lowering the sides of a long bed

milldogg22 · Post by **milldogg22** » October 31, 2011, 9:20 pm

i was wondering if anyone out there has done or has seen a long bed stepside that someone lowered the bed sides to match the height of a short bed. i would like to lower my bed sides down so they would match the cab lines better. i guess maybe cutting out the lower section of the bed sides. i think if the sides where 2.5 inches lower it would look alot better.. just seeing if anyone has any input on this... thanks

slickmainer · Post by **slickmainer** » October 31, 2011, 9:48 pm

i can't quiet picture this, i'll have to google some images. seems like a bunch of cutting though.

Post by **foodstick** » November 1, 2011, 12:37 am

I think possibly Matt scratch built his own box side pieces.. I always thought the bed sides looked about 4-5 inchs to tall as well.

It could be done different ways i suppose.. it depends on what you want it to end up looking like .....

F7BIGJOB · Post by **F7BIGJOB** » November 1, 2011, 4:51 am

I like 'em high

slickmainer · Post by **slickmainer** » November 1, 2011, 7:30 am

Steve I love your truck. anytime you want to trade you just let me know!

65fordguy · Post by **65fordguy** » November 1, 2011, 1:32 pm

you could do it like a lot of these guys who slam their trucks... cut all the cross members and get the bed where you want it.. ( you may have to notch the front of your bed) ..and attach the bed either with new cross members or mounts of your choice.. this way your exterior bed sheet metal is un harmed. You will also need to attach a new lip for your floor to rest on.. angle iron/ 1x.. whatever.. I was going to use angle and drill holes and plug weld .. now you have a new mounting surface.. you could actually attach your new cross members to this... This is the method I considered doing when I still had a step side ( short bed ) I wanted to lower ( not much -- just a little ) the bed and give the appearance a lot like the older fords with a larger cab and smaller bed.. too me the step beds on these trucks over power the cabs.. doing this on my truck would of required raising the steps and shaving the bottom of the fender.. you may be able to get away with it on the larger beds though.

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » November 1, 2011, 5:23 pm

F7BIGJOB wrote:
I like 'em high

Me too!

Post by **foodstick** » November 1, 2011, 6:00 pm

At the risk of starting a double wrong box thread

is the stepside they used an EXACT version of another earlier trucks box, or is it unique to our trucks? it seems strange that it also doesn't come down low enough to match the cab at the bottom also...

DirtyHerri · Post by **DirtyHerri** » November 1, 2011, 6:32 pm

No, the Slick step-side (flare side to use correct Ford term) are somewhat different than the earlier Ford trucks.

I believe the area that meets the steps are different. Also, I've been told the holes for the fender or either higher or lower (can't remember which), but I have never confirmed this. I would measure the slick bed against my '56, but I on long have the slick flare-side bed (sorry..).

So, even though the Slick and the earlier beds look very much the same it appears Ford did change them some.

Also, I agree about the flare-side bed looking a bit tall in respect to the cab on slicks. I though seriously about doing a small chop/channel or whatever hot rods call it to the bed-side on my truck. However, I found a great deal on a style-side bed and ended up just switching to that bed.

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » November 1, 2011, 9:13 pm

how is jim's truck done? the lowered green 66 long flair side. his name's jim isn't it?

jeepbut · Post by **jeepbut** » November 4, 2011, 8:07 pm

Chris, I think the green truck you are thinking of used 78-79 step side bed sides. They came from the factory flat on top. Could be 77 also, but I think only 78-79. Thanks, Lyman.

36truck · Post by **36truck** » November 4, 2011, 8:53 pm

Yes 77 had the flat tops also.

fire truck · Post by **fire truck** » November 4, 2011, 9:22 pm

Didn't the flat tops start in 73...

tomsrod · Post by **tomsrod** » November 4, 2011, 10:29 pm

Nice truck! Great colors too. I've always liked the flareside long beds with the high sides.

HiBoy63 · Post by **HiBoy63** » November 4, 2011, 11:57 pm

I cast my vote for leaving em High.

Alan Mclennan · Post by **Alan Mclennan** » November 5, 2011, 3:01 am

Is there a step that goes between the cab and the front of the rear guard?, if not, they would be a bugger to work out of!

F7BIGJOB · Post by **F7BIGJOB** » November 5, 2011, 4:59 am

Alan Mclennan wrote:Is there a step that goes between the cab and the front of the rear guard?, if not, they would be a bugger to work out of!

Alan yes steps are supposed to be there, just the one set I have,have New England patina= rotted to death.

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » November 5, 2011, 10:13 am

A little Photoshop Fun...
[albumimg]9358[/albumimg]

F7BIGJOB · Post by **F7BIGJOB** » November 5, 2011, 10:50 am

My donor bed [junk- sittin behind garage] po painted the top inside and the top outside white to match the red/white cab it was on. Didn't look too bad [coming from me , a portagee], but not enough to paint my new bed like that.
Dan [to me] that is amazing what you can edit on a pic

Rusty 63 · Post by **Rusty 63** » November 5, 2011, 12:20 pm

The Carpenter (Dennis? Dan? - I always get them confused) that makes beds can make them the way you want...