![]() |
|
![]() |
#1 |
BMW & ASE Master Certified
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 1,262
|
Bed Bolt Blues
Short story shorter, slightly rusted bolts caused me to round the square hole in the bed. Thus preventing me from using stock bolts. So I have maybe 4/8 bolt holes round and the others are square... stupid design.. ahh. Anyway I was thinking about doing something like the ford explorer sport track and probally the f-150's. They have Torx bolts that get bolted from the inside of the bed to the frame.. pretty neat design. no need to worry about the round holes anymore, plus no more crawling under the truck if you want to take the bed off or something.
What have you guys done to solve your bed bolt blues. ![]() clint
__________________
1987 Silverado - L83 5.3 w/ 6L80e ,A/C,P/W,P/L,TILT, HID projectors, Wilwood C-10 Pro Spindles w/ 2018 silverado front brakes & C-5 Corvette Rear Disc Brakes 1999 BMW 528i - 5.7 LS1 w/ 4l60e, Ford 8.8 IRS w31 spline posi & FX-r projector retrofit New project: 2006 BMW x5 6cyl AWD to L83 6l80e 4wd to 2WD / RWD A poor man buy's it twice finally got my domain name back, 87chevy.com.... site rework in progress Last edited by 87chevy.com; 04-08-2010 at 07:57 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
TUKE-NoBullChit Customs owner
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: La Marque, Tx
Posts: 640
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
sounds lke a good idea and shouldnt be much to slip in the right size clip nuts if you get some big ones that are deep enough. the truck i recently bought had regular bolts n it. wasnt too bad looking
__________________
OWNER @ NBC Customs...No Bull Chit....'92 GMC C2500 ECSB 350/TH400, '57 FORD SKYLINER (My dad's for now, but its really mine-you'll NEVER see a cooler car at 7 years old lol), '42 ford rat rod shop truck (new project), 91 CHRYSLER VOYER MINIVAN (shop van for now) http://www.facebook.com/#!/nbc.customs ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Another Day, Another Dollar
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: North Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,316
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
2 of mine were rounded too...
i just put vice grips on the heads when i tightened the front 2 bed bolts
__________________
-78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square" ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
I really hate wet sanding!
![]() Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Brookfield, MO
Posts: 601
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
cut a slot in the head of the carriage bolt with a 3" cut off saw, then get a buddy to hold them with a huge straight blade screw driver! I like the Ford idea of the torgue heads in the bed, lots nicer to take them loose from up top!
__________________
Jeff, 68 C-10 75 C-20, now a C-10! 10 F-150 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: West Jefferson, OH
Posts: 999
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
There are problems with the ford torx bolts too. They also can seize in place and they like to eat the special size bits they require (T-47EX, I think). Also, the threaded clips that they screw into can break, then the bolt just spins.
IMHO, the best design is the '99-newer GM pickups. Yeah, the bolts are on the underside, but you can get to them easily and they have bullet-noses to get them started back in easily. Only ones I've ever had trouble with were ones that a previous hack mechanic had f'd up. Last edited by USSkoval; 04-09-2010 at 08:08 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
BMW & ASE Master Certified
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 1,262
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
ah, resurecting the dead here... finaly went to the bone yard and scored 8 bolts out of the new Ford trucks. Perfect length too. These happend to be a T50. To get them to fit my truck, I opened up the square hole in the bed with a 5/8 bit and then cleaned up the hole with a de-burring carbide bit. I also snagged 8 of the factory spring clip nut retainers too. I was only able to use 6 of the factory retainer nuts becuase the 2nd row from the front of the bed bolt hole in the frame has crossmember in the way. I am going to get the thread size/pitch and buy a set of nuts from Ace Hardware and weld a piece of steel to it so when you tighten it or loosen it the steel extension will hit the frame and stop so you can tighten or loosen it. All in all, it was worth it... looks better than before, its going to be easier to remove the bed bolts when I have to remove them next time I need to remove the bed or bed line it.
clint
__________________
1987 Silverado - L83 5.3 w/ 6L80e ,A/C,P/W,P/L,TILT, HID projectors, Wilwood C-10 Pro Spindles w/ 2018 silverado front brakes & C-5 Corvette Rear Disc Brakes 1999 BMW 528i - 5.7 LS1 w/ 4l60e, Ford 8.8 IRS w31 spline posi & FX-r projector retrofit New project: 2006 BMW x5 6cyl AWD to L83 6l80e 4wd to 2WD / RWD A poor man buy's it twice finally got my domain name back, 87chevy.com.... site rework in progress |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: West Jefferson, OH
Posts: 999
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
I was going to ask if you had trouble getting them out, but then I realized you're in Texas, lol. Good to know they are the right length
![]()
__________________
-Andy '77 K5 Blazer '78 K10 Shortbed '78 C20 Suburban '79 K30 Crew Cab Dually '84 C10 Short Stepside '88 K20 Suburban ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Getting Old; Going Broke
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Owasso OK
Posts: 2,764
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
They are not just plain torx heads. They sell a special driver bit for them actually. A normal old torx will result in damage to the driver bit. Maybe not just doing it 6 or 8 times, but after removing and putting back a few ford beds, it would ruin your driver.
Learned that a few years ago after buying a few driver bits for this reason, tool truck guy (cornwell) finally filled us in what we needed, sold us the right bit and have never ruined it yet. We've broken plenty of the clips, which usually results in a messed up bolt, but have yet to ruin the head of one or the driver. Everyone who likes this ford idea, let me tell you something. They use the same design for the cab, bolt head is under the carpet. It is so fun to have to remove an interior just to loosen a cab or remove a cab. Great design guys.
__________________
Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette? There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good." When the going gets tough, switch to power tools. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
At the body shop.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Land of fruits and nuts.
Posts: 5,211
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
I used allen bolts in 6 of the 8 holes. I think they were 4X1/2 and use a 3/8 allen like the caliper bolts
![]()
__________________
" That didnt make it any newer " " Dont antique the equipment " Last edited by KQQL IT; 07-24-2010 at 04:02 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Unnapreciative, Trollville
Posts: 2,079
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
I tacked mine in place to get em out, and then tacked them in place to reinstall them. Mine are still tacked...
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,427
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
I think if you tighten the nuts til the bolts snap, the squared holes won't be damaged...
I wonder if the Ford bolts will be so easy to remove in 2030... ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Nacogdoches,Texas
Posts: 330
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
I'm really liking this T-head bolt idea, but here is a dumb question. Why not just use the t-head with a nut like the carriage bolt has (with the correct threads of course) and not use the clips or attached the nut to the frame? I like the idea of loosening them from the bottom, or holding them for that matter and being able to get a grip on both sides, not worrying if one side will get damaged and be a pain in the future. The only down fall I see to the current design is if the floor gets damaged they spin. If you can get a wrench on it (this is where the t-head comes in), then you don't have to worry about it.
To the OP, can you give us and idea of what were are looking for bolt wise (what truck they're on)? I would rather just order a new set from the dealer. How did the lengths work out? I know some of the ones on aour truck are longer than others.
__________________
Smoke Tires, not Drugs |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Nacogdoches,Texas
Posts: 330
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
I dunno, I think it's gonna round the other way too. Pus you'd have to get a cheater bar in there to get enough torque. You can't get an impact on it do to the bottom frame rail.
__________________
Smoke Tires, not Drugs Last edited by MONTEZ; 07-24-2010 at 07:22 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Swan River Manitoba Canada
Posts: 233
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
I had exactly the same problem two days ago! My buddy and i took off one bolt when we figured out that they were siezed right on there and we were just making a round hole out of a square one, just like u did. So we couldnt figure out how to get them off then he had this "Bright idea" of just grinding the heads off. so we got them all ground off and we thought we had it made... untill... we whent to lift the box off but the dam thing would only go about three or four inches. Then we got to thinkin again and it kicked it, WE STILL HAD THE SQUARE HEAD ON THE BOLT! it was holding the box to the frame and there was absolutly no way we could get them off with out wrecking anything. So we had a couple four letter words to say and called it quit for the day. So the next day i bought a pair of bolt cutters, got all them off except for one. We couldnt get the last one because it was in between a brace and the frame and the bolt cutters WOULD NOT fit in the space we had. So right now, im still screwed, and i dont know what to do. So yeah, i know what you mean by bed bolt blues.
![]()
__________________
parts truck- 1982 suburban GMC Sierra Classic first project- 1985 GMC Sierra Classic first truck- 1988 GMC Sierra sle "New" Hot rod 1999 Chevy silverado 5.3L ^^^ Workin my way up the food chain ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Nacogdoches,Texas
Posts: 330
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
Quote:
__________________
Smoke Tires, not Drugs |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 |
BMW & ASE Master Certified
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 1,262
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
Yeah a t-50 was a little loose in the bolt but it did fine. I did come to the conclusion that f-250's bed bolts are torqed to a different spec! Anywaythe bolts came off of the nbs fords. All of The bed bolts were the same length (about 1 - 1 1/2" from the frame rail) and maybe tomarrow or sometime during the week i will get a template forthebed bolt nut tabs
clint
__________________
1987 Silverado - L83 5.3 w/ 6L80e ,A/C,P/W,P/L,TILT, HID projectors, Wilwood C-10 Pro Spindles w/ 2018 silverado front brakes & C-5 Corvette Rear Disc Brakes 1999 BMW 528i - 5.7 LS1 w/ 4l60e, Ford 8.8 IRS w31 spline posi & FX-r projector retrofit New project: 2006 BMW x5 6cyl AWD to L83 6l80e 4wd to 2WD / RWD A poor man buy's it twice finally got my domain name back, 87chevy.com.... site rework in progress |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
Still plays with trucks
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 3,556
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
What about using a button head cap screw instead?
Under $2 each and you don't need a special T-47 bit to use them. http://www.gotbolts.com/index.jsp?pa...APSCREW,COARSE Not sure on the length needed but I think this is close.
__________________
miSSed opportunity - ground up creation of an AWD 1994 454 SS that never was http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=795577 69 C10 shortbed stepside 400 small block - built like what a super sport truck could have been 69 K20 lwb TBI 350 4L60E NP208 14-bolt Dana-44 w/disc 68 Camaro SS / RS 500hp 439 inch roller cam big block 4L80E 79 Malibu TPI 350 4L60 w/ Z28 steering & sway bars |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Nacogdoches,Texas
Posts: 330
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
Quote:
__________________
Smoke Tires, not Drugs |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#19 |
BMW & ASE Master Certified
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 1,262
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
![]() under shot showing the length ![]() and the nut and tab that I will be replacing the stamped bracket thing that holds the nut which probally would break over time. ![]() clint
__________________
1987 Silverado - L83 5.3 w/ 6L80e ,A/C,P/W,P/L,TILT, HID projectors, Wilwood C-10 Pro Spindles w/ 2018 silverado front brakes & C-5 Corvette Rear Disc Brakes 1999 BMW 528i - 5.7 LS1 w/ 4l60e, Ford 8.8 IRS w31 spline posi & FX-r projector retrofit New project: 2006 BMW x5 6cyl AWD to L83 6l80e 4wd to 2WD / RWD A poor man buy's it twice finally got my domain name back, 87chevy.com.... site rework in progress |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Nacogdoches,Texas
Posts: 330
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
What did you do for the long ones?
__________________
Smoke Tires, not Drugs |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#21 |
BMW & ASE Master Certified
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 1,262
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
I'm going to use the same bolts, just with that tab welded to the nut in the 3rd picture. Im going to replace all of those factory clip/nut with the 3rd picture concept. should work out great.
clint
__________________
1987 Silverado - L83 5.3 w/ 6L80e ,A/C,P/W,P/L,TILT, HID projectors, Wilwood C-10 Pro Spindles w/ 2018 silverado front brakes & C-5 Corvette Rear Disc Brakes 1999 BMW 528i - 5.7 LS1 w/ 4l60e, Ford 8.8 IRS w31 spline posi & FX-r projector retrofit New project: 2006 BMW x5 6cyl AWD to L83 6l80e 4wd to 2WD / RWD A poor man buy's it twice finally got my domain name back, 87chevy.com.... site rework in progress |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: windsor
Posts: 290
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
I ground off the heads in my truck and found out the same thing as eightyfive. Once I got the bed lifted as high as it could go with the square heads still in I cut them with a sawzall. It worked great and had it off soon after.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Swan River Manitoba Canada
Posts: 233
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
Thats all it takes? well that shouldnt be too hard. thanks!
__________________
parts truck- 1982 suburban GMC Sierra Classic first project- 1985 GMC Sierra Classic first truck- 1988 GMC Sierra sle "New" Hot rod 1999 Chevy silverado 5.3L ^^^ Workin my way up the food chain ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Swan River Manitoba Canada
Posts: 233
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
Can i get some pictures of what kind of non-factory bolts you guys have holding the box on? Like a kind of bolt that i can get to from inside the box?
__________________
parts truck- 1982 suburban GMC Sierra Classic first project- 1985 GMC Sierra Classic first truck- 1988 GMC Sierra sle "New" Hot rod 1999 Chevy silverado 5.3L ^^^ Workin my way up the food chain ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: washington the state
Posts: 730
|
Re: Bed Bolt Blues
I learnd a long time ago if you soke the tbolts with a good pentrating lube and clamp the shank of the bolt with visegrips so they turn aginst the frame rail you can get the bolts loose then you can replace with carrage bolts from the hardwear store but put lots of neverseze on them before putting the nut on so you can get them off the next time
just my 2cents that helps me
__________________
my sports car rolls on six wheels only because I'm to fat to get in and out of new corvette http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/ph...ped_detail.JPG |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|