'52 chevy bed bolt question

[GreasyLikeaBurger]

Hey all, I am needing to transport my truck out of storage and need to re-secure the bed to the frame. I am hoping to get some generic bolts to hold it down for transport until I get my wood kit. I wont be able to put eyes on it until I get there and was hoping to grab some before i get up there.

Just looking for aprox length of the 6 bolts needed to hold the bed cross sills down to the frame. There is no wood in the bed, but I do have the block kit(I remember seeing it last time I was up looking at my truck).

Oh and while I an asking questions, anyone know the aprox bolt length for front cab mount bolts also? I have the rear shackles already installed.

Thanks,

Drew

[Erics51chevy]

I got 9/16 by 3 inch grade 8 bolts for the front cab. (Biggest bolt to fit through the hole)

The bed bolts have to be long enough to go through sills, wood block, frame.
So sills are what? 1 1/2?
2 inch wood blocks.
If you are going all the way through the frame add 6 inches to that. But just for transporting i would just secure to top part of frame. So i guess 5 inches would do. Cant go wrong with longer.

[dsraven]

if nothing else grab some all thread and a hacksaw, a bunch of body washers and some nuts to fit the all thread. a little sloppy to bring it home won't hurt, you're only transporting, correct? just want all the parts held down?

[Gippetto]

Why not bring a few ratchet tie downs and just lash it down to the frame. Once you get it home you can sort out the proper hardware.

[Erics51chevy]

Duct tape? Haha this is getting less permanent by the second

[GreasyLikeaBurger]

Thanks for the replies. All excellent ideas. I will probably get the bolts and some all-thread (I cant believe I didnt even think about that) too. Cant hurt to have something extra around. I was thinking about ratchet straps, but I use those to hold all the other parts and gear down when transporting.

[mr48chev]

[QUOTE=Erics51chevy;8267416]I got 9/16 by 3 inch grade 8 bolts for the front cab

Bolts are NEVER ! measured by the size of the head, you go by the size of the shank/threads. That would be a 3/8 x 3 bolt. You send the poor fool for a 9/16 bolt and they will laugh him out of the bolt store.

And I know mechanics in the Army measured bolts by the blasted head size as I had a go around with one of those bone heads when I sent a guy to get a 3/8 bolt and he sent back a hex head machine screw with a 3/8 head.

[dsraven]

ha ha, thats funny. reminds of when I sent a guy for some down grease for the feather valve on the gooseneck of a scraper (earthmover) once. kept him outta my hair for a while. had another parts guy looking up a rad cap for an air cooled volkswagen, same guy looked up spark plug wires for a Detroit diesel.
what fun we had with those newbies.

[Erics51chevy]

Im pretty sure 9/16 is the size of the shaft i used haha. I would use a 3 inch diameter bolt if i could. I like to go overboard. Got them at home depot.

[mr48chev]

Well I do see that they actually do list 9/16 bolts but they aren't something that is normally used in automotive use. If you are around heavy construction you may see them. That is still too large for holding the bed down. Some grade 2 or 5 3/8 bolts are fine for that as the stock bolts are grade 2 carriage bolts.

[Erics51chevy]

Sorry i meant 9/16 bolt for the front 2 cab bolts.

[GreasyLikeaBurger]

Originally Posted by Erics51chevy

Sorry i meant 9/16 bolt for the front 2 cab bolts.

Yes you were correct in your original post. I ended up stopping at Classic Industries on my way to look at my truck and buying the mounting kit. Even though I already had the shackle bushings.