Building a bed from new parts- Front panel difference? ETA- Fixed using all AMD panels

[kkgp81]

On AMD it list a 73-84 bed front panel and a 85+ front panel. What is the difference between the two?

I’m trying to put a bed together from new parts and running into issues- the holes aren’t lining up for the most part. Pretty sure the problem is the floor as I have a factory shortbed on my other truck and the AMD holes are close.

Sides
AMD no gas hole right and left (80’s for one side and 70’s for the other) using a blazer tank so don’t need fuel doors.

Floor
Key parts shortbed

Front
Sherman- there seems to be a fitment issue here but not sure. I went to AMD and going through checkout the shipping cost more than the panel.

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[Bennyt]

For the bed front panel. I think, but don't remember for sure, was just a cosmetic difference in the embossing/ stamping design. I think only the wood floor had a different lip on the bottom.

Although they interchange, the bedsides have different cosmetic stamping on the inside.

For large parts, I try and plan ahead and see what shows will be in the area and if any vendors will be at the show that sell the parts and you can usually pick up for free.

 

[SquareRoot]

@TotalyHucked
I believe this is your area of expertise?

 

[TotalyHucked]

I work at AMD in R&D and QC. The differences in the '73-84 and '85-up front bed panel are in the way the top rail is shaped and also the amount of bolt holes.

These are two of our in house trucks, '85-up is on the left, '84-down is on the right. The best way to describe it is the '85-up is shaped like a P where the curve tucks under quicker where as the '84-down has a gentler fall off and a more oval shape.

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This is the '73-84 panel, picture taken from our website. You can see the top rail is more oval shaped and also note the 2 bolt holes just under it at each corner

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It's hard to see here cuz we don't have a great angle on it, but this is the '85-up panel with the P shaped upper rail. Also note there's now only one bolt hole at each upper corner.

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All that to say, they will interchange, you can put either headboard in any year truck. They'll take some finagling but it does work. The biggest cause of your problems though is the 3 different manufacturers of parts. To be blunt, mixing manufacturers is the worst thing you can do with a project like this. GM had several different stamping plants, so Key may have used parts for development that came from a different stamping plant than we did, so they probably won't play nice together. And Sherman is just junk period. I've seen plenty of their panels and wouldn't even use them for paper weights they've all been so bad.

One tip I'll give ya is any through hole that doesn't have thread in it, use a step bit and open it up 2 sizes. That will give you lots more adjustment. I put our AMD bedfloor and tubs on my original bedsides and needed to do that to get everything to line up nicely.

 

[kkgp81]

Thank you for the reply, I kicked through summit searching for an 82 front panel and they have one in stock. I was going to order off AMD and the shipping cost more than the panel.

Either way, picking up an AMD floor and tubs today to see if going with a single mfg does the trick because the holes in some of the areas are so far off it will never work short of making new holes or beating something into submission.

 

[kkgp81]

So an update on this. Went over to summit and picked up an AMD front/floor/wheel wells. It took 3 guys roughly 30 minutes to assemble this setup using all AMD parts. The earlier model front panel also had the second hole at the top.

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[SquareRoot]

"Went over to Summit"? As in physically?

 

[kkgp81]

"Went over to Summit"? As in physically?

Yes, I live outside of Fort Worth so its a trip over. To make it even less of a hassle I have a couple of projects going on just down the road from the store.

They have a sweet unit on display today.

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[SquareRoot]

Damn. That would get me in trouble. It's bad enough they ship my stuff next day.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Glad it worked out for ya! I’m about 1.5hr from a Summit, it’s awesome being able to “run over” there lol

 

[Muddybuddy]

Good to know. Have you test fit tailgate yet?

 

[kkgp81]

I have not, the one on my parts truck is toast and I haven’t picked one up yet. I’ve only done squaring measurements.

 

[justhorns]

I've been to the summit store in Ohio, near youngstown. Great place.

 

[straydog371]

I plan to do the same thing as kkgp81...all AMD panels for sure.
Summit Racing in Ohio is close enough that making the roadtrip will be an enjoyable drive and I'll avoid the "oversized freight" shipping cost.
Man I REALLY appreciate this forum! I never thought to check Summit locations for possible pickup.

 

[Bennyt]

Yes, I live outside of Fort Worth so its a trip over. To make it even less of a hassle I have a couple of projects going on just down the road from the store.

They have a sweet unit on display today.

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When i lived in Fort Worth, I would order large parts from vendors and pick up at Goodguys and Pate swap meet at TMS. Saved me hundreds if not thousands on shipping.