Bed Wood Problem - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Solver · 07-23-2002, 09:52 PM

I just got done today cutting all new oak for my bed. I got it all stained and varnished and started putting it in.As you can see in the picture I'm doing something wrong. I cut the boards as listed on GMC paul's page exactly. I have 4 1/2 inches of space to spare!Is there supposed to be 1/2 or so in between each board? I have them about touching each other. If there is 1/2 of space between each board then how can the grooving diagram be right? The bed strips are about 1 1/2 wide so that when laid on groove (3/4" each side of board) there would be no space between. But if you add up the dimensions on the page for fleetside 72 you come up with about 66 1/2". Considering the inside measurement of bed is 72" I must be missing something.What a time to find out now!! Suggestions please

BobM · 07-23-2002, 10:22 PM

What is the width of your boards? Looks like they are all too narrow.

Benrs86 · 07-23-2002, 10:35 PM

the second one on each side looks a little narrow? you can probably fix it with a little spacer board or wider strip? this is what mind looks like, a little wider 2nd board i think,,, or maybe the middle two are narrower??. how many coats you put on those? they look nice! good luck, Ben

Solver · 07-23-2002, 10:53 PM

the width is exactly as listed on gmc pauls site for 72 fleetside 6 1/4,7 3/16,7 3/16,7 3/16, 5 3/16,5 3/16,7 3/16,7 3/16,7 3/16,6 1/4

colohusker · 07-24-2002, 12:14 AM

Irregardless of the big gap at the right, that looks great! I would assume that there should be between 1/4" and a 1/2" gap between the boards to allow for wood movement, but I haven't done mine yet. To make up the 5 1/2", if you put a 1/2" gap, actually a shade more, it should come out right.

By the way, I was just going to do stainless or chrome strips, but seeing how sharp yours is with them painted the same color, I think that's what I'll do instead.

Once again, that looks great!

Scott

BobM · 07-24-2002, 09:15 AM

The overal width of the boards on my original floor are 7.5" and 5.5". You'll find that they are 1/2" narrower than stock 1x8 or 1x6 that you buy at a lumber yard. The length is 1 inch over 8 feet as well. Makes it hard to buy off the shelf material. I had mine custom cut but haven't put them in yet.

jku72 · 07-24-2002, 09:29 AM

I suspect that what happened here was a problem where the widths were mixed up. Meaning that the width of the facing part of the board and the width of the obverse side of the board were confused. If you cut the boards to the facing width, instead of the total width(width of the base, or obverse side) according to my quick calculations you would come out about 4-5 inches too narrow. A drawing would make this clear, but maybe another way to say it is the width of the board before cutting the groove for the bed strips is in total about 4-5 inches wider than the sum of the width of the parts of the boards you "see" after install. Sorry to be confusing here.

johnnyp · 07-24-2002, 05:01 PM

Solver,

Relax, you cut the boards to the right size. You now have 4 1/2" of space left with your boards butted together. If you rearrange the boards so there is 1/2" between each board with a wear strip, then you would use up exactly 4 1/2" (9 x 1/2" = 4 1/2"). This means that the wear strips will rest against the inside of each 1/8" grove. If the 1/8" groves won't allow you to space the boards 1/2" apart, you could either make up the difference in the two boards that go against the bed sides or eliminate the 1/8" grove, like shown in the crude pic below. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

**john** · 07-24-2002, 08:07 PM

Did you cut the grooves for the bed strips? if so you should have 1/2" between the boards. Good luck!

fedabiblio · 08-02-2002, 01:36 PM

Just a question for Solver. I am looking to use the same intsuctions as you to make my bed wood, and was wondering what you ended up doing to fill the gap. Was it the 1/2 inch space left in between the boards or other? Other than the gap, your bed wood looks really sharp.

**GMCPaul** · 08-02-2002, 07:55 PM

This post and a few others on our bedwood page were pointed out to us and I felt I had better get on here and clarify a few things. The bed wood dimensions on our web site are precise. These are the exact same dimensions used by GM, Mar-K, and all the other bedwood manufacturers. The measurements allow for a 3/8" bolt with 1/16" clearance on both sides of the bolt. If you look at Solver's picture above you will notice that the bed wood is touching edge to edge this should not be the case. If you make your wood larger than these dimensions if your wood swells even slightly it will buckle as no room for expansion.
Check your beds before installing wood to make sure that the interior dimension is not slightly larger than it should be also before starting, the reason for this is there is enough slop in the bolt holes from crossills to bedsides for the space between sides to be up to 3/8" wider than they should be if pushed to the extreme outside of holes bolting sides to crossills.
Once your bolts are installed in the wear strips you will find after loosely installing all that the bed wood dimensions are correct.
Now its time to head out to my shop and get on our 67 SWB in progress. You all have a great weekend!!!!!!
GMCPaul

PanelDeland · 08-04-2002, 07:01 AM

As the old carpenter said"I said, measure twice cut once, not measure once cut twice."

"I've cut it three times and it's still too short!"

**GMCPaul** · 08-04-2002, 09:14 AM

Panel I will have the guy that works for us to pull my board stretcher on Monday from my days in the construction trade and get it off to you.

LOL of course since he is inexpereinced in construction you know how long he will be looking so don't expect it any time to soon.
GMCPaul

07-23-2002, 09:52 PM	#1
Solver Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Storm Lake, Ia Posts: 1,449	Bed Wood Problem I just got done today cutting all new oak for my bed. I got it all stained and varnished and started putting it in.As you can see in the picture I'm doing something wrong. I cut the boards as listed on GMC paul's page exactly. I have 4 1/2 inches of space to spare!Is there supposed to be 1/2 or so in between each board? I have them about touching each other. If there is 1/2 of space between each board then how can the grooving diagram be right? The bed strips are about 1 1/2 wide so that when laid on groove (3/4" each side of board) there would be no space between. But if you add up the dimensions on the page for fleetside 72 you come up with about 66 1/2". Considering the inside measurement of bed is 72" I must be missing something.What a time to find out now!! Suggestions please Attached Images __________________ 1972 Cheyenne Super 20 LWB-Blue 1972 Cheyenne Super 10 LWB-Black 1972 Cheyenne Super 10 LWB-Red 1972 Cheyenne Super 10 LWB-green 1972 GMC 4x4 LWB-White 1971 Cheyenne 10 LWB-Ochre 1971 Cheyenne 20 Longhorn-Copper 1971 Cheyenne 20 Longhorn-Black 1969 Custom 10 LWB-lt blue 1968 GMC 3/4 ton-green 1968 1/2 ton swb stepside-silver 1967 Chevrolet CST 10 LWB-green 1967 Chevrolet custom 20 LWB-Maroon

07-23-2002, 10:35 PM	#3
Benrs86 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Brandon, SD, USA Posts: 1,292	the second one on each side looks a little narrow? you can probably fix it with a little spacer board or wider strip? this is what mind looks like, a little wider 2nd board i think,,, or maybe the middle two are narrower??. how many coats you put on those? they look nice! good luck, Ben Attached Images __________________ Brandon, SD 69 GMC 1/2 ton 2wd wide long bed with wood 3 on the tree 350 engine 4 bolt main rv cam AIM = Alphray04

07-23-2002, 10:53 PM	#4
Solver Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Storm Lake, Ia Posts: 1,449	the width is exactly as listed on gmc pauls site for 72 fleetside 6 1/4,7 3/16,7 3/16,7 3/16, 5 3/16,5 3/16,7 3/16,7 3/16,7 3/16,6 1/4 __________________ 1972 Cheyenne Super 20 LWB-Blue 1972 Cheyenne Super 10 LWB-Black 1972 Cheyenne Super 10 LWB-Red 1972 Cheyenne Super 10 LWB-green 1972 GMC 4x4 LWB-White 1971 Cheyenne 10 LWB-Ochre 1971 Cheyenne 20 Longhorn-Copper 1971 Cheyenne 20 Longhorn-Black 1969 Custom 10 LWB-lt blue 1968 GMC 3/4 ton-green 1968 1/2 ton swb stepside-silver 1967 Chevrolet CST 10 LWB-green 1967 Chevrolet custom 20 LWB-Maroon

07-24-2002, 12:14 AM	#5
colohusker Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 436	Irregardless of the big gap at the right, that looks great! I would assume that there should be between 1/4" and a 1/2" gap between the boards to allow for wood movement, but I haven't done mine yet. To make up the 5 1/2", if you put a 1/2" gap, actually a shade more, it should come out right. By the way, I was just going to do stainless or chrome strips, but seeing how sharp yours is with them painted the same color, I think that's what I'll do instead. Once again, that looks great! Scott __________________ ------------------------------------------------ I say it's only money, my wife says it's only a truck.... '71 C10 Deluxe, factory ac, ps, pb, should be done by 2102 Longmont, CO husker95@hotmail.com

07-24-2002, 09:29 AM	#7
jku72 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: cornville, maine Posts: 659	I suspect that what happened here was a problem where the widths were mixed up. Meaning that the width of the facing part of the board and the width of the obverse side of the board were confused. If you cut the boards to the facing width, instead of the total width(width of the base, or obverse side) according to my quick calculations you would come out about 4-5 inches too narrow. A drawing would make this clear, but maybe another way to say it is the width of the board before cutting the groove for the bed strips is in total about 4-5 inches wider than the sum of the width of the parts of the boards you "see" after install. Sorry to be confusing here. __________________ jku Cornville, Maine 68 C10 burb 42 Willys MB 46 Dodge WF-32 1.5 ton 53 & 56 Olds' 60 Cadillac 22 Dodge Brothers

07-23-2002, 10:22 PM	#2
BobM Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 73	What is the width of your boards? Looks like they are all too narrow.

07-24-2002, 09:15 AM	#6
BobM Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 73	The overal width of the boards on my original floor are 7.5" and 5.5". You'll find that they are 1/2" narrower than stock 1x8 or 1x6 that you buy at a lumber yard. The length is 1 inch over 8 feet as well. Makes it hard to buy off the shelf material. I had mine custom cut but haven't put them in yet.

07-24-2002, 05:01 PM	#8
johnnyp Keepin' It Stock Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Grand Island, Nebraska, USA Posts: 554	Solver, Relax, you cut the boards to the right size. You now have 4 1/2" of space left with your boards butted together. If you rearrange the boards so there is 1/2" between each board with a wear strip, then you would use up exactly 4 1/2" (9 x 1/2" = 4 1/2"). This means that the wear strips will rest against the inside of each 1/8" grove. If the 1/8" groves won't allow you to space the boards 1/2" apart, you could either make up the difference in the two boards that go against the bed sides or eliminate the 1/8" grove, like shown in the crude pic below. Good luck and let us know how it works out. Attached Images __________________ 72 Sierra Grande - Maych Forget about "do it right the first time". Do it wrong the first time to learn how, then do it right the second time.

07-24-2002, 08:07 PM	#9
john member #16 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Yuba City Ca. Posts: 3,618	Did you cut the grooves for the bed strips? if so you should have 1/2" between the boards. Good luck! __________________ john http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showgroups.php board vendors http://www.flickr.com/photos/1745471...7602865984234/

08-02-2002, 01:36 PM	#10
fedabiblio Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Vernon B.C. Canada Posts: 7	Just a question for Solver. I am looking to use the same intsuctions as you to make my bed wood, and was wondering what you ended up doing to fill the gap. Was it the 1/2 inch space left in between the boards or other? Other than the gap, your bed wood looks really sharp.

08-02-2002, 07:55 PM	#11
GMCPaul Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Rockville,In. USA Posts: 3,721	This post and a few others on our bedwood page were pointed out to us and I felt I had better get on here and clarify a few things. The bed wood dimensions on our web site are precise. These are the exact same dimensions used by GM, Mar-K, and all the other bedwood manufacturers. The measurements allow for a 3/8" bolt with 1/16" clearance on both sides of the bolt. If you look at Solver's picture above you will notice that the bed wood is touching edge to edge this should not be the case. If you make your wood larger than these dimensions if your wood swells even slightly it will buckle as no room for expansion. Check your beds before installing wood to make sure that the interior dimension is not slightly larger than it should be also before starting, the reason for this is there is enough slop in the bolt holes from crossills to bedsides for the space between sides to be up to 3/8" wider than they should be if pushed to the extreme outside of holes bolting sides to crossills. Once your bolts are installed in the wear strips you will find after loosely installing all that the bed wood dimensions are correct. Now its time to head out to my shop and get on our 67 SWB in progress. You all have a great weekend!!!!!! GMCPaul __________________ Secure Online Catalog for-GMCPauls Truck Parts Email- GMCPAULS@GMAIL.COM

08-04-2002, 07:01 AM	#12
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	As the old carpenter said"I said, measure twice cut once, not measure once cut twice." "I've cut it three times and it's still too short!" __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

08-04-2002, 09:14 AM	#13
GMCPaul Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Rockville,In. USA Posts: 3,721	Panel I will have the guy that works for us to pull my board stretcher on Monday from my days in the construction trade and get it off to you. LOL of course since he is inexpereinced in construction you know how long he will be looking so don't expect it any time to soon. GMCPaul __________________ Secure Online Catalog for-GMCPauls Truck Parts Email- GMCPAULS@GMAIL.COM

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