I am 20 and am about to pick up my second major project and it is a 1965 Chevy Fleetside in spring for my new project. I really prefer the look of a Stepside bed and would like to convert my Fleetside. Is there a difference with bed mounting points, bed length, cab size or would it be a straight swap? I am not sure and would like some info from anybody who knows these trucks. Please help
It's a bolt on if you get the right bed, but there are differences for different years, even when the beds look the same. Year breaks are 55-59, 60-62, 63-66, 67-72, 73-86
If your bed is a decent short box, you should be able to swap to somebody for a step. Most guys want the fleet... Rich
I'll second that last statement... Most all I know would rather have a nice fleetside than the smaller step.
I don't see any reason why 60-66 wouldn't be a direct bolt on. That style or generation of pickup runs from 60-66. Yes the cabs are different from 60-63 (wrap around windshield) 64-66 doesn't have the wrap around gl***. I know the fenders on the second series 55-59 look the same but I have no idea if they are. There is an excellent subforum for these pickups over at www.67-72chevytrucks.com . If you haven't already been there check it out. I'm sure a truck specific site would be helpful for your project. I also agree that if your fleet bed is in good shape trading for a stepside bed shouldn't be a problem.
should bolt right on...if your fleetside bed is good shape it'll get gobbled right up as like others have said most guys want the fleetside...myself included
Have you ever worked on these '60-'66 Chevy truck before ? Well if you had you would know that '60-'62 Have a Torsion bar front suspension & the Entire frame is Different than '63-'66. The Frame rails are narrower in How wide they are spaced apart & the actuall Thickness or Hidth of the rails are shorter & boxed on the Early as opposed to the Later. Mounting rails on '60-'63 are all different in configuration & Location. My personal opinion is to leave the Fleet side bed on this truck, This body Truck was built for the Fleet bed as a Step Side is an after thought useing that last body design Bed. I have had several of these trucks, Just bought another '65 last week.
Yes sir, I have worked on em before. I had a 66 for a short period of time but it was a 4x4. I knew that the earlier pickups had the torsion bar suspension but I was unaware of the frame differences. I would also keep the fleet bed if it was mine.
A decent Fleetside short bed for 60-66 trucks is very hard to find indeed. I know I spent a lot of time looking all over the country a couple of years ago. This included a wild goose chase in the hills of North Carolina while on vacation. Is that banjo music I hear? Not withstanding the frame differences of the 60-62 trucks, I think Chevy kept the bed mounting points in the same place. Even if they didn't, it should be a pretty easy deal to mount just about any Chevy stepside bed on your '65. If you look at Chevy (and other makes too) stepside beds, very little changed other than fenders from the mid 50's through the 80's. Maybe you can find one that was made into a trailer and save it. To answer one of your questions, shortbeds are 6', both Fleetside and stepside. Longbeds are 8'. And if you are down south a shortbed Fleetside is a shortwide. I'd stick with the Fleetside if I were you, much more valuable and a cleaner look. And if your truck is a longbed, please don't put one of those nasty ugly longbed stepsides on!
It is a shortbox and I don't plan on leaving it stock. I am not very into a nice lookin stock truck and I plan on modifying it so I am not concerned with losing the more valuable Fleetside bed. I just prefer the Stepside look and I would like this to be a mild custom. Just something cool to cruise around in. Thanks for the info and when I check it out I will let you guys know if someone is interested in a trade or something
Here's one way to customize a stepside, fill the stake pockets and smooth everything out. This is on a 1980 C10 so it is OT but other than the fenders, the bed will be similar to your '65.
I had a 59 long bed Fleetside which is now in Denmark. I had to remove the bed wood for rot and recall the driver side to p***enger side mounting supports determined the bed mount bolt location, not the main frame that runs from front to back. I think the mount issues should be managable as long as you have the right support brackets. Maybe some expert can verify but I think the bed supports across the frame are what determines the bed mounts not the frame itself. Fleetsides are rarer and it should be easier to swap your bed for a stepside than vice versa. The new owner of my truck bought it even though it was not a short bed because the bed style was more important than the length to him. Keep hunting and good luck.
Sell the more desirable fleetside to someone who appreciates it, and you buy one thats a stepside already, much easier to find anyway.
The truck ran 2 years ago when it was parked and I am getting it for next to nothing so instead of looking for a stepside I think swapping the fleetside is the way to go with it. Plus the cab is suprisingly clean so I dont think I could get a better deal, especially in upstate NY.
There are a couple of triangle mud guards (one each side) that bolt on the lower cornerof the cab to keep **** from the step!
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