Sooooooooooooooo close..... I have my bed wood stained and ready to go. But... I did not remove the old wood from my truck so now I am kinda stuck on how to install the new stuff and the assembly manual has absolutely not one page on the how to's on installing the wood. Can anyone give me a simple step by step on how to install the wood?
Bedwood Getting ready to do this myself. Where did you get the wood from? And what type of wood is it?
The wood was out of mine when I bought it too. It was there, just not installed. I didn't buy new wood yet, my wife and I just planed, sanded and refinished the old wood for now. The cross sills had been drilled in different places quite a few times by previous owners, but I think I got everything back where it actually belonged. I don't have step by step procedures as I had too many trial and error restarts to remember what the proper procedure would be. A couple of words of advice though: 1) Get a friend to help when installing all of the nuts and bolts, one in the bed, one under the bed. 2) Wear safety glasses when installing the nuts from under the bed. All kinds of little crap will fall in your eyes. 3) I super-glued the washer to the nuts. It made installing them as a set from under the bed MUCH easier. 4) Leave all of the nuts and bolts slightly loose until you get everything installed and lined up and then go back and retighten them. 5) Do not over tighten the bed strip nuts. They will bend/warp the bed strips. I had two long wood strips that were not as wide as the rest. They ended up in the middle of the bed. You can see from the attached pic. It's not much, but hopefully some of that info will help you.
got the wood from our sponsor here... there are other websites out there so shop around. Thanks HookedUp for the great advice. I am guessing my installation is going to be lots of trial and error...but, hey, thats how we learn.
If I remember correctly, I started with the outside pieces, sliding them up under the side walls of the bed. I then installed one bed strip and left the bolts in that strip loose enough to slide the next inboard piece under it. That way you can kind of sit up from under the bed and sort of see what you're doing. Drilling the bed bolt down holes will probably be your most difficult task. Since I was resuing wood, mine were already drilled and all I had to do was make sure they lined up properly. You'll need to measure carefully or drill up through the holes from the bottom with a long bit. Regardless, the effort is well worth the end product.
Rustbucket I just finished my bed wood project,bought some quarter sawn white oak from a local mill and made my own . It had a ten year old stainless bolt and strip kit in it and I reused it. I removed the bed to perform it with a lot more access. If you are able to get some help I think it is worth the effort.
Rustbucket I meant to tell you I started with the narrow strips first and worked my way to the center. An eighty pound helper (in stocking feet) is a plus! Did you buy it predrilled? As hooked up said don't overtighten, you will need someone topside to make sure they are in the square hole and to apply resistence. hope it helps. do all your drilling before you apply final coats of varnish, seal all six surfaces several times. IMHO
WOW, thanks all you for the advise!! Now it all makes sense...and trust me, when I looked at the wood and bed, I was clueless! hookedup...nope, not pre-drilled. but the advise of a long bit and drilling up through the wood is the answer. leavmeb... I have one of those helpers too. Of course, she's 24 now, but, I came home from work one day and she's sitting cross-legged in the driveway repacking the wheel bearings on this truck. These days I have to compete with her bow and arrow and her yellow lab time to get her to help with the truck. Do we train them well or what?
Rustbucket I bought it as is. I was told it is Daytona Yellow. That is all I have on that. I might suggest you drill the new boards after you get the old ones out, using them for a template. Once I had it marked out I drilled a small pilot hole 1/16 +_ then started the larger 1/4+- from both sides before running it through. The reason being the hardwoods are prone to breaking off a good size chip when puching a bit through planed ,dry wood. I then took measurements from the edges of the board to the large recessed offset washer edges and traced a washer. Again pilot hole , bought a 1- 1/2 in forsner bit and cut the recess. Then oiled boards. Alot more than you asked but I hope you get something out of it. (frame mount bolt) It is a very satisfying project, with some good father daughter time.
leavmeb i could use the old wood as a guide if the brain surgeon that removed it all hadn't tossed it into a dumpster. amazingly, he doesn't work at the body shop anymore....go figure. GREAT idea on the bits... and boy, that is one thing I never get on this board and thats "too much" advise!! I have used every single bit offered. Next Saturday we're putting it together, so hopefully pics will be forthcoming...
Rustbucket I found another I had saved,older truck but same idea. customclassictrucks.comtecharticles/0903 bed wood
