58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels...
 

Today I decided to try and remove the rear taillight panel and the rear lower panel of the 58 Apaches wellside (see attached).

I wanted to remove the light panel to see if i could fix it as it has been dumped on its corner and is bent out of shape. I also wanted to clean up the lower panel and put some Por15 on the inside etc to help make it last a little longer...

I undid the bolts in the lower rear corners (where it attaches to the inner panel) but then I saw some welds. With these welds i cant see how to seperate the rear panel or the tail section....

are the welds normal and is so what the hells the point of the bolts....

Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels...
 

fleet or step side trucks were bolted together,then welded to reinforce the rear pocket at the tailgate

Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels...
 

Yup, ran into the same thing when taking apart my 59 Fleetside. Boggles my mind how they thought it needed welding.

It went back together with bolts only.

Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels...
 

Looks to me that your bed has some extra not factory welds

Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels...
 

They did not come from the factory welded. Someone added it.

Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels...
 

thanks for the replies.

I ended up applying the POR to the top while in place then using a rubberized underbody spray to hit the underside of the channel.

thought it was weird

Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels...
 

They were welded in the factory. Definitely.

Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels...
 

fam sec 1 sheet 135 detail m-m
shows 2 welds with instructions to 'weld stake pocket to rear cross sill'

Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels...
 

The AD beds were welded like that too, along with bolts. And only on the rear threshold. You can see the bolts and the welds looking right near the tailgate hinges. And that's it, a weld on each side, the rest of the bed is bolted together, kinda funny.

Brian

Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels...
 

You have to remember that these trucks were meant to be "beasts of burden" and not loved on like most of us do our trucks now. The bed sides would never have stayed at right angles to the bed floor if they weren't welded.

Re: 58 Fleetside, removing light & rear tray lower panels...
 

i beat the crap out of my longbed 09 gmc, not loved obviously and it shows :D