Bed side help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

pickupman96 · 01-21-2009, 08:38 PM

Well I am working on the bed of my 55 and the sides are shot imo. They have had patches welded in where the wood meets the sides. That looks ok but my main prob is that they are really wavy from being hit for all the years. Can anyone give me some advise on how to get these straight without using a gallon of plastic. I am still learning how to work the metal so please forgive me. I would just buy new sides but we really dont have the cash for new sides. Thanks for any help or advise.

solidaxel · 01-21-2009, 10:24 PM

Check with Mar-K and see if they have new ones for your truck, you will be very happy with there product.

pickupman96 · 01-21-2009, 10:57 PM

They have new ones but I dont have 1100 for new sides. I wish I did but I think I need to save these unless I can get a smoking deal

dwcsr · 01-21-2009, 11:45 PM

They are a real PIA to get straight. You need to stretch and shrink the areas that are wavy. Its more an art form and would need an experinced body man. Best thought would be find some good used or possibly if your up to a project just buy the flat sheet metal and replace the entire lenght.

Its to cold up there for that kind of work anyway. I remmeber driving down Shelter Rock one winter night in the snow or I'll say bouncing off curbs all the way down. Almost landed on the roof of the Helicoil plant.

blackdiesel · 01-22-2009, 09:30 AM

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=324188 Check out my build I made mine out of 2x4 steel tubing and flat steel. I had the tubing cut on 45's and a 1/2" lip bent around the flat steel to plug weld them to the tubing. Steel and labor was like 300 bucks, and I like them better than stock. JMO. I looked for a good set for years and couldn't find them, until I had this bed ready to paint. Then low and behold we found a good set less than 10 miles from home for 60 bucks, needless to say we have an extra set for the next project.

dwcsr · 01-22-2009, 04:06 PM

Thats kind of what I was talking about. If you didn't want the square tube you could use the old top rails and stake pockets from the old bed.

pickupman96 · 01-22-2009, 05:10 PM

I think I am going to just get some flat 16ga and make my own and use the old top rail, just put a flange on it and weld it solid. I have a 12ft sheer and a 10ft brake so it shouldnt be that bad.
dwcsr, my family owned a farm on shelter rock were I grew up, the hill is alot of fun in the snow on both sides.

CAL 58 GMC · 01-23-2009, 12:14 PM

If you don't have a lot of cash, go down to your local wrecking yard a find a set of used bed sides. The bed sides are the same from 1955 to 1987 on the step side beds so there shouild be plenty of them out there. If you get a newer year you will have to re-drill some hole for the fenders but the rest will bolt right together.

blackdiesel · 01-23-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAL 58 GMC

If you don't have a lot of cash, go down to your local wrecking yard a find a set of used bed sides. The bed sides are the same from 1955 to 1987 on the step side beds so there shouild be plenty of them out there. If you get a newer year you will have to re-drill some hole for the fenders but the rest will bolt right together.

That's what I thought also, but unless you have a yard that just keeps old truck. They were all crushed year ago. (at lest around here). You ask for something over 10 years old and they just laugh. Look for old trailers that were made from truck beds, alot of them ended up there.

OrrieG · 01-23-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

That's what I thought also, but unless you have a yard that just keeps old truck. They were all crushed year ago. (at lest around here). You ask for something over 10 years old and they just laugh. Look for old trailers that were made from truck beds, alot of them ended up there.

Before they started repo-ing Fleetside taillight bezels I bought a set off of a trailer I saw unloading at the local dump. Paid him for the trim, and installed new aftermarket lights on it for him. Rest of it was pretty beat up from the hauling or I would have bought the whole thing. Win win for both of us.

dwcsr · 01-23-2009, 11:15 PM

I know the area he's in and its rustville USA. Your lucky to find a truck in any shape that old let alone good bedside.

01-21-2009, 08:38 PM	#1
pickupman96 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Danbury, Ct Posts: 49	Bed side help Well I am working on the bed of my 55 and the sides are shot imo. They have had patches welded in where the wood meets the sides. That looks ok but my main prob is that they are really wavy from being hit for all the years. Can anyone give me some advise on how to get these straight without using a gallon of plastic. I am still learning how to work the metal so please forgive me. I would just buy new sides but we really dont have the cash for new sides. Thanks for any help or advise. __________________ 72 Shortbed, fleetside, 4x4, 307,4spd. 55 second, 350, 4spd, almost done 77 K-20, 454, 4spd, plow truck 96 K-1500, 6 inch lift, 178k still going strong

01-21-2009, 10:24 PM	#2
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: Bed side help Check with Mar-K and see if they have new ones for your truck, you will be very happy with there product. __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

01-21-2009, 10:57 PM	#3
pickupman96 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Danbury, Ct Posts: 49	Re: Bed side help They have new ones but I dont have 1100 for new sides. I wish I did but I think I need to save these unless I can get a smoking deal __________________ 72 Shortbed, fleetside, 4x4, 307,4spd. 55 second, 350, 4spd, almost done 77 K-20, 454, 4spd, plow truck 96 K-1500, 6 inch lift, 178k still going strong

01-21-2009, 11:45 PM	#4
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,134	Re: Bed side help They are a real PIA to get straight. You need to stretch and shrink the areas that are wavy. Its more an art form and would need an experinced body man. Best thought would be find some good used or possibly if your up to a project just buy the flat sheet metal and replace the entire lenght. Its to cold up there for that kind of work anyway. I remmeber driving down Shelter Rock one winter night in the snow or I'll say bouncing off curbs all the way down. Almost landed on the roof of the Helicoil plant. Last edited by dwcsr; 01-21-2009 at 11:46 PM.

01-22-2009, 09:30 AM	#5
blackdiesel Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Omaha, Arkansas Posts: 929	Re: Bed side help http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=324188 Check out my build I made mine out of 2x4 steel tubing and flat steel. I had the tubing cut on 45's and a 1/2" lip bent around the flat steel to plug weld them to the tubing. Steel and labor was like 300 bucks, and I like them better than stock. JMO. I looked for a good set for years and couldn't find them, until I had this bed ready to paint. Then low and behold we found a good set less than 10 miles from home for 60 bucks, needless to say we have an extra set for the next project. __________________ '57 Chevy Pickup '56 GMC LCF Cummins '38 Chrysler Royal '57 2wd change http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=speedway Last edited by blackdiesel; 01-22-2009 at 09:41 PM.

01-22-2009, 04:06 PM	#6
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,134	Re: Bed side help Thats kind of what I was talking about. If you didn't want the square tube you could use the old top rails and stake pockets from the old bed.

01-22-2009, 05:10 PM	#7
pickupman96 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Danbury, Ct Posts: 49	Re: Bed side help I think I am going to just get some flat 16ga and make my own and use the old top rail, just put a flange on it and weld it solid. I have a 12ft sheer and a 10ft brake so it shouldnt be that bad. dwcsr, my family owned a farm on shelter rock were I grew up, the hill is alot of fun in the snow on both sides. __________________ 72 Shortbed, fleetside, 4x4, 307,4spd. 55 second, 350, 4spd, almost done 77 K-20, 454, 4spd, plow truck 96 K-1500, 6 inch lift, 178k still going strong

01-23-2009, 12:14 PM	#8
CAL 58 GMC Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Clovis Ca. Posts: 3,311	Re: Bed side help If you don't have a lot of cash, go down to your local wrecking yard a find a set of used bed sides. The bed sides are the same from 1955 to 1987 on the step side beds so there shouild be plenty of them out there. If you get a newer year you will have to re-drill some hole for the fenders but the rest will bolt right together. __________________ Classic Trucks Link http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...uck/index.html 1958 GMC.Project Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=162816 1966 Chevelle Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=443576 Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrNKo8F7Zw#GU5U2spHI_4

01-23-2009, 11:15 PM	#11
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,134	Re: Bed side help I know the area he's in and its rustville USA. Your lucky to find a truck in any shape that old let alone good bedside.



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