how hard is it to swap box-side skins?

[willett]

here is the problem:
the current box on my truck is decent on the out-side sides, but is cooked on the inside especially where the wheel wells meet the inside-side(its a '78)

the new box for the truck is pretty mint, but doesn't have duel tank.

How hard would it be to take the skins off of the crappy box and put them back onto the good box?

[87Bob]

Originally Posted by willett

here is the problem:
the current box on my truck is decent on the out-side sides, but is cooked on the inside especially where the wheel wells meet the inside-side(its a '78)

the new box for the truck is pretty mint, but doesn't have duel tank.

How hard would it be to take the skins off of the crappy box and put them back onto the good box?

Before I'd pull the skins I'd find a body shop to cut the fuel filler door into the good box. Years ago the show "Two Guys Garage" did something like that. It is just like doing a rust repair in a panel. Measure the panel with the fuel door (to get the position) cut the door out. Cut it in and stich weld it in place. It would be a lot less work than removing four panels and then putting two back on. Just stich weld it in a little at a time or you'll over heat the panels and warp them.

[flamingbig10]

I would relocate the filler house to inside of the bed

[ont_guy_38]

Yes cutting out the filler door and welding it in would be way easier then drilling all the spot welds out of both box sides and welding it back on.I had a 69 El camino when I was young and when I replaced the quarter skins I did not cut out the filler door and relocated it into the box.No offence Flaming but boy reaching inside that box to pump gas soon got to be a pain

[willett]

i did think about putting the door in the bed but my truck is lifted, and i haul alot of sh*t in the back.

just doesn't seem sensible for me..

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by ont_guy_38

Yes cutting out the filler door and welding it in would be way easier then drilling all the spot welds out of both box sides and welding it back on.I had a 69 El camino when I was young and when I replaced the quarter skins I did not cut out the filler door and relocated it into the box.No offence Flaming but boy reaching inside that box to pump gas soon got to be a pain

The 73-87 box sides are bolted on, there are only a couple welds on the entire bed...back near the floor/tailgate area...everything else is a bolt on ordeal.

willett, here is an article for you to read.

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/exte...ed_rebuild.htm

[willett]

thanks for the link bigblock i was looking for something along those lines

[ont_guy_38]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

The 73-87 box sides are bolted on, there are only a couple welds on the entire bed...back near the floor/tailgate area...everything else is a bolt on ordeal.

willett, here is an article for you to read.

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/exte...ed_rebuild.htm

Maybe I,m not understanding then.When you said outside skin I thought you meant just the outside skin so if you are changing the whole bedside inner and outer skin then yes that just unbolts like bigblock says

[bigblock73]

No problem, glad I could help.

[willett]

no meant the outer skin, but it looks like a pretty intigrated part of the bedside

[willett]

i was hoping for a quick fix so i can get this box on my truck, but it looks like i'm going ot have to do some cutting and swapping