I wanna get a new bed for the truck seems easier than trying to pull the dents from the previous owner. Any 2nd gen short bed should be a direct fit for my short bed 97 2500 right? Local u pull it has some for $100 but no warranty don't wanna waste the $100.

 

1500 versus 2500/3500 might be different since the frames are different. Probably not to hard to overcome, but if you want a direct swap with no mods, i'd say try to find one from a 2500, and it should be a direct fit.

 

any bed should be direct fit, difference in frames all seems to lead back to one being taller as the main difference but mounting points should be the same....if anything take a tape measure to do some quick numbers just to double check