trim, the bottom tailgate trim piece will not line up with the lower bedside trim pieces.

J. B.
Click to expand...
And it’s not the same style of trim, so maybe I’m missing the point.
 
C

Cousin_Eddie

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2024
Posts
6
Reaction score
15
Location
South Dakota
First Name
Clyde
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
Thanks Guys. I'm going to leave all the trim off of the box and body besides the fender well trim. So hopefully the later tailgate won't be an issue.
I'm starting to worry now that the box might not have been the original on the 78 it was taken from. I checked my bed bolts because when I bought the truck it only had 6 bed bolts. The second set was missing. The holes were there but there wasn't a hole in the frame in that location. I had to drill the frame for the second set of bolts after I bought it. However, the first two sets of bolts ( sets 1 and set 2) are actually closer together than the last two sets (sets 3 and 4). So I don't know what to think now. I guess I'll find out tomorrow whether I ordered the correct bedside as it's supposed to be delivered tomorrow.
Thanks for your help guys. I'll post back what I find.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
What Engine Do I Have
Replies
9
Views
1K
Copakekid
C
OldBlueDually
What year tailgate is this??
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
HotWheelsBurban
H
T
Can't decide what to do. Suggestions? Thoughts?
2 3
Replies
33
Views
2K
Truck82
Truck82
Chris64
Glove Box Repair
Replies
12
Views
1K
BigT
BigT
T
Another exhaust options thread - what should I do?
2 3
Replies
32
Views
3K
Reggie1931
Reggie1931

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,416
Posts
957,114
Members
36,752
Latest member
78 squarebody
Top