What is the trick for getting the bedsides seperated from the rear crossmember? What about the square bolts? Would it be better to replace the bedsides or have them rewelded? The sides are coming apart at the rear stake pocket and they have holes put in for tie downs.
Memory... IIRC, you need to cut the welds that should be there where they meet. I took mine apart, but forget how. My bedsides had some rot at the ends as well. I'm not $ure if it would be worthwhile to replace the metal, or just get some that are in better $hape.
Factory didn't weld them, just bolts at the bottom front and back of the stake pocket. These usually have been welded by someone else in the past.
Sorry Russ... ...but the factory did indeed weld the bedsides to the rear cross member. Where the bedsides meet the cross member in the back under the tailgate. The seam is indeed welded. Many times it appears that the weld is JUST a seam and not welded at all. Other times, the guy at the factory was having a bad day and the welds are apparent. Either way, the bolts need to be removed and the welds need to be cut to take the bedsides apart from the cross member. They were welded to give stability to the bedsides. I used a Dremel tool with a cut-off wheel to surgically slice thriught the weld without damaging either the bedside or the cross member. It's a very tiny wheel and I went through a lot of them, but it worked out great and when I re-installed it, it fit together perfectly. Andy
Indeed they are welded , that little bit of weldment made it vasty sturdier . Unless you're going to make a show truck , I;d say just de-rust it then have the split seams welded up , re-paint to suit and call it a day .
I guess the farmer who formerly owned the ones i worked on had to re weld some sections, there is no way that was factory. The 53 bed came apart when the bolts were finally seperated after much swearing, I figured it hadn't been tampered with.
