Wood for bed!

I have a 53 3100, I have a wood kit for a 54 3100 can I marry the two?
Also New Guy in Alabama!

Welcome Ratfink!

Yes, you can use '54 wood planks on a '53, but be advised that they are about 1/4" longer on the '54's than they were on the '53's.

Nice handle. Takes me back to the '60's when Ed "Big Daddy" Roth was in his prime!

Ken

Now for the caveats!

In my previous post, I said that the wood would work. The dimensions of the boards should be the same, i.e. width, thickness and length (subject to the removal of 1/4" +/-). However, the issue now is whether or not the holes with the offset washers are the same. Each outermost plank has 2 of them and they attach the bed to the frame in the back of the truck bed. The next innermost planks on each side have 1 of them and they secure the bed to the frame in front. I do not know if the holes and offset washers are drilled in the same spots on the '53 and '54. Now, if you have planks that are not pre-drilled, I'll stand pat on my first post. (Damn, I've been hanging out with our lawyers too much lately)

Hopes this helps.

Ken

Thanks,The wood is not drilled!,,,Yet!

Ratfink said:

Thanks,The wood is not drilled!,,,Yet!

Click to expand...

That's a good thing. Now, my previous bloviation about the holes with the offset washers is applicable to my truck, which is a '50. Chevy changed the design of the bed in mid-production in '51. Early '51's had 9 planks (like mine), late '51's thru '53 went to 8 planks. So, with that said, not only do I not know the difference between '54 and '53, but I also don't know if what I told you about the location of the holes is appropriate for your truck. But, we're getting there!

Hopefully I will be doing this soon. I will post pictures.