What do you think of this?

[aboz]

OK, here's my idea. I happen to think that the late '55 stepside bed looks a bit dated on the '63-'66. My idea is to put an '88-'98 sportside bed on my '63. I know you purest will protest but think about it. Back in the day (40's, 50's and 60's) the auto industry designed their cars and trucks only three years ahead of production instead of five or even ten like they do now. Trucks were never really thought of in terms of high style like cars and were usually put on the back burner in the design dept. so artist could concentrate on the top selling cars that people wanted. The carryover stepside design was probably a way to save on production costs. Besides, as the 60's progressed, the Fleetside and Styleside designs were becoming more and more popular with truck buyers. Try finding a stepside on the lot these days. Anyway, check out Josue Hernandez's '62 with a modern bed and let me know what you think. I'm not crazy about the Corvette roll pan but hey..to each his own!

[63 & 64 Bowties]

That's been mentioned many times here before. I say, if you like it, go for it. You're the one who matters, nobody else.
But since you're asking for what others think; I vote no. It's just me, but I don't like it.

[70 Suburban]

I just dont think the lines match

[Joemomma1]

I agree with you about the 60s' step side bed but the later model would look worse.

[rwolf9653]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it blends a lot better than I thought it would.

But, bottom line like 63 & 64 Bowties said: If you like it, thats all that matters.

[ChopperDr]

As said before, it's your truck. Me? I think they built a nice looking truck back then and try not to mess with the lines.

Chopster

[markeb01]

Like the opinions above I think it works okay if it's what the owner likes. Personally I never cared for that bed even on the trucks it was designed for. I thought the tail lights looked too pinched in and reminded me of a guy on the ramp at an airport with a pair of flashlight wands.

I was a kid when these trucks were brand new, and thought the 55-59 fenders looked goofy on the brand new body design. When I first saw these in 1959 I assumed they just had a production shortage until the newly designed fenders arrived. By 1966 I realized they had moved on and forgotten they needed to include new fenders.

IMHO the fenders that fit this body style best are the 1973-83? versions. They are wider to match the width of the cab, and the angular styling closely resembles the side cove on the 60-66 series trucks.

[MacAttack]

David would like it!

[aboz]

I do agree 70Suburban and ChopperDr. about the lines. I plan to modify the plastic pieces that hang below the belt line. Maybe even try to fab them in steel. I'm getting better at welding but have decades of experience in fiberglas and bondo. I might even try to shave down the backsides of my existing fenders and graft them to the new bed. I like the idea of having an all steel, double walled bed and tail gate and I've never been crazy about the wood floor thing.

[lakeroadster]

I am a big fan of customization and customization is a truly personal thing. If the '88-'98 sportside does it for you then go for it.

My truck had a 68-72 bed on it when I bought it... one of the first things I did was hang the correct fenders on it. For me a big part of what makes these old trucks fun is the quirky stuff GM did back then... like using the same stepside fenders from 1955 through 1965. I agree the overall stock width step side bed is narrower than the cab width. That bugged me too so I widened mine by 4 inches to correct that. And the old stepside tailgates are way too cool to not use on these trucks.

Since you asked for opinions, I don't think the newer 88-98 bed is an improvement, it's just different.

[taclem]

What bed, who cares, it is on the road isn't it. That was my problem, When I bought my truck no bed was included. I would still be waiting and looking for one now and not have my truck on the road. I used a Seventies short step bed on my '66. It was planned as a substitute until I found the correct bed, but hey I like it and am going to keep it on the truck. Like many of you have said, I built this for me.
Just my two cents.
Taclem

[Joemomma1]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

David would like it!

I dont get it.

[protrash64]

I agree that it does not look good. The step portion in front of the fender looks odd and the top of the fender seems to not line up well with the body. I prefer fleetsides on these trucks, but have seen some really tough lookin' steppers with original style beds on this forum. I'd stick with 60-66 bed.

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by Joemomma1

I dont get it.

Um…. David Hasselhoff? American Icon of the Strange?

[4dranch]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

Um…. David Hasselhoff? American Icon of the Strange?

I'm glad you explained that Mac,

[19GMC63]

I think the 88-98 sportside bed has great potential to look good, but I think it looks out of place in stock form (more so than the OG bed, which looks out place as well). I know it would take a lot of work, but the bed needs to be lowered so the bottom of the step matches up with the bottom of the cab. In turn, the bed rails would have to stretched & raised somehow to make up for that. My next gripe is with the taillights and the whole rear end... a little too modern looking. I think it would be neat to square the back of the bed up (do away with he rounded corners) and install some 60-66 fleetside taillights or similar. Add the perfect bumper and I think it would look pretty cool.

Do you have a larger version of that rear pic? I'd like to do a photochop of what I'm talking about.

Either way, if YOU think it looks good then go for it. Since you asked for opinions, I gave mine.

[ChiefRocka]

Ok...this is what I think...

For sure lose the roll-pan !!!

What if you got some tail-light fill plates, and welded up the light pockets.

Then, hung some modern lights off the sides like the OG step was ??

Mabey some kind of newer hanging LED or something...same style, but modern ??

Otherwise, leave the OG bed

[62 Bowtie]

Not horrible but the wheel/tire combo is fugly and the roll pan needs to go

[MXmaniac]

Originally Posted by aboz

I know you purest will protest but think about it.

You don't have to be a purist to know that it doesn't look good. If the lines don't match up then they don't match up. In my opinion there is nothing that would make one of those beds look good on our trucks. Just my opinion, if you like it then go for it.

[Joemomma1]

Originally Posted by MXmaniac

You don't have to be a purist to know that it doesn't look good. If the lines don't match up then they don't match up. In my opinion there is nothing that would make one of those beds look good on our trucks. Just my opinion, if you like it then go for it.

Could'nt have said it better myself.

[78BO]

Originally Posted by MXmaniac

You don't have to be a purist to know that it doesn't look good. If the lines don't match up then they don't match up. In my opinion there is nothing that would make one of those beds look good on our trucks. Just my opinion, if you like it then go for it.

I too agree, I've seen these beds on 70-80's pickups and they all looked bad to me. I say no. Spend that money on a nice paint job and wood floor for the bed.

[likaroc13]

http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/m...20pics%201966/

just another example i came across that was for sale on craigslist...i'm not a fan of this swap because i think it looks out of place...maybe with some modifications it could look better, but i still don't know if it would work overall...as they say though, "to each his own"....if you like it, go for it

[aboz]

Ok then..here's another idea. What if...using the original bed, I grafted in side sections of a Fleetside around the old fenders to perfectly match the lines of the cab? Has anyone ever done this? I want to keep it a stepside and when I really think about it, it's not the fenders I have a problem with, it's the lack of a double wall bed. It just looks so narrow from the outside as it is. Hey 19GMC63 can you photoshop that?

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Originally Posted by aboz

Ok then..here's another idea. What if...using the original bed, I grafted in side sections of a Fleetside around the old fenders to perfectly match the lines of the cab? Has anyone ever done this? I want to keep it a stepside and when I really think about it, it's not the fenders I have a problem with, it's the lack of a double wall bed. It just looks so narrow from the outside as it is.

Why don't you just build a nice flatbed? 2x2 angle for the sides, flat or expanded steel for the tail panel, pressure treated wood floor, stake pockets, etc. My guess is maybe $200 in steel.

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by aboz

Ok then..here's another idea. What if...using the original bed, I grafted in side sections of a Fleetside around the old fenders to perfectly match the lines of the cab?

Now that's an idea I too have contemplated. Kind of a dually look but with a narrower track width.

When all is said and done you would probably be better off buying a complete fleetside bed, narrowing it, and adding the fenders and steps.

This idea has a lot of potential... but would also be a lot of work.