Buiild a New Bed?

[2000xpsd]

i need a SB fleetside for an 86...this might sound stupid but is it possible just to build a bed out of new catalog parts? on page 28 of lmc's catalog they sell everything but the LH side
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=29

i know those are gmresto parts but someone must make all 4 parts (front,floor,LH,RH)...plus you would need wheel housings too i guess. I know it would be expensive ($1200??? )but just curious if anyone has done it or if it's even possible with catalog parts.

 

[burbboysgc]

Cant remember which one, but I've read a magazine article where they pieced together a 67-72 bed that was ordered. Not sure if it was LMC, Classic parts or which place, but somebody should sell all the bed pieces for 73-87 pick-ups.

 

[2000xpsd]

very interested if it can be done for an 80's bed. if possible it's probably cheaper in the long run than screwing around with used stuff.
lmc does sell RH and LH for 73-78...i could still use that right? if the only diff is the gas door i don't care as i'm putting new tanks (or tank) in anyways.

 

[smurph20]

Look again there is part numbers for both left and right sides. You can also look at Brotherstrucks.com they sell the bed sides for 350 or so each

 

[Swims350]

it most definately can and HAS been done, saw a guy on another site buy all the parts, both sides, floor, front tailgat etc. and build one for his 78 or 79 I forget which one.

It was a long bed, he cut his frame down, then bought the parts for a swb and bolted it all together.

 

[2000xpsd]

so lets see, i'm using brothers for my example, if i bought:
1) BS8F3SR 1979-91 RH shortbed/ fleetside bedside. $350
2) BS8F1SL 1976-91 LH shortbed/ fleetside bedside. $350
3) FBP87FS 73-87 Front Bed Panel - Fleetside $100
4) BFC87SB 73-91 Complete Bed Floor - Steel - Shortbed $450
5) IWT7387 73-87 Inner Wheel Tub Panel x2 $50ea
6) IWT87IN 73-87 Inner Wheel Tub Panel Brace x2 $45ea
7) RCS87FS 73-87 Rear Cross Sill - Fleetside $100

I would have a "band new" bed for ~$1540...minus tailgate and bolts. If those are all the parts i need and/or the correct ones it doesn't make sense to screw around with other people's old junk beds. I'm in MA and all the crap i've looked at has been $500 to $1000 and all of them still needed work...and SB's aren't the easiest things to find in this region...new looks like the way to go for me
But it still leaves the question of how is the end product. These are probably all china crap toilet paper panels...fitting one panel is usually a PIA, what the hell is going to happen when you go to fit 4 panels together.

swim - see if you can find that post, i'd like to see it. i'll poke around too and look for it

 

[Blackdog3]

I found this website, they have original bed sides for not a bad price, check em out. The one bed i was goin to buy was a pile a junk but they had the parts to fix it.

http://www.easternsurplus.net/CUCV.html

 

[smurph20]

Ive gotten patch panels from LMC for my S10 and a rollpan for it too and they have been good quality metal.

 

[Swims350]

I don't think you need a tail pan with the bed floor, I think it's already made on it. You just need the floor, tubs, braces, front and then hardware and tailgate.

I know the site but don't have a link to it. I can't post it here either.

 

[smurph20]

http://www.usbody.com/pages_trucks/73-chevy.htm You could build a whole truck in fiberglass from here