Raised bed floor - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

XXL · 04-16-2003, 11:00 PM

Next, I'm going to do a 11 or 12 gauge bed floor with 5 bead rolls in it, then I can squirt the whole thing with a spray-in bed liner.

XXL · 04-16-2003, 11:02 PM

and...

Smooth68 · 04-16-2003, 11:34 PM

Kennith - keep me posted on this please. I need to do something with mine and not sure what that is. I've already started raising the floor but not sure what to finish it in. Is that floor frame made with? 2x2?

XXL · 04-16-2003, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ProSt68Trk
Kennith - keep me posted on this please. I need to do something with mine and not sure what that is. I've already started raising the floor but not sure what to finish it in. Is that floor frame made with? 2x2?

Yeah, mine is 2x2. It gives me just the right clearance so when it's dumped on the ground the rearend clears. I had a pdf I made of the plans I drew up, but I can't find it. Basically, it's 5 equispaced bead rolls that run almost the length of the sheetmetal, stopping a couple of inches from each end. Right now I'm trying to find a place to have it made... a friend of a friend knows somebody who knows somebody who does metal fab... so I'm waiting to hear back from him this weekend. We'll see.

Oh, and you need a plex floor so people can appreciate all that rear suspension work!

Kenneth

Smooth68 · 04-17-2003, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by XXL

Yeah, mine is 2x2. It gives me just the right clearance so when it's dumped on the ground the rearend clears. I had a pdf I made of the plans I drew up, but I can't find it. Basically, it's 5 equispaced bead rolls

Are these bead rolls similar to what I've done with my firewall?

Quote:

Originally posted by XXL
Oh, and you need a plex floor so people can appreciate all that rear suspension work!

Kenneth

Dude, I first need to decide if I'm gonna keep the narrowed rear or replace it with something more "streetable"(probably)....oh and of course intsall the bags!

XXL · 04-17-2003, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ProSt68Trk

Are these bead rolls similar to what I've done with my firewall?

Yeah. And I found the plan. The dims aren't finalized, but they're close.

*Randy70C-10* · 04-17-2003, 12:33 PM

That's going to be cool. How thick will the spray in bedliner be? You don't think that it will hide the bead rolls do you?

Smooth68 · 04-17-2003, 12:49 PM

Looking at his plan, the rolls are going to be 1" wide - not sure how tall. I would think they would still show. I guess there going to be there to stiff'n up the panel as well as for looks.

PanelDeland · 04-17-2003, 03:38 PM

Standard thickness bedliner will allow the bead rolls to show fine.It shows the raised ridges in the new beds so it should just follow the contours.

>X< · 04-17-2003, 05:40 PM

what brand liner are you going with? Nortons is good stuff

XXL · 04-17-2003, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy70C-10
That's going to be cool. How thick will the spray in bedliner be? You don't think that it will hide the bead rolls do you?

As ProSt68Trk mentioned, the ribs should be visible as they're going to be 1" wide x ?? tall (I'm guessing 0.5" if it's a true half-round tool). As for liner thickness, I'll leave that to the shop that does the job... whatever is "standard."

Quote:

Originally posted by seanh71
what brand liner are you going with? Nortons is good stuff

I haven't gotten that far yet. There are a handful of them now-- Rhino, Line-X, etc. Basically, when I get the point of needing the liner sprayed in, I'll contact several and get their pitches on why theirs is the best thing since sliced bread, get prices, and go from there.

Kenneth

lotik · 04-17-2003, 07:39 PM

looks like you have plenty of room in there to work on the truck..heh

jay-dawg · 04-18-2003, 01:00 PM

sup kenneth, looking good on the progress. any info on the tailgate latches etc?

XXL · 04-18-2003, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jay-dawg
sup kenneth, looking good on the progress. any info on the tailgate latches etc?

Uh oh, did I owe you latch info? I'm usually pretty good at following through on such things...

Latches are like the ones here. There's a tech article on it here.

Once I get the bed floor done, I can start on the bed cover. It will be a hard cover that latches in a similar fashion as the tailgate latches work... except that the release mechanism will be hidden under the roll of the bed side lip. That way there's no apparent way to get into the bed-- just reach under the lip and pop the top, then reach inside and pop the tailgate... voila.

Kenneth

*Randy70C-10* · 04-18-2003, 01:15 PM

Looking forward to seeing finished pics.

Smooth68 · 04-18-2003, 01:21 PM

You going to make the hard cover out of aluminum? That's one nice thing about step sides - you can buy sheets of metal and such that fit in one piece.

sam's 72 · 04-18-2003, 01:25 PM

I seen a step side the other day that had polished ALUM. floor plate in the bottom of the bed, and the sides were sprayed with bed liner, man, it looked good
Sam

ChopTop · 04-18-2003, 05:38 PM

What guage are the 2X2's? I really like that idea, that is really right up my alley. I don't however want to build something that is either heavy like a pig, or too thin that will smash. I guess you could make the top panel out of Stainless...

sam's 72 · 04-18-2003, 05:43 PM

1/4" polished ALUM. diamond floor plate, it will not be too heavy and it looks bad ass
Sam

XXL · 04-18-2003, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ChopTop
What guage are the 2X2's? I really like that idea, that is really right up my alley. I don't however want to build something that is either heavy like a pig, or too thin that will smash. I guess you could make the top panel out of Stainless...

I think the 2x2's were 12 gauge. The finished product definitely will be lighter than the stock wood was... but I'm not necessarily optimizing for weight. As it is now, I can do any dastardly deed I want on it and it's rock solid.

As for the bed cover, I haven't really thought too hard on it other than that I was picturing a square tube aluminum frame with a couple of cross beams, and then skinned with either aluminum or fiberglass. I don't need to be able to stand on it... I just need it to be rigid (as opposed to the vinyl ones that tend to flap in the wind) and I need it to appear to have no "connectors" (like the snaps, etc., you usually see on vinyl ones). The finish will either be a very light pebble texture then body color paint or a good marine vinyl if I can find a matching color. Ideally it could be ultra-smooth and painted but with such a large flat area it might be impossible to get it smooth enough for high-gloss to look good.

Kenneth

mooneyes · 04-18-2003, 09:44 PM

you must have a hell of a bead roller to do 12 gauge ..i've only played with small bead rollers and anything 18 gauge or over is almost impossible

XXL · 04-19-2003, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mooneyes4b
you must have a hell of a bead roller to do 12 gauge ..i've only played with small bead rollers and anything 18 gauge or over is almost impossible

Actually that's sort of hanging me up on this right now

. I'm still trying to find somebody who can roll them. Any idea what gauge a stock bed floor is? Maybe 14? It might be that I'm trying to go with too thick of a piece of steel for my bed floor.

Kenneth

Smooth68 · 04-19-2003, 11:26 PM

I know I've seen shops bend metal to match the factory "ribs" in the newer bed floors - maybe thats another option to look at...?

04-16-2003, 11:00 PM	#1
XXL Señor Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Edge of the world Posts: 5,367	Raised bed floor Next, I'm going to do a 11 or 12 gauge bed floor with 5 bead rolls in it, then I can squirt the whole thing with a spray-in bed liner. Attached Images __________________ Craigslist \| ebay \| Engrishtees \| www.myattitudesucks.com \| Follow me on Twitter

04-16-2003, 11:02 PM	#2
XXL Señor Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Edge of the world Posts: 5,367	and... Attached Images __________________ Craigslist \| ebay \| Engrishtees \| www.myattitudesucks.com \| Follow me on Twitter

04-16-2003, 11:34 PM	#3
Smooth68 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: West Fork, Arkansas - Razorback Country Posts: 1,826	Kennith - keep me posted on this please. I need to do something with mine and not sure what that is. I've already started raising the floor but not sure what to finish it in. Is that floor frame made with? 2x2? Attached Images __________________ Smooth68's Web Site WTB 64-66 project or frame/cab, SWB or LWB...I have the fever! Whatcha got?? '68 Short Step - Shaved Body, Soon Bagged - *SOLD* Driver-2004 GMC Z-71 Ext-cab

04-17-2003, 12:49 PM	#8
Smooth68 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: West Fork, Arkansas - Razorback Country Posts: 1,826	Looking at his plan, the rolls are going to be 1" wide - not sure how tall. I would think they would still show. I guess there going to be there to stiff'n up the panel as well as for looks. __________________ Smooth68's Web Site WTB 64-66 project or frame/cab, SWB or LWB...I have the fever! Whatcha got?? '68 Short Step - Shaved Body, Soon Bagged - *SOLD* Driver-2004 GMC Z-71 Ext-cab

04-17-2003, 03:38 PM	#9
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Standard thickness bedliner will allow the bead rolls to show fine.It shows the raised ridges in the new beds so it should just follow the contours. __________________ 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"

04-17-2003, 12:33 PM	#7
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	That's going to be cool. How thick will the spray in bedliner be? You don't think that it will hide the bead rolls do you?

04-17-2003, 05:40 PM	#10
>X< registered IWATA user Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 4,481	what brand liner are you going with? Nortons is good stuff __________________ -'63 Ford Fairlane 500 coupe, v8, auto, faded and rusty. awaiting built roller 302 and some flat black -'99 Honda Prelude. vtech/5spd. no pipe, no intake, bone stock. awaiting new top end. -01 GMC Yukon SLT 5.3 dented and scratched with a noisy tranny. Take off that Von Dutch hat before i stab you with a 000 Mack.

04-17-2003, 07:39 PM	#12
lotik drag it like you stole it Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 542	looks like you have plenty of room in there to work on the truck..heh __________________ negative camber //LA\\

04-18-2003, 01:00 PM	#13
jay-dawg chevelito Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI USA Posts: 1,609	sup kenneth, looking good on the progress. any info on the tailgate latches etc? __________________ New deadline...when my son can drive. Aloha from Honolulu, HI

04-18-2003, 01:15 PM	#15
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	Looking forward to seeing finished pics.

04-18-2003, 01:21 PM	#16
Smooth68 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: West Fork, Arkansas - Razorback Country Posts: 1,826	You going to make the hard cover out of aluminum? That's one nice thing about step sides - you can buy sheets of metal and such that fit in one piece. __________________ Smooth68's Web Site WTB 64-66 project or frame/cab, SWB or LWB...I have the fever! Whatcha got?? '68 Short Step - Shaved Body, Soon Bagged - *SOLD* Driver-2004 GMC Z-71 Ext-cab

04-18-2003, 01:25 PM	#17
sam's 72 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pasadena, Texas, USA Posts: 1,005	I seen a step side the other day that had polished ALUM. floor plate in the bottom of the bed, and the sides were sprayed with bed liner, man, it looked good Sam __________________ 72 LWB chevy truck. Pasadena, Texas

04-18-2003, 05:38 PM	#18
ChopTop Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: KINGWOOD TEXAS Posts: 515	What guage are the 2X2's? I really like that idea, that is really right up my alley. I don't however want to build something that is either heavy like a pig, or too thin that will smash. I guess you could make the top panel out of Stainless... __________________ Member of the "Old Farts Club"

04-18-2003, 05:43 PM	#19
sam's 72 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pasadena, Texas, USA Posts: 1,005	1/4" polished ALUM. diamond floor plate, it will not be too heavy and it looks bad ass Sam __________________ 72 LWB chevy truck. Pasadena, Texas

04-18-2003, 09:44 PM	#21
mooneyes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Slippery Rock PA USA Posts: 1,692	you must have a hell of a bead roller to do 12 gauge ..i've only played with small bead rollers and anything 18 gauge or over is almost impossible __________________ Ken Lyons, Slippery rock pa 68 short step 327 t10 4 gear 72 2wd blazer project 70 lwb 305/700r driver 78 caprice project 02 cavalier D.D ( hate it!!)



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04-19-2003, 11:26 PM	#23
Smooth68 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: West Fork, Arkansas - Razorback Country Posts: 1,826	I know I've seen shops bend metal to match the factory "ribs" in the newer bed floors - maybe thats another option to look at...? __________________ Smooth68's Web Site WTB 64-66 project or frame/cab, SWB or LWB...I have the fever! Whatcha got?? '68 Short Step - Shaved Body, Soon Bagged - *SOLD* Driver-2004 GMC Z-71 Ext-cab

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