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*Fitz* · 11-13-2014, 10:38 AM

quote=airbrushguy;6889009]I removed the bed from my '71 stepside while i was restoring all the rusted out other parts of the truck. While the bed was standing on its cab-side end, I removed all the bedsills and the rotted wood.
Now I'm getting close to putting the bed back on the frame, but should I bolt the bedsills onto the bed before I drop it down or after?
I'm an ornery old fart that doesn't like to ask others to help me, however I will have to get some young bloods to help me with lifting and placing down on frame. I don't want to ask them more than once if I can help it.
If it's already down, the outside edges will need spacers or something to help me install the wood slats between the sill and the edge angles.
Anybody have experienced help as to how you did this?
Thanks[/quote]

You and I are both ornery old farts! I had a guy help me just once and the very first thing he did was put a scratch in new paint all the way down to bare metal.
I put my bed together by myself, no helpers and NO scratches! My truck is a stepper so the process is a bit unique. Install all of the sills, then One bedside, the step and brace for that side, the other bedside, and it's step and brace, the forward bulkhead (yes, you can get the fasteners in!) then the wood for the bed floor. I did fenders last but that's a choice, not a mandate. In the pictures you will see the factory assembly manual that shows the size and location of every fastener used and the correct placement of the sills. You can get one from Motorbooks and several other sources for $35.00. Saves more than that in frustration.

11-13-2014, 10:38 AM	#4
Fitz Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tucson Posts: 2,183	Re: Installing bed sills...on or off truck?? quote=airbrushguy;6889009]I removed the bed from my '71 stepside while i was restoring all the rusted out other parts of the truck. While the bed was standing on its cab-side end, I removed all the bedsills and the rotted wood. Now I'm getting close to putting the bed back on the frame, but should I bolt the bedsills onto the bed before I drop it down or after? I'm an ornery old fart that doesn't like to ask others to help me, however I will have to get some young bloods to help me with lifting and placing down on frame. I don't want to ask them more than once if I can help it. If it's already down, the outside edges will need spacers or something to help me install the wood slats between the sill and the edge angles. Anybody have experienced help as to how you did this? Thanks[/quote] You and I are both ornery old farts! I had a guy help me just once and the very first thing he did was put a scratch in new paint all the way down to bare metal. I put my bed together by myself, no helpers and NO scratches! My truck is a stepper so the process is a bit unique. Install all of the sills, then One bedside, the step and brace for that side, the other bedside, and it's step and brace, the forward bulkhead (yes, you can get the fasteners in!) then the wood for the bed floor. I did fenders last but that's a choice, not a mandate. In the pictures you will see the factory assembly manual that shows the size and location of every fastener used and the correct placement of the sills. You can get one from Motorbooks and several other sources for $35.00. Saves more than that in frustration. Attached Images Last edited by Fitz; 11-13-2014 at 10:49 AM.