Long bed for '71 F-250

[nxne75]

Looking to buy a good condition long bed for my '71 F-250 - surface rust and dents not a problem, but am looking for something that doesn't have any major rot (that's the current problem with mine.) I'm located in the metro Detroit area but will travel a reasonable distance (or even a slightly unreasonable distance) for a good bed. I'm interested primarily in a '70-'72 bed because of the use of the side marker lamp extensions in the rear. Thanks,

Keith
nxne75@yahoo.com

[1972hiboy]

Dont know how far you want to go but ive got a pretty decent 72 bed. no rust at all. just some waves in the bed floor. if you make the trek and get it off the truck you can have it.

[nxne75]

Thanks for the offer and I'm crazy enough that I'd consider driving all the way to get the bed, but I think it's probably just a little too far. Thanks anyway, though.

[bigtimbo]

I have a 71 F100 Long bed. The floor bed has pin hole rust spots. I live in Virginia. Mapquest says I'm 552 miles from troy Michigan. About 9 Hrs. Let me know if you are interested?

[nxne75]

Well, considering 9 hrs. is shorter than the distance it takes to drive from Detroit to visit my family in northern NJ, then yes, I'd be very interested Do you have pics of the bed you can send me? My email address is nxne75@yahoo.com. I'd seriously consider making the drive if the bed is in decent shape - surface rust and dents is OK with me, just not too interested in major rot (that's what my current bed has right now.)

[knucklejs]

There are pics of a really nice '72 long bed here in the Cedar Rapids Iowa Craigslist ad this week. He still had it as of a few hours ago. just an fyi...

[nxne75]

Thanks for the heads up; I went on the Cedar Rapids CL and it's still on there with pics. I may have to give him a call.

[convincor]

how about Ohio http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-8FT-1968-S ... ed&vxp=mtr
I've got rear corners you could transplant in for the marker lights..
"Google maps says 259 mi, 4 hours 24 mins"

NV to far...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-79-FORD-TR ... ba&vxp=mtr

[convincor]

how about brand new quarters..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-72-Ford-F1 ... 3f&vxp=mtr

[nxne75]

I appreciate your offer, but I've got a lead on a whole truck for $700 locally, minus the drivetrain, which is fine with me since I don't need one. Plus the truck locally is a '71, too, so I wouldn't have to add on the rear marker lamp extensions....but that being said, how difficult is it to add on the correct extensions? I've always been under the impression it's more hassle than it's worth, considering there are still good, correct beds out there to be had, but maybe I'm wrong? I've rejected a handful of decent beds that were pre--1970 because they didn't have the rear marker lamp extensions. Just curious.

[convincor]

I would just graft in the area around the light rather than doing the whole extension.
but that would be if I had no other option and the right bed wasn't available. Which here in the northeast, you take what you can get..
BTW, if you get that 71 and have some decent fenders I'd be interested.. maybe even a partial..

[nxne75]

Grafting it in is pretty much what I figured would have to be done; from looking at the piece it looks like you'd have to undo a whole bunch of spotwelds to remove the rear extension and then spotweld on the other one - not something I'd like to tangle with if I didn't have to. I know all about rusty sheetmetal from the northeast - I grew up in northern NJ! Not a whole lot of pristine sheet metal there, ha. And here in Detroit it's even worse!

As far as the parts truck - if I can part with the fenders, I'll consider passing them along to you. I'm buying the parts truck only for the bed, but after further review of my '71...I may actually need a passenger door (someone backed into the lower part of mine - somehow missed the rocker panel, amazingly) and possibly one of the fenders.

Do you need a hood at all? Depending on how the hood is on this parts truck (I think it was pretty good) I may be willing to part it out. I bought a replacement hood off a '69 F-100 for my truck that is in excellent shape that I'm keeping - don't need two hoods, you know? (the one that's currently on my '71 is crushed badly.)

[convincor]

I have a good hood. My biggest headache is fenders.
I've got a few fenders but only one passenger the has damage on the front side of the wheel well.
drivers I have 3. out them one is fixable with minor rt at the rear.
There is a guy who has a ad on CL looking for a hood..
http://hartford.craigslist.org/pts/3269613467.html

[nxne75]

I'll check the fenders when I get the truck here and let you know. I also dropped that guy in CT a line about the hood - maybe I can help him, too, if the hood is good.