Bed Removal Question
 

quick question gang.

has anyone drilled the bed-to-frame carriage bolt heads off.... from inside the bed?

mine are rusty and PB Blaster hasn't cut it. by the way, I have a wood floor and I want to keep it intact and not round off the washer seats in the wood.

I know it would be more labor intensive, but getting to the bolts with a tiger saw would take some fanagling.....

thanks in advance!!!!!

Re: Bed Removal Question
 

Haven't drilled the heads off any. I'd just grab the hot wrench and hit it from the bottom side real quick.

Re: Bed Removal Question
 

i've ground the heads off with a cutoff wheel quite a few times on the bedbolts

Re: Bed Removal Question
 

Every bolt I try to take off breaks so let me have crack at them.

Re: Bed Removal Question
 

I would say center punch the head use a 3/8 bit to start go bigger if needed it won't be quick but it will work . My 2 cents

Re: Bed Removal Question
 

When I did my 70 short bed , it also was wooden bed with bolts that were rusted. I cut the mounting bolts from the under side of the bed with a sawsall (long blade) take your time and all will be good& buy new mounting hardware & keep it fun . ( I made my own wood bed, mahogany& black walnut) hope this helps. ...Pat

Re: Bed Removal Question
 

I did them on my fleetside. Not that bad as long as your bits are sharp and the holes are already rounded. I got it close to coming off, then I center punched the bolt down through the head.

Re: Bed Removal Question
 

Let's see some pics of the bed.

Re: Bed Removal Question
 

well, I didn't use finesse when I took mine apart... sorry...

I'm sure that you know that those bolts aren't centered in the washers, I'd go at them from the bottom...

Re: Bed Removal Question
 

well, I jumped in the bed with a few drill bits and went to town. drilling them out was a bit easier than the tiger saw. was able to save the washers and the washer recesses in the wood.

I want to save as much of the original bed components as possible. I am mounting my air tank and compressor for air bags under the bed. I want someone to be able to walk by this truck and not tell it's on air.

Mike, I can see you twisting a few bolts, your a bit on the MUSCULAR side!

Thanks for all the help gang!!