what body parts where

[shortbed]

Hey everyone. It's been a few weeks since I checked in. All's well 'cept a buddy backed into the side of my namesake . . . my shortbed. I"m looking to replace it (it was in pretty bad shape anyway), not so easy. Does anyone know what years and models are interchangeable with my '78 F150 Shortbed. (I'm figuring all the 73-79 shortbeds would work, but maybe not). How about the '80's and maybe Broncos?

 

[shortbed]

I just talked to a guy who's got an 85 Ranger shortbed that he wants $200 for, but I looked at some online pictures and it seems they've all got their gas intake forward of the rear wheel and mine's aft. And is this just too country for anyone else to consider . . . an 80's bed on a 78 frame.

 

[smokey]

A 85 ranger bed will not fit a full size truck.

 

[BuzzGun79]

in my opinion i would stick with the 73-79 style bed.ive seen others put the 80 -96 bed on a 70 series truck & it will go on,but body lines are different & dont match up. stay with the F series trucks for a replacement bed.forget the ranger & bronco the beds are completley different.

 

[Lost]

with being a short bed you may find 86 down step side. Fenders r different but its a bed.
I used to buy the 86 down bed and put 79 down step side .

Bronco ? has no bed and body wont fit your frame . And the newer beds just dont look right at all

 

[shortbed]

Thanks for the response. I will try and find another 73-79 shortbed, as it is you just would not believe this bed is still on the frame. I stare at it from inside (i've got a camper shell over it) and I can see daylight all around the bolts that "hold it to the frame." I'm convinced its just so used to being there it doesn't realize nothing is holding it on. Bless the 70's F150 trucks.

 

[LEB Ben]

I'd try seeing if Dennis Carpenter or the like had a skin to replace the body damage.

 

[Evan's f250]

If you want to go stepside.. I believe mid 60's to 79 would be the correct stepside bed(as they were same were then to 79)

 

[BKW]

I just talked to a guy who's got an 85 Ranger shortbed that he wants $200 for, but I looked at some online pictures and it seems they've all got their gas intake forward of the rear wheel and mine's aft. And is this just too country for anyone else to consider . . . an 80's bed on a 78 frame.

Which shortbed, Styleside or Flareside?

Styleside: 1977/79 same, as the fuel tank(s) are behind door(s). 1973/76: Fuel cap(s) are exposed.

Flareside: 1957/79 essentially the same.

 

[Alvin in AZ]

I can see daylight all around the bolts that "hold it to the frame."

What did you decide or figure out on the bed business?

A nice short bed ain't gonna be cheap and if you find a real nice one it'll
just get all rusted out too. :/

Thought about a homemade flatbed? That flatbed on my son's '75 F250
has sure enough turned out to be super useful and handy.

Alvin in AZ

 

[Alvin in AZ]

http://tucson.craigslist.org/pts/2684783420.html
long wide bed, white $200

 

[BKW]

http://tucson.craigslist.org/pts/2684783420.html
long wide bed, white $200

(sigh) This is not a 1977/79 bed, it's a 1973/76 (or 1977 F250 4WD before serial number Y20,001) bed from a truck that had no mid-ship or aft axle fuel tanks.

Notice the aluminum fuel doors: No such thing as original, these are for aftermarket saddle tanks.

If this was a 1977/79 (1977 F250 4WD from serial number Y20,001) bed, it would have painted fuel door(s)...on the left (drivers) side only.

 

[LEB Ben]

^^^Looks to have some sort of badging below the rear marker lights as well.

 

[Alvin in AZ]

Just looked and the OP's been missing a month. :/

...it's a 1973/76 bed from a truck that {originally only had a cab tank}.

Yeah, I noticed the factory fuel doors were missing too.

That's one of the few things I know about Dents and have
I've been looking for them since before '77 since I'd look to
see if it had dual under-bed tanks like mine did. Let alone
look for the the cute little doors they added. I guess they
made filling the rear tank either tho?

Ben, those say "Custom" my whitebomb's got those too.

Butthead in AZ
ps- Kinda funny/sad that, that old bed layin' in the weeds
is prob'ly less rusty than a rust-belter's freshly washed 'n'
waxed bed that's been garaged most of its life.
pps- If it had the side toolbox I might have been interested!

 

[smokey]

ps- Kinda funny/sad that, that old bed layin' in the weeds
is prob'ly less rusty than a rust-belter's freshly washed 'n'
waxed bed that's been garaged most of its life.

No Prob'ly about it it is in better shape that 99% of all the beds around here.
I see 2000 year trucks with the beds rusted up the old dents and bumps long rusted away and were replaced with Southern beds.

 

[m78]

A decent auto body man can take a long bed side panel and cut it down to fit. If the damage is into the corners , might be a little more difficult but still do-able.