cross sills not drilled!

[Rednek13x]

Well i got the cross sills for my box like a year ago as a gift, i wasnt even close to be needing them, so never paid much attention. Went to install my bed this morning and now notice that the new cross sills i got from LMC are not drilled for any bolts. What in the world is the point of even buying these then? I dont want to have to measure out and drill out every stinking hole now. Much luck they would be all off. is this how they all come? LMC book shows they have holes already in them. Im pissed!

[_Ogre]

if this minor set back pissed you off, send them back
the cross sills are the same for 30 years, but the board widths vary year to year
make a template out of plywood with the correct hole spacing and drill the holes

[mr48chev]

Or use one of the old cross sills as a template.

[av8tr33337]

Can you just clamp one of the old ones onto the new ones, perhaps top to top (one rightside up and one upside down) and use the old holes for a guide?

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by Rednek13x

Well i got the cross sills for my box like a year ago as a gift, i wasnt even close to be needing them, so never paid much attention. Went to install my bed this morning and now notice that the new cross sills i got from LMC are not drilled for any bolts. What in the world is the point of even buying these then? I dont want to have to measure out and drill out every stinking hole now. Much luck they would be all off. is this how they all come? LMC book shows they have holes already in them. Im pissed!

I think I'd slap that gift giver AND call LMC to ***** at them for not knowing what you had. That will show them

[mr48chev]

I don't think I would waste a lot of time fretting about it. If you have a drill press or access to a drill press it won't take long to punch them out once you get the holes laid out. When it's all said and done it will just be another hour added to the build time of the truck.

[mknittle]

When it's all said and done it will just be another hour added to the build time of the truck.[/QUOTE]

that's what happens to mine. The problem is it multiplies and I can't stop itthem add the while I am at it...........

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by mknittle

When it's all said and done it will just be another hour added to the build time of the truck.

I'm the guy who got the longest time unfinished award at the unfinished nationals several years ago and the truck isn't anywhere close to even being drivable let alone finishe.


The good part about this is he is only out time and maybe the cost of a drill bit but doesn't have to dig way down into the build kitty for something he hadn't planned on. I'd mark and drill one and make sure everything is right on it and then use it as the drill guide for the others. That way the holes are perfectly aligned from sill to sill all the way back.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I'm the guy who got the longest time unfinished award at the unfinished nationals several years ago and the truck isn't anywhere close to even being drivable let alone finishe.


The good part about this is he is only out time and maybe the cost of a drill bit but doesn't have to dig way down into the build kitty for something he hadn't planned on. I'd mark and drill one and make sure everything is right on it and then use it as the drill guide for the others. That way the holes are perfectly aligned from sill to sill all the way back.

yeah, even if he has to mark and drill the first one the rest will go easy. I am one to get sidetracked I started to fix a crack in my dash and ended up building a steering column

[Russell Ashley]

I wonder if maybe they sell un-drilled ones for people who want to differ from the standard board widths.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

I wonder if maybe they sell un-drilled ones for people who want to differ from the standard board widths.

That could come in handy.

[Rednek13x]

Thanks for the connents guys, I dont have any of the old ones to line up, ill just have to measure and go from there.

Another question,

i have 4 total cross members, there is a long stretch above the axle where i dont have cross sills, but there are two holes in the bed strips one on either side of the frame hump. I see on mar-k that they have a reenforcemnt sill. Am i supposed to have them? Also not the very front one, but on the bed strips there is a hole like there should be another sill right there. is there or is there not supposed to be. Cant seem to really find any good pictures or info showing how it should be.

It is a 57 3600 3/4 ton

[OrrieG]

Here is a photo that show the spacing. There is one long stretch where it seems logical to have one for more support. I just made one out of angle stock.

[Rednek13x]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Here is a photo that show the spacing. There is one long stretch where it seems logical to have one for more support. I just made one out of angle stock.

Yeah, i am missing both of the circled ones. I believe they are not as tall as the other ones. Its hard for me to say cause when i got the truck the bed was rusted off. So i have nothing to go by.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Rednek13x

Yeah, i am missing both of the circled ones. I believe they are not as tall as the other ones. Its hard for me to say cause when i got the truck the bed was rusted off. So i have nothing to go by.

The one labeled "missing" was never installed by the factory for some reason, that is where I added a steel angle. It is also were my original bed had the worse damage, bend metal strips and damaged wood.