harlangto

I want to build a flareside supercab using my 1987 F150 short bed scab, does anyone know if a 1987 flareside bed is a direct replacement of the styleside short bed and/ or if any modifications are required due to wheel base? I have seen a brick nose with '92 ish flareside bed.

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

it's a bolt - on. Bumper and fuel filler hoses are different

Steve83

Up to '91, it was still called "stepside". Up to ~'84, the wheel houses were steel; then they became fiberglass, but the steel bed (single-walled) was still visible fore & aft. The early bed floor (as shown) was wood with steel hold-down strips; later, it was stamped steel like fleetsides.


(phone app link)

The name "FlareSide" only applies to a full fiberglass exterior bedside.


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This is an '88 I found in a JY with a flareside bed swapped on (fairly well):


(phone app link)


(phone app link)

harlangto

not exactly as easy as bolt on, but close - I really need to investigate the overall wheelbase to finalize my decision.
I did find this nice chart that shows bed info length/widthFlareside 97-03 81" 65 1/4"-57" 92-9684"57"79-9181"63" Short Wide97-03 80" 70 1/2"-69 1/4"73-9683"73"64-7280"73"
2" variance from '87 SWB to Flare

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

Yes it is that easy. If a short box came off a fenderside will go on. Same frame configuration from 80 to 96. They didn't build a special frame for trucks that got fenderside boxes.
It's a bolt on.

Steve83

If that's true, the wheelbases should be identical. With a 2" WB difference, there MUST be a difference in the frames.

Chris_1

iTrader: (1)

Those aren't wheelbase dimensions. They are overall box dimensions.
Look up 7th, 8th, and 9th generation wheelbase dimensions.
The only significant change to the frame over the 3 generations are the frame horns.

Steve83

I saw "wheelbase" above the list of numbers and assumed that's what he was listing.

The frame horns didn't change in '87 - they just got 2 more little bolt slots. But there was a change in '82 when the rear section lost several large holes. And most '92-96s also have a reinforcement welded on below the front seats.


(phone app link)


(phone app link)