"BUILD: 1970 C10 LWB--->SWB “Jumping Cholla”

[loudchevy]

Just got the bed pieces back from the sand blaster. They turned out great and will save me tons of time of dirty parts stripping. I'm going to start welding the bed pan first, then move on to the sides. I also had the bottom bench seat blasted, it has some surface rust.

[Chaparralman1974]

Ah...now the fun part begins Scott! At least you are doing body work now and not in August. LOL

Clay

[pjmoreland]

I'm interested to see the process of splicing the rear section of each bedside on. It seems to me that the sloped bottom edge and the curved upper section would make it a challenge.

[loudchevy]

I started welding the floor back together last night. Made some good progress and ran out of wire and I was worried about running out of gas . I'm gonna get a new 12.5 pound spool and gas refill today so I'm ready for some weekend welding. I'm right within 1/16" from my precut measurements (minus the 12"/8" cuts) from inside wheel wells to outsides and the bed bolts measurements match up to the frame holes. I'm pretty satisfied with that.

[loudchevy]

Originally Posted by Chaparralman1974

Ah...now the fun part begins Scott! At least you are doing body work now and not in August. LOL
Clay

I love the fabrication challenge of piecing it back together. Hopefully, the bodywork is easier/better this time around with a little experience under my belt. It was actually under 80 degrees in the garage last night. 2 weeks ago when I was cutting the bed up it was still over 100. Finally Fall has arrived!

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

I'm interested to see the process of splicing the rear section of each bedside on. It seems to me that the sloped bottom edge and the curved upper section would make it a challenge.

I watched a handful of guys do it on YT before deciding I would go this route. User nicklear36 recommended Metalox How-to Video Shorten a Long Bed C10 1967-1972 - YouTube and I though it was put together very well and used his layouts for my cuts. The angle cut on the top is supposed to help fit the curved upper part come together. I can tell I’ll have a little bit of trimming and fitment to do on mine just by butting them up together. You’re correct on the sloped bottom edge, the cut back end is a little over an 1” shorter. Metalox just bent back the bottom lip so it lined up with the long panel edge and cut it back (around 17:45 of the video). I’ll post some pics of mine once complete.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by loudchevy

nicklear36 recommended Metalox How-to Video Shorten a Long Bed C10 1967-1972 - YouTube

Wow. That's pretty neat. He makes it look easy.

[Chaparralman1974]

Hey Scott, if you need a new front bed panel, you are welcome to the one I removed off of the new bed that I got. It has a few dents in it, but otherwise it is ok. I opted to use the original front bed panel....that way I can say that it is the original bed with some replacement panels done to it...LOL.

Clay