Sup all, finally acquired my latest project, 1972 k10 350/350 barn door with factory AC front and rear. Owned various other 4x4s in the past; 74 bronco, 85 FJ60, 74 FJ40, 85 gelandewagen gd300 and I wanted to move back into another EB or 40 but with a growing family I needed something with 4ish doors so I wouldn't break my back.
Needs some rust repair, in process of detrimming everything, removing wood bed and tackling new panels. Then into 40gal FI tank, suspension, brakes, some electrical, then ending with 5.3/4L80e. I can probably tackle everything minus the swap in the next 2 months but with an upcoming deployment real soon I'm leaning toward paying a friend of a friend to do the swap so I can have a little bit of family time.
First question and I know it's probably been covered. I HATE the wood bed, other than pulling a steel bed and welding it in what have you guys used or thought of using if you ever gone around to it.
Been looking at PVC board, 3/8 by 4x8 runs under $70. I can bond 2 panels together to add thickness and strengthen with cross braces. Was going to add airline o-track tie downs anyway so if I used those as cross braces it would serve dual purpose.
Aluminum plate 1/4 4x8 is roughly $200
And marine grade would here in MS is under $100. I've heard bad reviews about the Home Depot stuff but I guess it's all on how you seal it.
Any ideas and or concerns from the experts?
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/user/lennardlector/media/IMG_0322.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/lennardlector/IMG_0322.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0322.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/user/lennardlector/media/IMG_0325.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/lennardlector/IMG_0325.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0325.jpg"/></a>I
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/user/lennardlector/media/IMG_0335_1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/lennardlector/IMG_0335_1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0335_1.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/user/lennardlector/media/IMG_0337.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/lennardlector/IMG_0337.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0337.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/user/lennardlector/media/IMG_0342.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/lennardlector/IMG_0342.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0342.jpg"/></a>