Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Vic I would be more than happy with the bed installation if need be.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

This is what i do with my 8' bed, i will say that it does stress the rails a bit, if you added some reinforcement under the rails i think with a 6' bed it would be no problem. I did note you have a cherry picker, you can fab up a lifting jig.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Great update Vic! My bedsides are whacked in that same area and try as I might, still wound up with some thick filler there. I bet yours turn out sweet.

Assembled seems like the way to go. Maybe a couple 4x4's spanned across, under the bed rails, tied together with another underneath, down the center like an "H"? Find center of gravity front to back and snatch it there with the engine hoist? I've been putting four straps with S hooks under the four stake pockets but I think that'd be a little too sketchy for finished goods. Rolling the chassis under instead of trying to roll the hoist around is way more controllable too.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Vic you could build a rig in the up stairs garage ceiling and use a chain hoist with two frame chains and an anchor shackle to lift it, piece of cake.
Alternatively you could simply undercoat the floor then bolt it to the frame then assemble the header panel and sides then apply the spray liner.
You are almost there Vic, the finish line is right in front of you!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Dang... If you lived closer to me I have a bed lift that works with my Cherry picker...

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

looking very good, i enjoy watching your build . your a pro hands down

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Thanks everyone for all the good suggestions. I think maybe if I clamp the 1" square tubes I used to shorten the bedside to the inside of the top rails, it would make them sturdy enough to use 4x4's and the cherry picker. I know that when I first got the bed, I tried to pick it up by putting hooks in the stake pockets and they immediately began to deform. Course there are no stake pocket holes anymore. Back then, there were holes in the floor where Roy bolted in a chain for lifting, so I ended up using them, but they're long gone now too. Anyway, I think you've collectively provided me with a workable plan. Thanks again!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

More work on the bed floor over the weekend. Spread the last of the mud on the dings and dents, then sanded it down ...mostly by hand. I was just about out of Slick Sand with nowhere to pick some up on the weekend, so I shot what I had on the tailgate end of the floor and let it setup overnight. Today I made a trip to Wholesale Paint and brought home a gallon of Slick Sand so I'd be ready for the change in the weather. If you can stand a few more pics of the floor, just wanted to show the before and after working the polyester filler. It does a great job of filling sand scratches and pinholes. Tomorrow I'll tune-up the spray gun and squirt the entire floor and then it's back to sanding on it one last time. It will then get a heavy coat of 2K primer and be ready for the spray in bedliner.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Lots of work, but looking good!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

x2

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Looks good Vic, hard work always pays off!!!!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

I feel your pain on the floor Vic... I am doing the same thing to my Repop Floor...

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

I feel like I'm visiting a high end bodyshop every time I visit you Vic. All the work you've done looks top notch. Thanks for all your help trying to sort my overheating issue out, I appreciate it very much.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Nice job on the bed floor, it takes a lot of patience and skill to make it look that nice.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

oh man Vic, I feel your pain. We fixed every single dent and ding in my Dad's bed floor, and then he covered it up with carpet :(

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

oh man Vic, I feel your pain. We fixed every single dent and ding in my Dad's bed floor, and then he covered it up with carpet :(

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Nice work on the floor Vic. I know how dang time consuming that can be. I think the results speak for themselves.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

looking good!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Floor looks good!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Thanks for all the comps, guys! The weather has turned positively gorgeous for the next few days, so I'm hoping to make a lot of progress on the primer front. After laying down a nice thick coat of Slick Sand on the entire bed floor I used spot putty to fill up some small chips and low spots I figured might show. Will resume sanding tomorrow after the pookie sets up. My goal is to have the undercoat on the bottom side done and the bed assembled and ready to spray bed liner by the first of next week. The shop was getting covered in dust, so I took some time to move things around and do a quick cleanup with the air nozzle. Looks a little better than it did, but it's a never ending battle.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Great progress Vic, it will be gratifying for you when you get the bed done.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

The worst dirty your shop is my clean. What I am saying is your shop looks real clean. and can't wait until the bed is back together and coated.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

I'm down to less than a quart of 2K primer left in the whole shop. All the bed panels have two to three coats of 2K plus a couple of coats of epoxy as well as the remains of the Slick Sand polyester spray filler I didn't sand off. I'm satisfied with the floor, the front panel, the passenger bedside and the wheel tubs. The driver bedside still has a subtle "hockey stick" profile at the rear seam where I shortened it. The side where it's flat is okay, as is the top. But the area with two opposing compound curves has turned into a challenge. It's the result of "mitering" the two sections together and there's not really a good solution. I'm leaning toward using plastic filler to build a shallow wedge toward the rear that will soften the transition. However, that may only shift the problem to the very back. It will be easy to reverse out if it makes things worse.

Tomorrow I need to contact the Line-X store to get their recommendation on prepping the floor, bedsides and etc. for their product. Personally, I'd be comfortable shooting over the fresh primer, but if they want it scuffed, now's the time to do it before it's all assembled.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

they look good my man. can't wait until you shoot some color.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Lookin' Smoooooth!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Nice work Vic! Gotta ask, do you paint in your shop/Garage or outside? I'm wondering about over spray.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Looks really good. Nice progress

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

As long as you're not squirting alkyd or single stage catalyzed enamels, what overspray does come off the surface dries before it hits the ground. I mainly shoot just primer which doesn't generate a tacky overspray. That said, I generally work outside depending on the weather. When I do spray something inside, the only downside is the odor and some dust. Most modern refinish materials have low VOC's and spraying with HVLP equipment helps reduce the mess. However, when it comes time to do the overall on my truck, I'll haul it to Precision Collision for the BC/CC. A professional booth is the only place to spray clears. Otherwise, you spend forever sanding and polishing the dust nibs.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Looking good Vic:metal:

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Today I worked to re-contour the body line at the back of the bedside. I spread filler from where the discontinuity was worst, increasing the layer thickness as it approached the back of the panel. Took several tries but it's pretty close now ...at least better than it was. You can see the tapered strip of filler where it raised the line in back. I shot multiple heavy coats of 2K primer over it and will let it setup overnight.

I contacted Line-X and they stated they prep the surface by sanding with 80 grit paper. They do their own prep on every job, so according to them, it would be a waste of time for me to scuff the panels because they'd just do it again. I have a hard time farming stuff out because it's ended so badly on so many occasions. I hope this is a good decision because if it's not, this isn't the sort of procedure that's easily fixed. Next step is to shoot the undercoat, then assemble the bed.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

That edge is coming along nice, it looks great!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Thanks, Scott. Sort of a "light at the end of the tunnel" feeling.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Looks good Vic, just make sure the Line X guys are careful with the new paint. Ask me how I know:devil:

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Thanks, Jason. I'm leaning toward trailering the assembled bed to them while it's still in primer. That way, if any product ends up somewhere it shouldn't be, I'd have a shot at sanding it off before final paint. I take it that their website testimonials regarding how careful they are can have the occasional "exception"?

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

A bit nerve wracking to be sure. As always, trailer's yours anytime you need it, has a big wide ramp and full width axles and bed now as well.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

I appreciate how you can isolate the problem area, analyze it and approach it with some thought. Makes it look sooo easy. Well done Vic! Its gonna be tough walk away and let someone lay into that with 80 grit!

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Vic I don't know anything about bodywork but 80 grit is very rough wont it cut right through the primer and tear right into the filler and screw up all your hard work?

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Vic,
would there be any advantage to having the bed floor line-x'd before assembly? I'm leaning on having this done myself......everything else will be painted body color, just the floor will be covered in bedliner..... I'll have to come visit next week sometime to get some rivets for my vent window rebuild.......things are really looking great on your build, I'm envious!!!
Have a good one!
Ben:metal:

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Thanks, Chip. I'll keep you in mind. My neighbor right across the street recently offered to loan me his trailer anytime I needed it. Pretty convenient, eh? If it doesn't work out, though, it's great to have a backup.

Amen to that, John.
80 is fairly rough but probably well suited to their usual jobs. Scuffing a hard, heavy clearcoat with 80 grit makes more sense than soft primer. I think I laid down enough primer to prevent them from breaking thru if they use a light touch. However, if they put the kid that usually sweeps floors to work on it, no telling what might happen. I need to do one of two things, either scuff it myself and insist they only apply the liner, or have a serious sit down with the shop manager before any work starts. Problem with farming out stuff is that each side assumes the other is [pick one or more] deaf, congenitally stupid, incompetent, psycho or who-knows-what. When I luck into a nice shop with good people, I'm a repeat customer. But it's always a crapshoot with a new place.

Re: Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step
 

Thanks, Ben, drop by whenever you get the chance. I wanted to do the bed liner with it assembled so the material would cover the bolt heads. I plan to reuse the original bolts. They didn't make it to the plating company with the rest of the hardware so they're bugly.