Short Fleetside ready to go under the knife

[62ChevyStep]

Been working on the prep work of this Bed off and on for awhile, all is prepped (sanded, metal treated, and in primer) No body work (ie dents worked, filler etc) has been done, this is the original condition of the bed, just sanding and metal conditioning and primer. Now its ready to go and have the inner flanges replaced and metal worked. Here is the Bed when I brought it home and now ready for the next phase.

[62ChevyStep]

Here a few more pics, will do between the panels with POR15 or zero rust or something.

[Stepside65]

Cool.

[62 short step]

Lookin good man!! I was wondering if you ever put it on your truck yet. Now I know!!

[62ChevyStep]

Originally Posted by 62 short step

Lookin good man!! I was wondering if you ever put it on your truck yet. Now I know!!

Thanks Guys!

Yeah, I know its been awhile, between work, kids and life it's been tough makin progress.

Once the flanges are cut and redone, any and all dents worked etc. then it'll be time to clean up the welds, take it to another friend who does lead work and have all the seams filled and smoothed, then POR15 or zero rust treatment, epoxy primer etc. Then maybe time to lay down some paint.

I just want to really take my time on these panels as it was tough enough to find a really straight short fleet bed, front panel, tailgate and fenderwells to start with.

All I have is time!

[Stepside65]

What are you planning on doing with the short step bed?

[62ChevyStep]

Originally Posted by Stepside65

What are you planning on doing with the short step bed?

James, PM Sent

[BIG CTY]

It looks good man, but you know where I stand with the stepside. Probably one of the few times your wife didnt win! I wish I wasnt over 2000 miles away from you, I would have taken you up on that stepside offer!

[62ChevyStep]

Thx BgCty,

Yeah I know, you and the wife ganging up on me, I just have always had a thing for SWB Fleets. I think the Stepsides are cool too but all I have ever had (62,68, and 81, 85) have all been stepsides, I figured here is my chance to finally build "my" dream truck.

I wish you would have been closer too as I would have given the whole shabang to you. Looks like Stepside65 is going to come get it.

[Stepside65]

You can bet on that one. It'll be finding a nice new home on the back of my little lady's 65. She's thrilled about it too. PM Sent 62chevystep.

[satin64]

sweet!i agree the short fleet is the way to go.steps are allright but theyre every where.nice work on the bed sides.i took mine off and starting on them this winter.

[62ChevyStep]

Originally Posted by satin64

sweet!i agree the short fleet is the way to go.steps are allright but theyre every where.nice work on the bed sides.i took mine off and starting on them this winter.

Thx Satin64,

All the best with the refinishing of the bed sides, it was a bear removing the tar like under coating they put between the panels, but figured out if you take a halogen light (one of those real bright little square one's) and let it shine either on or from behind the panel, it gets hot enough so you can take a good putty knife and chip it away.

other than that I took a long drill bit extension and put a 4" wire wheel on and was able to work all up through the panels and down inside the stake bed pockets. all the rest was with a orbital sander and 60 grit to strip the old paint and debris any surface rust. treated with Picklex20 (http://www.picklex20.com/) then with primer. Should keep them until the flange work and lead work is complete then they can be sealed and final paint applied

[anahuac]

Derek i am glad you could save the bed.it looks a lot better than when you picked it up. kenneth

[62ChevyStep]

Originally Posted by anahuac

Derek i am glad you could save the bed.it looks a lot better than when you picked it up. kenneth

Hey Kenneth!

Good to see your still around, ya, its been a journey, but well worth everything I have gone through and will in the future. Thanks again for the oppourtunity, OEM Short fleetbeds are just getting tougher to find in any kind of decent shape. I just know that in the end it makes this truck that much sweeter to me. I will keep posting the pictures as it progresses into the next phase - Inner flange replacement/repair, then on to lead filling and smoothing of the seams.

[kyle4381]

Looks nice.. Keep up the good work.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Originally Posted by 62ChevyStep

Thx Satin64,

treated with Picklex20 (http://www.picklex20.com/) then with etching primer.

I was wondering what that was. Almost looks like the old zink oxide primer, but I don't think you can buy that anymore.
Lookin' good

[62ChevyStep]

Hey Kyle,

Good to see your still out there! How is the 62 coming? your truck is one I use for my inspiration. Looking forward to seeing pics of the redo.

[62ChevyStep]

63&64,

yeah that pickleX is great stuff used it on the inside between the panels to halt the rust and keep any flash from happening while they were sitting in storage, the primer is just a high corrosion resistant primer, no epoxy primer yet, just going off of what my body guy instructed to do prior to giving it to him so he can redo the flanges and work any highs and lows, before filling seams etc.

[satin64]

thanks for the info and the link.i'll be following your thread

[jchav62]

Looking good!! Can't wait to see it done. Ever come up north to Santa Fe?

[62ChevyStep]

Originally Posted by jchav62

Looking good!! Can't wait to see it done. Ever come up north to Santa Fe?

Thx jchav62! Yeah been up that way quite a bit, (not with the 62' though) infact my wife and I will be up there the end of the month.

Stepside65 is coming to get the stepside bed next weekend, I unbolted it and disconnected the rear lights last night, I will lift it off in the next couple of days and have it waiting on saw horses for him. Looks like I will be running bedless for awhile, but that will allow me to fab up the rear mount gas tank, clean up and paint the rear chassis, maybe do a rear disk brake setup etc.