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flareside bed Question
Posted: May 18, 2009, 10:02 pm
by slick4x4
what year trucks used the same flareside beds as the slicks?
did it go back to the 54 ?
Posted: May 18, 2009, 10:15 pm
by 36truck
1953 till 1979 for the fenders Some where in the 70's Ford made the bed wider & in 76or 77 they made the side rail flat vs a 45* angle.
Posted: May 18, 2009, 10:17 pm
by 6166 Junkyard Dog
Bed sides where used from late 1950 to 1972 on short bed,,, also some 73-77's might have had angled tops instead of the flat top sides,, BUT as the years went by the fender hole locations changed on those rear fenders,, also the center crossmembers changed as the frames changed on the trucks,, Long Beds sides where used 1950-72 as well,, tailgates for these trucks on long bed fit from 1950 to 1987,, 50-52 letters are the same,, 53-79 gates same and 73-79 did not make a difference on bed short or long then 80-87 letters are different but all those years will fit just your preference on looks,, front bed panel on long beds go from 1950 to 1987, just 1980-87 used metric bolts
Posted: May 18, 2009, 10:22 pm
by 36truck
Talk about getting their money's worth. 37 years of the same part. I didn't know that the parts started in 1950.
Posted: May 18, 2009, 10:26 pm
by 6166 Junkyard Dog
oh yes Ford did do some things right on the flaresides as the years changed bed strips changed hole locations changed but outer appearances looked the same mostly due to change of the frames
Posted: May 18, 2009, 10:55 pm
by 36truck
They also kept the rear window frame opening the same for years. From 67 till 96 i believe.
Posted: May 19, 2009, 12:07 am
by Bills 66
Be aware there are difference in heights for the flare side beds. The 66 4x4's bed was taller than my 65 short bed.
Bill
Posted: May 19, 2009, 5:42 am
by slick4x4
thanks for the info guys

Posted: May 19, 2009, 6:28 am
by 6166 Junkyard Dog
Bed sides are taller if it was long bed on that 4x4 other than that all shorts where the same size and also remember Ford made 8 foot and 9 foot beds also but used the same gates,, and Tom on rear glass opening it was the same from 1973-96 unless you had a F250/350 then went to 1999 as long it was that body style that was like the 92-96 series trucks, just like brake pads used from 64 trucks to some ofthe present day trucks,, also if you look close 6 cylinder throttle cables for 65/66 where used on some 73/79 6 cylinder trucks not all but on some,, arm rests for 68/72 used then dropped the reused on the 74-90's van then dropped number and changed to a Freightliner number after that I lost it from there
Posted: May 19, 2009, 8:37 am
by Gritsngumbo
Tom: Isn't there a difference in length on the 8' long bed flare side beds pre-63 and from 64 forward? Actually I mean where the wheel well / fender is placed.
Posted: May 19, 2009, 11:42 am
by 6166 Junkyard Dog
Those side I have seen in Short Bed,, or Long bed 8' and 9' but have seen hole locations in various spots BUT One thing that is confusing is the running board steps of course short bed is all alone but when it comes to long bed I have seen 2 different lengths on those boards with different wheelbases on the trucks...
Posted: May 19, 2009, 11:54 am
by Gritsngumbo
The reason I ask is that I have been told that, for example, a 66 Long bed Flare side bed won't fit on a 63 Long bed frame as the wheelbase is different. I have a 63 Flare bed and a 63 Wrong bed I can measure, but don't have a 65 or 66 to measure.
Posted: May 19, 2009, 12:31 pm
by jwh f-100
Gritsngumbo wrote:The reason I ask is that I have been told that, for example, a 66 Long bed Flare side bed won't fit on a 63 Long bed frame as the wheelbase is different.
That's correct.. Had to remove about 5" from mine to fit.
'66 long bed on a '62 longbed truck
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Posted: May 19, 2009, 1:00 pm
by 6166 Junkyard Dog
WHAT I have here is a 61 flareside 4x4 with 120" wheelbase,, 1964 long bed fleetside 128" wheelbase and then 1966 flareside with 129" wheelbase andall these numbers came off the data plates on doors I Have here a 65 4x4with 57-63 bed on it but no data plate info since already sold that title have to measure that by hand if needed
Posted: May 19, 2009, 1:12 pm
by Gritsngumbo
Tom, no need to measure. My 63 Long Flare side is 122" WB, so looks like the difference is 6" between the 64 and the 63. I saw a picture the other day of a 64 Flare and the stake pocket was toward the front of the rear fender, where mine is in the middle of the fender.
Soooo, i'll be looking for a 63 or earlier long flare when I get to that point on my crew cab. Thanks.
Posted: May 19, 2009, 1:35 pm
by jwh f-100
Gritsngumbo wrote: i'll be looking for a 63 or earlier long flare when I get to that point on my crew cab. Thanks.
OR any slick 4x4 should work, with the exception of the 66 f100 4x4.
Posted: May 19, 2009, 2:02 pm
by ICEMAN6166
6166 Junkyard Dog wrote:WHAT I have here is a 61 flareside 4x4 with 120" wheelbase,, 1964 long bed fleetside 128" wheelbase and then 1966 flareside with 129" wheelbase andall these numbers came off the data plates on doors I Have here a 65 4x4with 57-63 bed on it but no data plate info since already sold that title have to measure that by hand if needed
the 65 4x4 is the same as the 61.
Posted: May 19, 2009, 2:09 pm
by Gritsngumbo
I guess I owe Slick4X4 an apology. Didn't mean to hijack his post. Just thought it was a good time to ask my question. Didn't realize I'd hijacked until just now.
Posted: May 19, 2009, 4:14 pm
by slick4x4
actually, i thougt it added to the post...
didnt bother me in the least
Posted: May 19, 2009, 5:00 pm
by Bills 66
Were there any 66 F100 4X4 short beds? I don't recall ever seeing one.
Bill