[updated:LAST EDITED ON Mar-28-06 AT 09:15 AM (CST)]I Just purchase a 65 beige long bed. It runs good, a little rich, but good. The previous owner used it as a farm truck and really modified it. It has a huge hitch on the back and is now a 4 speed manual. Which is a real beast to drive by the way. I was looking around the underside and found that he had welded diamond steal plating over the original wood bed. The body has a little rust on it but the bad area is the floor pan and the hood bottome with the signal lights. Both passenger and driver side as well as the tranny hump have holes in them. Also It has two access ports in the bed panels. I dont have any books for this truck not even the owners manual. Can anyone give me an Idea as to why those were put there. Would this be a camper truck? I am planning on painting the truck first before rebuilding the engine and changing the tranny. But I am looking for a now floor pan for the truck. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can find one. Also Is it possible to cut and shape the wood at home for the bed rather than spend over 100 bucks on one plank from a manufacturer. I am really excited about this truck. I sold my 72 Gran torino sport i was working on so I could get it.
First off, congratulations on your wise decision to unload a Ford for your truck ! "I am planning on painting the truck first before rebuilding the engine and changing the tranny. But I am looking for a now floor pan for the truck. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can find one. Also Is it possible to cut and shape the wood at home for the bed rather than spend over 100 bucks on one plank from a manufacturer." If I could suggest a different approach. It would be better to fix all the mechanical stuff, as well as the floor pans and other body work, BEFORE you paint. The mechanicals are the dirty part and you risk messing up a paint job while doing them. Accidents do happen.. For floor pans, our host here at Chevy Duty carries them, as well as rocker panels and many other sheet metal patch panels. You can attempt your own bed wood replacement, but unless you have access to the correct tools for wood working, the results may not be good. There are bed wood replacement kits available that range in prices. This is a case of you get what you pay for. I recommend that you invest in the Factory Service Manual and any year specific supplements before you start. It will save you both time AND money. Best of luck with your project. When you have questions, we will be here for you. DVal
I was originally planning on dropping a 350 small into her but have changed my mind. I will prolly just rebuild the engine. Its simple and a very good one. Im not looking for power any more so much as ease. An inline 6 is always a very reliable engine I have found. I do want to change the tranny though. The four speed manual is too difficult to deal with. How difficult is it to due exhaust your self as well. I have alot of tools at my dispossal should I need it. I used to race with my step father in NC. We have it all. LOL its too bad Im 6 hours away. Thanks for the advice I will prolly do it that way. it just seemed easier to get her pretty then save the money to make her mean. LOL Any ideas on colors. I was thinking METALIC PLUM CRAZY with CHROME bumpers and grill.
I must agree with Dave. Get your mechanical out of the way first. Nothing would make me cry more than to scratch a new paint job while putting in a new motor. As far as the exhaust goes if you know how to bend it then do it. I spent less than $200 for my exhaust at a local shop. To me it was well worth to have them do it. You can also do your own bed with a table saw and router. There is a web site out there that has all the dementions ect. Look a couple months back on this forum and it should be there. Someone else had some bed questions. Good luck with your project. Brian
