Idea on cleaning up the back end...

[XXL]

I've tended to hold back a little, so as not to go "too far over the edge" (yes, my truck is a conservative take), but I've been inspired by Frizzle Fry's hybrid project body lines to push that edge just a little bit. The bed half of the Wallet Eater is in progress, and I recently finished doing a double wall on it. I also picked up some mandrel bends to do the trick Frizzle Fry did. But I've been wanting to clean up the lines on the tailgate area. Here's a q&d pshop of an idea... the gate is skinned with a bed side or a couple of door skins to get the body line crease and rolls of the side of these trucks. It flows smoothly into the rolled pan, which curls under and terminates.

Waddaya think?

[Bob Moore]

Sounds AWESOME! What is the corner cutout on the rolled pan for? Can the pan extend tp the edge of the gate?

Not that familiar with Steps - Bob

[krue]

Fits with the theme of your truck, but makes the bedrails seem out of place (look like mickey's ears ).

[XXL]

Originally Posted by krue

Fits with the theme of your truck, but makes the bedrails seem out of place (look like mickey's ears ).

Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me?

Wait... check the "Frizzle Fry" link in my OP. I'm laying out lines for cuts now.

[meathead95]

looks good

[72CSTC5]

How about using some thin wall tubing and cut it from end to end to get the curve and the taper you are looking for from end to end of the tailgate and then you could weld flat sheetmetal the the pipe and the rollpan to get the desired effect. I think it would be difficult with door skins because I would say you would need at least two. Just a thought.

[wibilly]

the door skins lines also don't match up from front to rear great idea, looks sharp i think a bed side or roll your own skin is the way to go, and yes you have to cap the bed rails

[XXL]

Let the carnage begin!

[Hart_Rod]

Looks good. Where did you get the bends made at?

Rob

[XXL]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Looks good. Where did you get the bends made at?

Bends came from here (1.75", Ø 2.25")

[N2TRUX]

Since your looking for opinions let me throw my spare change in. Extending the bed rails with the mandrel bends is a great idea. I also like the idea of adding the body line across the tailgate.

There are two more things I think it needs. I would look at extending the bed sides at the tailgate. This would create a smoother transition between the bed sides and the roll pan. The mandrel bends might work there too.

I would do something with the filler panel for the tailgate too. Even though you added the lower body lines, it's still very flat back there. It needs a recessed area to break things up.

Yes, I know you went through a lot of trouble to remove the factory recessed are there, but it's going to be too flat now.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Yes, I know you went through a lot of trouble to remove the factory recessed are there, but it's going to be too flat now.

My quick and dirty pshop didn't really demonstrate the curves I'm shooting for. Picture these lines across the bed. That should be pretty non-flat... I think... I hope. As for the transitions to the fenders, I should have saved the corners off the old cab I chopped up

[70c10]

Those radiiused tubes make all the difference in the world. Looks really good not looking thru the open end of the rail.

[basketcase]

Some great ideas there. That's the best looking way to cap off the bed rails I have seen. I'm thinking about frenching some thin horizonal tailights into the lower rear of the fender. I think it will visually lower and widen the rear of the truck.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by XXL

My quick and dirty pshop didn't really demonstrate the curves I'm shooting for. Picture these lines across the bed. That should be pretty non-flat... I think... I hope. As for the transitions to the fenders, I should have saved the corners off the old cab I chopped up

Ok, that make more sense. In the photoshop pic it looks flat. Now I understand you are palnning on use the same curve that the door has.

Yep, those old cab corners would have been ideal for finishing off the lower part of the bed...

[XXL]

Small progress this evening... first chance to work on the truck in a couple of weeks

[E's c10swbfleet]

looks great

[XXL]

Now to find a couple of door skins. Any suggestions???

[RicksTrucks]

Originally Posted by XXL

Now to find a couple of door skins. Any suggestions???

JUSTASCATCH usually has a lot of doors, check with him. I may be able to bring them to you next trip north.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by RicksTrucks

JUSTASCATCH usually has a lot of doors, check with him. I may be able to bring them to you next trip north.

I'll give him a shout. BTW, as of last month, I'm in Longmont, CO... do you come this far west?

[RicksTrucks]

Originally Posted by XXL

I'll give him a shout. BTW, as of last month, I'm in Longmont, CO... do you come this far west?

Wow, didn't know you had moved again. The way it is going, moving from east to west, you should be in California in no time.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by RicksTrucks

you should be in California in no time.

See post #66 here

[XXL]

One more. Looks like I need to ditch the rolled pan and sink my tailights in the door skins near the bottom.

[67chevemall]

Here is a couple shots of mine. I went with the biggest steel pan I could find.
And the vents sold it.

[basketcase]

Originally Posted by 67chevemall

Here is a couple shots of mine. I went with the biggest steel pan I could find.
And the vents sold it.

I'm getting a lot of great ideas from this thread. It's nice to see some stepsides getting their due.

I like the rounded ends that follow the form of the fenders. Is this pan available commercially or did you make it. The filler panels on the fender bottoms look cool too.

Tom