Once the wheeltubs have been installed, the new oak wood planks need to be pre-fit before the perimeter mounting bolt holes can be drilled (inset). This can be achieved by setting the small corner boards in place and using the bed strip mounting holes for alignment. Once you have double-checked your board fitment, the perimeter holes can now be drilled. |  | 
Once drilled, the side-boards can be loosely bolted in-you will come back later to tighten them up, but this allows you to adjust them just a bit. |
Once the side-boards are in, get the help of a few buddies and drop your new bed assembly on the chassis. | 
The factory bed mounting bolts pass through the wood and cross sills to the frame, using a carriage bolt and eccentric washer to hold the bed in place. For a smooth clean look, the team at ECE hides the mounting bolts underneath the oak floor. This is a rather simple procedure, with only a few small reliefs cut into the underside of the plank using a router. |  |
After the wood has been pre-fit and all of the mounting holes have been drilled, it needs to be sealed to prevent weather damage. Geographic location will determine what type of finish you will need to protect the wood from the elements, and your local home-improvement store can help you select the best products for your climate. Early Classic ships the wood ready to finish, but some light sanding may be needed to remove any scuffs or marks from shipping. |  | 
With a few coats of finish applied, the planks are set back into place and aligned, and the bed strips are bolted down. Early Classic offers several different versions of strips, from raw paintable steel to polished aluminum or stainless steel (inset). The company also carries an aluminum strip that features hidden mounting bolts in a track on the bottom side, leaving the top smooth. |
Like the bed strips, ECE offers several choices when it comes to the tailgate. You can choose between the original stamped Chevrolet and GMC, or a plain tailgate with no letters. The only tailgate items currently not available in the kit are the tailgate rods and handle, which can be reused from your original tailgate. | 
The tailgate rods attach to the latches before the assemblies are slid into the tailgate (A). After snapping both inner ends of the rods to the tailgate handle, the handle is also bolted in place. | 
Here again, when using stainless bolts, make certain to lightly coat the threads with anti-seize. |
The tailgate links not only limit how far the gate can open, but they also provide a striker for the latch to grab onto. The tailgate pivots on the trunions, which bolt to each bed side. | 
Unlike the newer model trucks, these trunions must be unbolted to remove the tailgate, slowing down potential thieves. Having all of these hard-to-find parts included in the kit certainly makes the project a lot easier. | 
Now that everything has been trial-fitted, the bed is ready to be disassembled and prepped for paint. Fast forward a bit, here is the truck after the body- and paintwork. Now the wood, tailgate, and other knickknacks can be carefully installed, getting the truck one step closer to being done. |
Sport Truck
Tech Tip
Finishing Touches
Speaking of knickknacks, the kit also includes the taillight and back-up light housings, lenses and gaskets, along with a new rear lamp wiring harness. Early Classic also offers LED rear light inserts that replace the factory bulb for that modern look.
Most of the longbed trucks have some sort of step bumper that won't look nearly as clean as a conventional chrome blade. ECE puts this rear bumper kit together to ditch the work horse bumper, which includes everything you would need, including the proper brackets and even the gravel guards.
The Final Word
This modification is pretty involved and not for the faint of heart, but it can be done if you pay attention and have proficient welding skills. The money you save buying a longbed can be directly applied to the parts needed for the conversion. The math on that might equal out to the same price, but at least the shortbed parts will be brand-new as opposed to needing restoration.