Truck bed swap?

[ddub]

I have a 62 T cab with long wide box. I have a long narrow Stude bed of unknown vintage (49 or later) on a trailer. Can I fit the narrow box on the Champ? I believe this combo was not available after 61.

I think there were some changes in the narrow bed over the years, how can I identify the bed I have?

Don Wilson
53 Commander Hardtop
64 Champ 1/2 ton
WA state

[PackardV8]

The 1949-55 beds were an even 4' wide.

PackardV8

[Roscomacaw]

Actualy, I believe the early C-cab beds are a wee bit under 4ft. But it WILL fit just fine on your 62 truck.

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[DilloCrafter]

My 1950 truck brochure shows the bed's inside width as 48 1/2" - here's the page:

http://www.tocmp.com/brochures/Studebaker/1950/Truck/Images/StudebakerTruck_1950_14.jpg

They became wider in 1956. I believe 51"?

Anyway, if they put the 3" wider bed on the same frame in 1956 as had previously held the narrower bed, and if they put that 1956 vintage bed on the first T-cab trucks, then I'm betting you could put on a 1949 bed. Didn't the frame remain the same for the T-cabs as for the C-cabs that preceded them? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[img=left]http://rocketdillo.com/studebaker/misc/images/Current_Avacar.gif[/img=left] - DilloCrafter


1955 1/2 Ton Pickup
The Red-Headed Amazon

[PackardV8]

Hi, Mr. Biggs,

FWIW, over the past 25 years, I have hauled hundreds of 4' wide sheets of plywood, drywall and whatever and they always slide inside my 1955 box.

However, the box is just a tad shorter than 8' long with the tailgate closed. Have to leave it down when hauling 8' goods.

thnx, jv.

PackardV8

[unclemiltie]

The beds on the TCABS had additional spacers under the rails where they went to the frame. They were welded on and looked like pieces of 3/4 pipe. You can use washers for the same effect. I found this out when I took a narrow tcab bed and put it on a transtar. I had to cut off the spacers.

[Roscomacaw]

PackardV8, I've never actually owned a pre-57 PU, but I'll bet the extra couple of inches of width came about because with a standard of 4'X 8' sheets of building material (I wonder WHEN said standard was established), it was just easier to manuver the stuff with a couple inches to spare instead of a relativley close fit.
How much clearance to the sides of those 4X8 sheets do you have?

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[ddub]

Thanks all for the input. This particular bed is 48.5" X 96.25" or slightly over 4' X 8'.

Don Wilson
53 Commander Hardtop
64 Champ 1/2 ton
WA state

[stude53]

Hey ddub,

Crazy question!

Do you have a good set of fenders to put on that skinny bed?

Regards,
Bob (stude53)[8D]

[DilloCrafter]

I wish my '55 truck had a 51 in. wide bed, because a sheet of 49" x 96" MDF is 1/2 inch too wide to lay down flat!

Biggsy, that's a good question about when the standard 4x8 sheet of plywood became a standard. I only know that plywood came into popular use after WWII.

[img=left]http://rocketdillo.com/studebaker/misc/images/Current_Avacar.gif[/img=left] - DilloCrafter


1955 1/2 Ton Pickup
The Red-Headed Amazon

[Roscomacaw]

I've got a neighbor that retired from selling plywood about 10 years ago. I'll ask him if he knows anything as to when the sheet size was standardized.

Miscreant at large.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[ddub]

quote:Crazy question!

Do you have a good set of fenders to put on that skinny bed?

Regards,
Bob (stude53)

Actually I do. I also bought the kit from Classic Enterprises to add a fender mounted spare. I was their first customer for that product. Hope to get it installed this summer.

Don Wilson
53 Commander Hardtop
64 Champ 1/2 ton
WA state