differences between metal and wood beds

[diggy]

besides the back panel, are there any differences between a metal and wood truck bed...if you were going to convert floors?

are there any other parts you have to buy?

thanks

[RShaips]

I am getting ready to do this now. I have not removed my floor yet, but I think you need the cross sills, back piece that wood fits into and a front panel made for the wood floor, it is longer and has a lip for the wood to sit on. Then the wood and the strips and all the hardware that goes with it. Let me know if I forgot anything because I will need to get it also. Hope this helps Thanks

[heldonss]

I am sure all of the cross sills are different, including the rear. The front panel is different at the bottom, however one from a steel floor can be made to work with a wood floor.
Somebody else will be along here before long to add or correct me.

[super72bb]

Yes the front bed panel is different. . Just looking through the LMC cataloge it lists... a choice for wood bed and steel floor in the following items.

-Front bed panel
-The aft Cross member
-Bed cross members


And the only other thing I see is it also lists different part #'s for the Nut's, Bolt's and lock washer's for the fender brace set.

Hope this helps

Curt

[diggy]

thanks guys

let me explain better what i'm doing.

i have a bed set up for a wood floor. i am getting a fabricator friend to build me a metal floor. i bought the back panel designed for a steel floor and you guys and some reading makes me believe a nedd a rear cross support. (true / false)

can i reuse the cross sills from the bed on my new steel floor being made for me? the ones that go along the middle

thanks again

[diggy]

thanks curt,


you posted a few seconds before me. did it list a price for the rear cross support and cross sills?

[super72bb]

Right on, wood floors are really nice when they are new and equally as nice IMO is a very clean straight steel floor. Something about it says "Quality" .

As far as a price in their cataloge, I may have mislead you a little there... It only lists a rear cross sill for a wood bed for 149.95. If I am not mistaken I believe that the rear cross sill is part of the whole floor on a steel bed (please let me know if this is incorrect anyone). Perhaps finding a steel floor with minimal rust might be your best option, then have your buddy refab the actual skin of the floor.

Attached is a beautiful steel floor in a 72 shortbed

[dwaite72lnghrn]

I think going from wood to steel the rear inner fenders will be to high to contact the new steel bed if you use the same cross members. Remember the wood is 3/4 thick, So the back cross member lip is 3/4 down and that is why you got the new front panel the lip was 3/4 down from the sides. If you raised the cross supports 3/4 and welded the new steel across the back and front you wouls be good to go.

[Classic Heartbeat]

If you are going from a wood floor to a steel floor, then all of your cross sills and bed front will need to be changed. The wood bed cross sills sit the opisite way of the steel floors and are shorter. Every one of them. That is not to say that you couldn't flip them over and weld them to your new bed bottom. Then you would have to shim up the bed (3/4") to make the body lines match and cut 3/4" out of the front bed panel, because it will be too long to provide support to the front lip of your bed bottom. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

[diggy]

Hey Wes,

My bubby is going to fabricate a floor for me out of 1" x 1" and then wrap it in sheet metal. i was going to then have it rhino lined / line x etc..

since the floor is going to be made rather then exchanged, do you still think i need to change all the cross sills?

thanks