New Floor for my Bed? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

guitardude127 · 09-09-2008, 03:08 PM

Hello Friends...this is my first post on this forum.

I inherited a 1969 GMC 3/4 Ton LWB Stepside. It was my grandfather's old farm truck that I learned to drive in when I was 5. He has passed away and my grandmother gave it to me 2 years ago. Lot's of memories in that old truck!

It came originally with a wood bed and about 20 years ago, my uncle replaced the floor of it with a sheet of 1/4" steel plate because my grandfather was installing a hay stinger in it, and the wood bed was rotten anyway. I am working on restoring this truck, but I'm not sure that I want to go back to a wood bed. The current steel floor was sloppily done and needs to be replaced with something. Does anyone have any suggestions on what/how to do if I want to put a metal bed back in it? Remember it's a long bed step side.

Thanks in advance!

Matt

heavy71chevy · 09-09-2008, 05:39 PM

I think you have to replace the bed sills on the frame and switch out the front bed panel. and for actually mounting the steel bed floor drill about 40 holes and run the bolts...might be alot easier and cheaper in the long run to just buy an original steel floored bed and switch em out...you can resell yours after the sloppy plate is removed...most guys like the wood floor in the bed for a show truck and easy to find someone who is looking for one But before you can post a for sale thread you have to suscribe to the board..Its the best 25 bucks I have ever spent on my truck IMHO

PanelDeland · 09-09-2008, 05:48 PM

I have also heard a rumor that new steel floors for the Long beds will be out in a few months.Now whether that happens......

I guess it might,they repop the Shorts already.

67ChevyRedneck · 09-09-2008, 06:41 PM

If I'm reading it right, his truck is a longbed stepside.

GM never made a steel floor for stepsides, so however you want to make one is up to you!

**truckdude239** · 09-09-2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

I have also heard a rumor that new steel floors for the Long beds will be out in a few months.Now whether that happens......

I guess it might,they repop the Shorts already.

i believe t when i see it i'm still waiting on the repo bed sides for longs beds lol

ChevLoRay · 09-09-2008, 09:49 PM

www.mar-k.com

Check them out. They have whatever is needed to rebuild your bed. If you want to have it be a correct metal bed, I don't know if anyone is fabricating replacement steel bed materials. There are many more steel beds than wooden ones. You may want to consider that.

I'm sure your grandfather would have liked to replace the wooden bed but that would have taken time. With a farm, that isn't anything you have lots of.

Welcome to the board from the Heart of Arkansas! I think it's neat that you have his truck and that it is the one you learned how to drive in and now it's yours. That's pretty special, in my book.

guitardude127 · 09-10-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

www.mar-k.com

Welcome to the board from the Heart of Arkansas!

According to your profile, you're from Benton? I went to school in Searcy...met my wife there! If I had to live anywhere besides Texas it would definitely be Arkansas...such a beautiful state.

Thanks for the info everyone!

70' GMC · 09-10-2008, 10:51 AM

can you post up some pictures???

samwise68 · 09-10-2008, 01:02 PM

Ok, I'll throw out some ideas.

Like some have said, Stepsides only came with wooden beds. So, thats a limitation to whats available in regards to repops.

So, your choice there is to go with a bed wood kit, or a piece of plywood, etc. Theres plenty of information written up on that, but thats a whole 'nother animal, though.

On the topic of a steel bed, anything you do would have to be fabbed. So, you're looking at basically a 4x8 sheet of steel - I personally like diamond plate for reasons unknown to me. You could make stringers of square tubing to take place of the wood, so that the steel sits flush with the lip of the bed sides. Or...something else. I'm sure.

Just some thoughts thrown out there, hope it helps.

-Sam.

Erl · 09-10-2008, 01:24 PM

I replaced the wood in my long stepside several years ago with new wood and it is holding up fine. Since you are also in Texas it will work great, just paint it first. Several of the board vendors sell the wood for around $200.

**WIDESIDE72** · 09-10-2008, 02:05 PM

I have seen trucks where the owner took a LWB fleetside steel floor and cut it to fit the stepside truck. It had a stock look to it with the ribs, and the bolt holes were present in the correct location so attach it to the frame would be fairly easy. IMO, this would look better than a flat steel or diamond plate floor. I recently sold a LWB FS bed that was side swiped on both sides but had a good floor to a fellow who had this very idea in mind.

09-09-2008, 03:08 PM	#1
guitardude127 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sherman, TX Posts: 17	New Floor for my Bed? Hello Friends...this is my first post on this forum. I inherited a 1969 GMC 3/4 Ton LWB Stepside. It was my grandfather's old farm truck that I learned to drive in when I was 5. He has passed away and my grandmother gave it to me 2 years ago. Lot's of memories in that old truck! It came originally with a wood bed and about 20 years ago, my uncle replaced the floor of it with a sheet of 1/4" steel plate because my grandfather was installing a hay stinger in it, and the wood bed was rotten anyway. I am working on restoring this truck, but I'm not sure that I want to go back to a wood bed. The current steel floor was sloppily done and needs to be replaced with something. Does anyone have any suggestions on what/how to do if I want to put a metal bed back in it? Remember it's a long bed step side. Thanks in advance! Matt

09-09-2008, 05:39 PM	#2
heavy71chevy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: antreville, south carolina Posts: 873	Re: New Floor for my Bed? I think you have to replace the bed sills on the frame and switch out the front bed panel. and for actually mounting the steel bed floor drill about 40 holes and run the bolts...might be alot easier and cheaper in the long run to just buy an original steel floored bed and switch em out...you can resell yours after the sloppy plate is removed...most guys like the wood floor in the bed for a show truck and easy to find someone who is looking for one But before you can post a for sale thread you have to suscribe to the board..Its the best 25 bucks I have ever spent on my truck IMHO __________________ "Dixie Destroyer" 71 C10 LWB Fleet Future Blown Prostreet Monster

09-09-2008, 05:48 PM	#3
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Re: New Floor for my Bed? I have also heard a rumor that new steel floors for the Long beds will be out in a few months.Now whether that happens...... I guess it might,they repop the Shorts already. __________________ 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" Last edited by PanelDeland; 09-09-2008 at 05:49 PM.

09-09-2008, 06:41 PM	#4
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: New Floor for my Bed? If I'm reading it right, his truck is a longbed stepside. GM never made a steel floor for stepsides, so however you want to make one is up to you! __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

09-09-2008, 09:49 PM	#6
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: New Floor for my Bed? www.mar-k.com Check them out. They have whatever is needed to rebuild your bed. If you want to have it be a correct metal bed, I don't know if anyone is fabricating replacement steel bed materials. There are many more steel beds than wooden ones. You may want to consider that. I'm sure your grandfather would have liked to replace the wooden bed but that would have taken time. With a farm, that isn't anything you have lots of. Welcome to the board from the Heart of Arkansas! I think it's neat that you have his truck and that it is the one you learned how to drive in and now it's yours. That's pretty special, in my book. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

09-10-2008, 10:51 AM	#8
70' GMC HERE.......Somewhere Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Birmingham AL Posts: 2,488	Re: New Floor for my Bed? can you post up some pictures??? __________________ Current rides: 2013 Hyundai elantra gt DD 1995 camaro my first crush lmao Was: 1970 with a 350 4barrel and 288 horses Classics make it possible!

09-10-2008, 01:24 PM	#10
Erl Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 555	Re: New Floor for my Bed? I replaced the wood in my long stepside several years ago with new wood and it is holding up fine. Since you are also in Texas it will work great, just paint it first. Several of the board vendors sell the wood for around $200. __________________ 1968 GMC 305 V6 3/4 4x4 Stepside 06 Corvette Daily Driver Dallas TX

09-10-2008, 02:05 PM	#11
WIDESIDE72 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cedar Park, Texas Posts: 7,500	Re: New Floor for my Bed? I have seen trucks where the owner took a LWB fleetside steel floor and cut it to fit the stepside truck. It had a stock look to it with the ribs, and the bolt holes were present in the correct location so attach it to the frame would be fairly easy. IMO, this would look better than a flat steel or diamond plate floor. I recently sold a LWB FS bed that was side swiped on both sides but had a good floor to a fellow who had this very idea in mind.



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