Can this be done?? Are the fenders the same. I like the flat top bed better then slanted,and someone welded steel in the boyyom of my bed so I have to deal with that crap. If I can just change it out I'll look for a 54 bed. Maybe 55. Anybody know??
54 AD bed The 54 bed sits a bit different on the frame (the 54 frame is different than the 47-53). I believe that GM advertised one of the big "new" improvements for 54 over the older trucks was a lower bed floor (something like 2") than was previously available. Easier to load, etc. Might be simpler to put your earlier cab on a 54 frame if you want the 54 bed to sit right, or you may have to do some frame mods. The 54 bed does not mount on wood blocks like the earlier beds. One of our resident experts will jump in here shortly, but this is what I think I know. Jim
I'm certainly not the resident expert, but... Here's what I know. The fenders are the same, so no problem there. However, the frames are completely different on the '54 vs the previous years. The '54 frame did not have a pronounced hump over the differential like the previous years. 48 thru 53 requires wood block spacers between the frame and bed to compensate for the hump, whereas the 54/55's did not. The tailgates are not interchangable either as the 54 tailgate is taller.
Breezy, here's a tech article I found on Mar-K's site today that might help you out. http://www.mar-k.com/54_bed_on_a_53_frame.html Ken
Thanks Ken. I think I'll just hunt for a different bed for the 52. I'm going to cut the metal back out and see what I end up with from that point.
