58 fleet: long vs. short bed? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Tod59 · 03-03-2016, 12:15 PM

Hey Guys,

I have a 59 short box fleet. The passenger side bed "spear" was damaged at one time and previous owner didn't fix it very good. Also, I found some repair and bondo around the passenger side rear wheel well.

Question: If I found a fleet long bed box, is the wheel well area the same as a short bed the same dimensions wise? Could I cut portions of the long spear out and graft it into my short spear?
Thanks.

Foot Stomper · 03-03-2016, 01:22 PM

Hey Tod,
Count yourself lucky that you have a spear...rare as hen's teeth.

I doubt you're going to find another piece but you never know... maybe someone here has a salvage one to help out with. The straight pieces are very likely the same for both short and long boxes but I am only guessing!

How about posting some pictures?

The spears are stainless steel which can be welded, shaped, filed and polished to repair to "like new" condition. Perhaps you have the pieces you need, only need to find someone who can repair them for you?

Tod59 · 03-03-2016, 02:12 PM

Hey, sorry about my description. I am trying to describe the black metal stamped "spear" down the side of the bed, stamped from the factory. Mine was fixed by previous owner, but not correctly. I also noticed some body filler behind the pass side wheel well too, if I found an old long bed fleet, just wondering if the wheel well portion is the same dimensions as the short fleet? Thinking about cutting out old spear damaged parts and welding in new tried long bed metal spears. Will it work?
Sorry about the confusion I created.

_Ogre · 03-03-2016, 02:31 PM

bed spear? that's what i'd call it too. trim goes over the bed spear
i can't imagine why you couldn't use the long bed to fix the short bed
unfortunately the bed is double walled in that area

read orrieg's build, i believe he cut out the inner wall to do some repair on the bed side

Foot Stomper · 03-03-2016, 02:32 PM

Hey Tod, no problem. thanks for clarifying and posting a picture.

Foot Stomper · 03-03-2016, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Ogre

bed spear? that's what i'd call it too. trim goes over the bed spear

Exactly! This is what I screwed up by not reading more carefully. my apologies guys!

03-03-2016, 12:15 PM	#1
Tod59 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Michign Posts: 175	58 fleet: long vs. short bed? Hey Guys, I have a 59 short box fleet. The passenger side bed "spear" was damaged at one time and previous owner didn't fix it very good. Also, I found some repair and bondo around the passenger side rear wheel well. Question: If I found a fleet long bed box, is the wheel well area the same as a short bed the same dimensions wise? Could I cut portions of the long spear out and graft it into my short spear? Thanks.

03-03-2016, 01:22 PM	#2
Foot Stomper Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 1,252	Re: 58 fleet: long vs. short bed? Hey Tod, Count yourself lucky that you have a spear...rare as hen's teeth. I doubt you're going to find another piece but you never know... maybe someone here has a salvage one to help out with. The straight pieces are very likely the same for both short and long boxes but I am only guessing! How about posting some pictures? The spears are stainless steel which can be welded, shaped, filed and polished to repair to "like new" condition. Perhaps you have the pieces you need, only need to find someone who can repair them for you? __________________ So when is this "Old enough to know better" supposed to kick in? My 1959 GMC build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=686989

03-03-2016, 02:12 PM	#3
Tod59 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Michign Posts: 175	Re: 58 fleet: long vs. short bed? Hey, sorry about my description. I am trying to describe the black metal stamped "spear" down the side of the bed, stamped from the factory. Mine was fixed by previous owner, but not correctly. I also noticed some body filler behind the pass side wheel well too, if I found an old long bed fleet, just wondering if the wheel well portion is the same dimensions as the short fleet? Thinking about cutting out old spear damaged parts and welding in new tried long bed metal spears. Will it work? Sorry about the confusion I created. Attached Images

03-03-2016, 02:31 PM	#4
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,677	Re: 58 fleet: long vs. short bed? bed spear? that's what i'd call it too. trim goes over the bed spear i can't imagine why you couldn't use the long bed to fix the short bed unfortunately the bed is double walled in that area read orrieg's build, i believe he cut out the inner wall to do some repair on the bed side __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

03-03-2016, 02:32 PM	#5
Foot Stomper Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 1,252	Re: 58 fleet: long vs. short bed? Hey Tod, no problem. thanks for clarifying and posting a picture. __________________ So when is this "Old enough to know better" supposed to kick in? My 1959 GMC build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=686989



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