Steel to Wood Bed Conversion - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

84_4x4 · 03-13-2007, 12:53 PM

i have a 71 fleet side lwb steel bed on my truck that is almost completely rusted out from over 25 years of po using a plastic bed liner. i will need to replace wheel arches and inner fender and front panel and also the tailgate. i would really like to have a wood floor but i don't know what all i need to buy is there a conversion kit?

when i was looking at parts to replace rusted side panels and front panel it asked if i had a steel floor or a wood floor so i wasent sure if i needed to buy them for a wood floor or for steel floor and get a conversion kit.

super72bb · 03-13-2007, 06:10 PM

Yes to convert your steel bed to a wood floor you need...

the bed crossmembers (all), you need a different front bed panel. The steel floor front bed panel is different. You will need the rear box crossmember for the wood floor. You will need the wood, and the bed strips including the bolt kits for the floor and the bed front panel. Could be a bit spendy for all of this but if you take your time on the wood finish and bed refinishing it is a big payoff.

I will add a couple of pictures of my floor in my 72 shortbed. This photo was taken before it was all bolted in. The wood is 1/4 sawn Oak. The board member that cut this wood for me was Classicchev (Darren) you may want to give him a Pm if you are looking for something custom. he is a cabinet maker by trade and does incredible work.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Curt

COACHMEASON · 03-13-2007, 06:21 PM

Now I remember why I have passed on SWB w/ metal and patiently waited for my wood SWB bed...Nice bed

68Mike · 03-13-2007, 06:25 PM

That's one

nice looking bed! I'm looking into doing the same conversion. I was told that if I keep my metal bed panel then I would need an adapter or I could buy a "new" panel specifically for the wood bed. I also would need to buy one more crossmember to go between the last two rear ones. This will support the wood. I'm still looking into this and will be tearing my bed apart in the next few day. I want my bed to look like super72BB's...sweeeeet

msgross · 03-13-2007, 06:29 PM

sounds like you have two bedsides... I found all my cross members and strips at a local swap meet for $120. The rear sill is the pricey one... Check out Mar-k (site vendor, they have a website too) for good parts or gmcpauls.com (site vendor) for parts and instructions. You could spend about $1,000 for all the parts you need, but look how nice it is!

Here's what mine looked like! Still apart right now...I have black NOS wood to go back in but still waiting for a new front panel...

84_4x4 · 03-13-2007, 06:56 PM

thanks for the quick reply now i have a shopping list and some motivation to get some more hours in at work

super72bb · 03-13-2007, 07:25 PM

hey 68mike,

I am not exactly sure of the difference between the steel bed front and the wood floor bed front. I am sure it is a difference in height is all, in other words the distance from the top edge to the bottom is different between the two, and the wood front panel is obviously stamped different for the holes. the cost of a new one is quite resonable plus they look so good when they are new, since the panel is single wall it is hard to find an original rust free and straight.

Curt

RACINJASON22 · 03-13-2007, 09:30 PM

Quote:

That's one

nice looking bed!

I love the wood beds!

**special-K** · 03-13-2007, 10:33 PM

The woodfloor front panel bottom flange is approx.3/4" deeper.

dingo_dan_22 · 03-14-2007, 01:59 AM

My uncle wants to convert his 72' swb gmc to a wood floor. He was wondering who makes the covnersion kit. Anyone know?

brak · 03-14-2007, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dingo_dan_22

My uncle wants to convert his 72' swb gmc to a wood floor. He was wondering who makes the covnersion kit. Anyone know?

Mar-k has a product that will allow you to modify your front panel for use with a wood bed.

they have everything you need, and are great to work with.

**special-K** · 03-14-2007, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dingo_dan_22

My uncle wants to convert his 72' swb gmc to a wood floor. He was wondering who makes the covnersion kit. Anyone know?

Golden State Pickup Parts.I know they aren`t a site vendor.And,no longer owned by it`s founder.But,they began this whole replacement parts supply thing and developed many firsts in the repro market.They were my supplier before the internet,still a great resource.

arkracing · 03-14-2007, 06:59 AM

84_4x4:
It sounds like you current bed needs alot of patch panel work. Would you be better off trying to find a bed in better condidtion that may have already had a wood floor.

I was thinking about converting mine as well - only because the steel floors get beat up easily and are harder to repair. A wood bed can get all ripped up and you can just replace the wood

**special-K** · 03-14-2007, 09:23 AM

A wood floor is the only new floor available,too.

03-13-2007, 12:53 PM	#1
84_4x4 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Ky Posts: 179	Steel to Wood Bed Conversion i have a 71 fleet side lwb steel bed on my truck that is almost completely rusted out from over 25 years of po using a plastic bed liner. i will need to replace wheel arches and inner fender and front panel and also the tailgate. i would really like to have a wood floor but i don't know what all i need to buy is there a conversion kit? when i was looking at parts to replace rusted side panels and front panel it asked if i had a steel floor or a wood floor so i wasent sure if i needed to buy them for a wood floor or for steel floor and get a conversion kit. __________________ 1971 c10 350ci long bed fleet side

03-13-2007, 06:10 PM	#2
super72bb Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: calgary,Alberta,Canada Posts: 387	Re: Steel to Wood Bed Conversion Yes to convert your steel bed to a wood floor you need... the bed crossmembers (all), you need a different front bed panel. The steel floor front bed panel is different. You will need the rear box crossmember for the wood floor. You will need the wood, and the bed strips including the bolt kits for the floor and the bed front panel. Could be a bit spendy for all of this but if you take your time on the wood finish and bed refinishing it is a big payoff. I will add a couple of pictures of my floor in my 72 shortbed. This photo was taken before it was all bolted in. The wood is 1/4 sawn Oak. The board member that cut this wood for me was Classicchev (Darren) you may want to give him a Pm if you are looking for something custom. he is a cabinet maker by trade and does incredible work. Hope this helps Cheers Curt Attached Images __________________ 1972 CHEYENNE SUPER SWB BLACK. 402 BB, TH400, AIR, TILT, TACH, BUCKETS, CRUISE, AM/FM, 8 TRACK. My build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post7120181

03-13-2007, 06:21 PM	#3
COACHMEASON Keep On Keepin' On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 416	Re: Steel to Wood Bed Conversion Now I remember why I have passed on SWB w/ metal and patiently waited for my wood SWB bed...Nice bed

03-13-2007, 06:25 PM	#4
68Mike Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Salinas,Ca 93906 Posts: 502	Re: Steel to Wood Bed Conversion That's one nice looking bed! I'm looking into doing the same conversion. I was told that if I keep my metal bed panel then I would need an adapter or I could buy a "new" panel specifically for the wood bed. I also would need to buy one more crossmember to go between the last two rear ones. This will support the wood. I'm still looking into this and will be tearing my bed apart in the next few day. I want my bed to look like super72BB's...sweeeeet __________________ Mike Currents: '74 Cheyenne Super C30 Camper Special 3+3 aka "Sucia30" Past: '79 C10 BIG 10 (Sold) 69 CST LWB - Always a "Work in progress" true work truck (stolen) 05 GSXR 750 it has a pretty paint job _wrecked 72 SWB full frame restoration -sold! 71 CST K5 Blazer 4x4 (soon to be 2wd)-project - sold! C10 Club 2012 Brothers Show Video http://youtu.be/pUeV2vP7Wpo

03-13-2007, 06:29 PM	#5
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: Steel to Wood Bed Conversion sounds like you have two bedsides... I found all my cross members and strips at a local swap meet for $120. The rear sill is the pricey one... Check out Mar-k (site vendor, they have a website too) for good parts or gmcpauls.com (site vendor) for parts and instructions. You could spend about $1,000 for all the parts you need, but look how nice it is! Here's what mine looked like! Still apart right now...I have black NOS wood to go back in but still waiting for a new front panel... Attached Images __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer" Last edited by msgross; 03-13-2007 at 06:31 PM.

03-13-2007, 06:56 PM	#6
84_4x4 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Ky Posts: 179	Re: Steel to Wood Bed Conversion thanks for the quick reply now i have a shopping list and some motivation to get some more hours in at work __________________ 1971 c10 350ci long bed fleet side

03-13-2007, 07:25 PM	#7
super72bb Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: calgary,Alberta,Canada Posts: 387	Re: Steel to Wood Bed Conversion hey 68mike, I am not exactly sure of the difference between the steel bed front and the wood floor bed front. I am sure it is a difference in height is all, in other words the distance from the top edge to the bottom is different between the two, and the wood front panel is obviously stamped different for the holes. the cost of a new one is quite resonable plus they look so good when they are new, since the panel is single wall it is hard to find an original rust free and straight. Curt __________________ 1972 CHEYENNE SUPER SWB BLACK. 402 BB, TH400, AIR, TILT, TACH, BUCKETS, CRUISE, AM/FM, 8 TRACK. My build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post7120181

03-13-2007, 10:33 PM	#9
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Steel to Wood Bed Conversion The woodfloor front panel bottom flange is approx.3/4" deeper. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

03-14-2007, 01:59 AM	#10
dingo_dan_22 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 119	Re: Steel to Wood Bed Conversion My uncle wants to convert his 72' swb gmc to a wood floor. He was wondering who makes the covnersion kit. Anyone know? __________________ 71' Chevrolet -> 350c.i. w/ 600 Edelbrock Carb, Headers, P/S, 3/5 Drop

03-14-2007, 06:59 AM	#13
arkracing Weekend Warrior Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: CT Posts: 1,787	Re: Steel to Wood Bed Conversion 84_4x4: It sounds like you current bed needs alot of patch panel work. Would you be better off trying to find a bed in better condidtion that may have already had a wood floor. I was thinking about converting mine as well - only because the steel floors get beat up easily and are harder to repair. A wood bed can get all ripped up and you can just replace the wood __________________ -'07 GMC Sierra K2500HD -'66 C10 Suburban -'68/'71 K20 Service Bed Project -'69 Chevy C30 Mason Dump -'33Ford P/U 396ChevyPowered

03-14-2007, 09:23 AM	#14
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Steel to Wood Bed Conversion A wood floor is the only new floor available,too. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

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