disassembling a 71 bed

[RedZ71]

anything in particular that i need to watch for while i disassemble the bed i bought yesterday? i need to take some of these parts, and some of the parts on the one i already have on my truck, and build one bed.

any gotchas to watch for would be appreciated.

[1971LT1SWBPOSI373]

ttt

[skchevota]

Soak the bolts with some wd-40 or simmilar before you start. If the bolts start to losen then get tight and strip the square part on top so they just spin, I use an impact in forward and just snap off the rest to avoid the trouble.

[BigTex]

The biggest issue I had was the original bolts spinning in the square holes, just as skchevota said. I ended up using a cutoff disc on just about all of the bolts. I wish I had thought about the impact wrench, it would have made less mess.

[BigTex]

RedZ71 - are you sticking with the long bed or converting to a shorty?

[BCOWANWHEELS]

use the impact and tighten them till they break off is the best. you dont reuse them anyway.

[RedZ71]

haha, oh ill be reusing them... since im taking 2 old beds and using their parts to make one useable bed.

im seeing a few places where it looks like a couple of welds might be holding pieces together, whereas i thought it was all just bolted. am i going to have to cut some welds off, and if so whats the best method for doing that (ie, considering i have no welder).

thanks for the replys yall!

[AKChevyman]

Take a dremel tool with a small cut off wheel and cut the four welds they aren't very big and those are the only ones on the bed. Too bad about the welder I just spot welded the heads of my carriage bolts in place so they wouldn't spin. And look out for the 4 Phillip's screw's at the front you will either have to heat them up till the glow red to get them out or drill them out. Those have to be the dumbest idea ever since they are the same thread pattern as the bolts on the rest of the bed.

[Huck]

As mentioned, quickest and easiest method of removing panels is to tighten the small carriage bolts to snap them off as loosening them almost never works. You have a couple of welds where the C pillar attaches to the rear floor. You can cut them with a dremel, a grinder, a torch or use a air hammer chisle to separate them. You also have 4-6 bolts on those C pillars so check them out pretty good. On re-assemble, you need to get the bed square---and you also need to get the rear quarters perfect for the tailgate so take your time and square things pretty good. After assembly and assuming your tailgate is lined up and latching nice---you should re-weld those lower C pillars to keep things aligned. The plant used a jig for this.

[northerngmc]

Originally Posted by Huck

You have a couple of welds where the C pillar attaches to the rear floor.

After assembly and assuming your tailgate is lined up and latching nice---you should re-weld those lower C pillars to keep things aligned.

Can someone post a picture of these welds? I am trying to visualize them but can't seem to and my truck is sitting in the back yard under 1 1/2 feet of snow!


I am also hoping to take 2 or 3 long beds apart and use the best parts to make one for a driver.

[timcos]

What is a C- pillar...first I have heard of that...