What year box do I have?

[Cousin_Eddie]

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.

 

[Rickf]

My '74 has round, (exposed gas caps) filler holes.

 

[Cousin_Eddie]

From what I understand the round hole went to 78. Do you recall how many bolts are holding the front to the side of your box?

 

[legopnuematic]

From AMD's website on the 73-76 and 76-78 bedsides fitment.

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[Cousin_Eddie]

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]

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.

 

[Cousin_Eddie]

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.

 

[JBswth]

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.

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.

 

[JBswth]

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.

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]

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.

And it’s not the same style of trim, so maybe I’m missing the point.

 

[Cousin_Eddie]

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.