taking the bed off soon
 

I will be taking my 73's bed off soon as many of you suggested to install a 2 1/2"-4" drop kit. Some of you also suggested that I clean up and paint the rear frame and suspension at the same time. I can borrow my dads angle grinder with a wire brush head on it, and that and some time should knock most of the grime off. Here's my question, when I get it cleaned up what kind of paint or primer should I use? And is there anything else I should do to the frame or the bed while I have it off? Thanks Bob

Re: taking the bed off soon
 

When I did mine this past weekend, I used SEM Trim Black, it is a semigloss paint. It worked nicely on my truck. I had my camera to take some pictures, but when I went to use it the friggen thing was dead.....Definately use heat on the bed bolts though...Good luck.

Re: taking the bed off soon
 

You could use some por15 and brush it on that way it never rusts and what rust is there will be stopped. or use some rustoleum, zero rust, miracle paint, anything like that to stop stop. Or maybe just use some self etch primer or epoxy in a spray can, then hit it with good aresol black.

If you want the flat stock appearance you could use satin, semi gloss, or flat paint. You can also had a body shop supply store mix you regular automotive paint like for the body of the truck, in a spray can and do that.

Something that would last a long time is what I'd go for on it. I used a wire brush by hand and scraper on our 86 when I undercoated the bed and floor under the cab, then hit the frame with some regular old gloss black, it turned out really nice. I think I have pics somewhere I can find and post.

Re: taking the bed off soon
 

thanks guys

Re: taking the bed off soon
 

I used rustoleum on mine for the bed bolts i sprayed em down a couple of days before nightly with PB Blaster then with heat and more pb blaster the bed came out pretty easy ( i also have air tools tho)

Re: taking the bed off soon
 

What are you using to get the bed off??
I'm looking into different ideas.
Might try the cherry picker idea but hate borrowing things. Think roof rafters in a pole barn would hold the weight of a longbed??

Re: taking the bed off soon
 

PB Blaster is your freind for real.

Re: taking the bed off soon
 

The bed bolts in my '72 were easy to take out...I guess it depends on where your truck lived it's life.

3 guys (me and two others) took my LWB off my '72...That sucked.

I got 5 guys (me and 4 others) to put it back on...uh..needless to say that was easy.

I just set it on the grass for a couple of days, didn't seem to cause any problems or paint damage. Probably not the best idea....but it worked.

Ideally you would use 3 or 4 high strength saw horses w/ 2x12's on top of them to support the bed in the middle and keep it off the ground...

Re: taking the bed off soon
 

I've used a pair of jacks, 4x4 posts and saw horses to remove a bed. I unbolted everything, positioned the jacks inside the frame rail and as close to one of the front bed supports as I could get using blocks to get the jacks high enough to reach the bed. I put a 2x4 across the tops of the jacks and lifted them in unison. Once I had the front of the bed high enough I slid a 4x4 post under the bed and up on a pair of saw horses. Repeat for the rear and then drive the truck out from under the bed.