Making a single tank '79 bed, a dual '76

[cajundragger]

Hi All,

This weekend I picked up a 'parts' truck that is a complete shortbed '79. It's a single passenger tank, with a fuel door(as was standard in '79 from what I can tell).

I want the bed to swap on my '76 C20 custom deluxe CCLB. I'm trying to build more or less a factory short bed, as it would have come in '76.

The goal is to keep dual tanks, and swap my long bed tanks for shortbed tanks. I want to keep the fuel caps, and loose the fuel door that is currently on the bed.

My questions-

• the easiest way to repair the passenger side of the bed is to put a bedside on it. I figure I can buy a round fuel fill bedside panel for 73-78 trucks. This would fix my dents and give me the correct fuel filler on the passenger side.
• the drivers bedside is in good shape. No need for a full bedside change. Is adding the fuel filler as simple as getting a patch with the filler I want and putting it in the bedside? What about the inside bed pieces that support the filler? The floor is already notched for a filler... Doesn't anyone know of a supplier for just the filler opening in the bedside or do I need another donor bed to chop it out of?
• I'm going to swap the hardware on the tailgate to the earlier first style. Is there anything else I need to do to make the '79 bed precisely a '76 bed?
• Can I use my stock long bed fuel filler tubes? I'm not trying to cut up my current long bed as it's in good condition, but I can rob all the bolt on parts off it...

I appreciate any info you guys have. Thanks.