Make Your Bed…! (Pt. 1)

The beds on these old trucks are made of steel, wood, and a couple hundred fasteners. The fenders bolt to the bed sides and the running boards which reside, more or less, in a fixed position. And it's all got to come together on a frame that was bent way out of shape in a previous life.

We got the frame straightened at a body shop and they got it much closer to what it's supposed to be, but not perfect.

The wood boards for the bed floor were stained once by someone but not finished. And they had gray primer overspray from sitting at another shop.

After sanding to clean them up I had to accurately locate and drill 20 holes in 4 of the boards. These are used to fasten boards to the bed sides at the angle brackets, and the entire bed to the truck frame. Some are countersunk for special offset and keyed washers for carriage bolts.

Outside bed floor boards are drilled
Outside bed floor boards are drilled
Outside boards have multiple holes for carriage bolts
Outside boards have multiple holes for carriage bolts

To get the entire bed assembly to line up and mount on the frame better we had to 'tweak' one of the frame horns. This is the corner that had been wrecked. The bumper brackets also bolt to the frame horns so they need to align properly too.

A frame mod is in order
A frame mod is in order

The end of the frame rail was sliced top and bottom, pushed to the right about 1/4", and tack welded in place. The bed was test fit again before the cuts were welded up solid.

Frame horn is sliced top and bottom
Frame horn is sliced top and bottom
Frame horn is pushed into position
Frame horn is pushed into position
Opened slice is tack welded
Opened slice is tack welded
A little "chassis paint" touches up the welds
A little "chassis paint" touches up the welds

The fuel fill neck is going to interfere with a stainless strip on the bed floor so it will have to be relocated. While waiting on parts I test fit the fenders and running boards. The wheel/tire combo should fit without rubbing.

Wheel/tires should fit without rubbing the fenders or bed sides
Wheel/tires should fit without rubbing the fenders or bed sides

The running boards mount to brackets on the frame. There is some in and out adjustment available but nothing front to rear. The rear of the running board bolts to the fender. There's not much leeway anywhere for disparate pieces to fit together correctly.

The right fender is not original - it's 'newer' - perhaps a reproduction. The left fender might be original. You can tell on the inside where it was dented and repaired. There was also a patch welded in - probably a rust repair.

Unfortunately, it was never drilled for the running board - just repaired and painted.  So, using the other fender as a guide, a pattern was made and new holes were drilled.

Holes are missing where this fender was patched. The reinforcement piece indicates where the running board is on the outside.
Holes are missing where this fender was patched. The reinforcement piece indicates where the running board is on the outside.

I was able to (very) loosely bolt things together. Final assembly may be another story. One thing's for sure though. The fitment between the running boards and fenders will be poor. The contour of each piece is different. Like the doors, this is another example that illustrates the importance of fitting all the sheet metal pieces (new, old, or from donors) before going to body work and paint.

Running board to fender contours are similar but different
Running board to fender contours are similar but different

While waiting on parts the oak floor boards got a fresh coat of stain. I don't know what color was used on the first go around years ago but this time they got "Kona" by Varathane.

Varathane "Kona" stain
Varathane "Kona" stain

Next up: Fuel tank filler and bed floor mods...