Wood or Steel

[michael23v]

I need to replace the bed floor on my '67 C-10. I am torn between wood and steel.

Is there a benefit to one over the other? I figure steel will be easier to install and will last longer, but what are the weight differences? Wood i think looks more "classic" but most likely i will be throwing a tonneau over the bed anyway.

So, what do you guys think?

[DeadheadNM]

It's interesting that GM painted wood beds together with the sheetmetal...clear/stained wood finish is the rule today and looks great but not OEM

[CC69Rat]

Is it wood or steel now?

[michael23v]

technically it is wood.. But majority of it is missing because i ripped it out so i could install my new gas tank easier. It was falling apart anyway and needed to be replaced.

[knomadd]

I'd stick with wood. I believe I've read on here that the connections for the wood floor are different than steel so there would be more to change from one to the other than just buying the floor material. Someone else will need to confirm or correct the above statement though.

[DeadheadNM]

Header panels differ wood vs. steel - prob better to redo the wood bed.

[CC69Rat]

the front header panel is different. I like wood better myself, I'd go back with wood even if you just painted it like they did at the factory.

[SS Tim]

The front panel and all the crossmembers are different between wood and steel. The wood floor option E81 is listed adding ~15 lb over the stock steel.
If you have wood you might as well keep it. But I do not advocate full blown "furniture" wood and finish either. Good quality yellow pine well sealed then installed and overpainted is a known durable bed. However I think using stainless hardware and strips is a good idea too and plan to do mine that way right under the paint.

Here is a picture of a factory wood bed service replacement floor.
The black is the soaked sealer they used prior to assembly. Then of course it was overpainted after bed assembly. Black in 67-68 then body color after that.

[michael23v]

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like wood is the way to go.

[Lou Boffa]

Here's another option. Mine's a daily driver and this Texas sun/humidity eats wood. Wood is beautiful but this stuff (Trex decking)wears like iron and still has the look.

[sboris]

I say wood for being practical that it's already set up for it, and, it gives it more character IMO.

[DeadheadNM]

On a tangent but I wonder: is the 72 pickup the final example of real wood used in the manufacture of a GM vehicle (or other US vehicle)?

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

On a tangent but I wonder: is the 72 pickup the final example of real wood used in the manufacture of a GM vehicle (or other US vehicle)?

Stepside beds kept the wood floor as standard equipment all the way up to 1987.

The RPO E81 option remained available for 8' fleetside beds up to 1980. Dad's '77 GMC was factory equipped with this option --> http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=376467

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by ray_mcavoy

Stepside beds kept the wood floor as standard equipment all the way up to 1987.

The RPO E81 option remained available for 8' fleetside beds up to 1980. Dad's '77 GMC was factory equipped with this option --> http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=376467

That's amazing!

[Stu Pidd]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

On a tangent but I wonder: is the 72 pickup the final example of real wood used in the manufacture of a GM vehicle (or other US vehicle)?

C5 and C6 Corvettes use a composite sandwich with a balsa wood core for the floor. Very light and very strong.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by Stu Pidd

C5 and C6 Corvettes use a composite sandwich with a balsa wood core for the floor. Very light and very strong.

Sounds like a snowboard!

[sboris]

^^ could be wrong, but I was thinking stepsides through the late 70's still had it. SS Tim?

[dmartin1]

Originally Posted by sboris

^^ could be wrong, but I was thinking stepsides through the late 70's still had it. SS Tim?

yeah, my 82 step has the wood bed floor


id go with wood it gives character for an older truck.

that treck decking fake wood stuff is a pretty sweet idea

[sboris]

I see they sell kits through 87.. Don't know about other breeds.

[NoNeck]

If you are going to go to all the trouble to replace the wood, why not take the time to make it look extra sharp? $126 for Northern Red Oak, $40 for a gallon Spar Marine Varnish and about 8 hours of planing, trimming, sanding and finishing.

Just my 2¢.
POP

[DeadheadNM]

Good info on history of wood beds - thanks. Pete

[litew8]

Wood beds were used back in the day for livestock/farmers. Softer on the animal's hooves.

[magicoolbus]

Mar-k did a side by side on wood beds and used many different finishes. The one that with stood the test of time was: POR 15 then painted with oil base gloss black. All the other natural finishes did not hold up at all.

http://www.mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_ii.aspx

[jocko]

I'll pitch in on the wood side. And, although I can understand the itch to stain and clear it (it IS very good looking), for some weird reason I like to do it like the General did it himself - body color paint for this era of trucks. Both my 71 and 72 had the wood bed option (and medium olive wood is not something I would have said I "liked" 10 years ago, but...) and my 66 had the standard wood bed (but they were painted lamp post black thru 66, I believe - body color after that).