removing cross sills - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

class01 · 09-02-2007, 03:30 PM

im almost ready to start removing the cross sills under my steel bed. What is the best way to remove the spot welds? can i grind out the welds with a cut-off disk?

72highlander · 09-02-2007, 03:35 PM

you can, but it will leave a large area to repair and make it thin all around it. the best thing to do is get a big a little larger than the weld and drill it, trying not to drill through. they make a spot weld bit, but i've had just as good luck with a normal bit.

class01 · 09-02-2007, 05:24 PM

so i would drill downward into the bottom of the bed? the holes would get filled when i reweld the new sill,Thanks. did you use the bed patch panels they sell or did you cut your own patches out of a junk bed?

**passthebuck** · 09-02-2007, 08:21 PM

Below is my steel bed project. I did my removal from the underside. It couldnt get to the spotwelds because the cross sills were too tall. I took my cutoff wheel on my angle grinder & cut them off, & I tried to use one of those spot weld cutters, but they failed instantly... I then tried an 11/64 (or something close to it) drill bit on the spot weld (after I center punched it) without going too deep & it just poped off. I just couldnt find a good donor bed so I had to do it by melding 2 bed floors. I ground the welds smooth & I'll get it line-x'd eventually. Dont use the patch panels they sell-they dont line up! Be prepared to weld a million holes! Good luck!

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=138385

class01 · 09-02-2007, 08:51 PM

THANKS! passthebuck this is my first project. I hope it turns out good as yours

**passthebuck** · 09-07-2007, 10:51 PM

I forgot to add that a wirewheel on an anglegrinder will be your best friend to help find spotwelds & to prep the steel for welding without taking off too much metal (like using a grinding disk would)

class01 · 09-07-2007, 11:06 PM

thanks for the tips,i just got a welder today.its still gonna be another week or so before i try my luck at this

**passthebuck** · 09-07-2007, 11:25 PM

keep me posted!

09-02-2007, 03:30 PM	#1
class01 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 295	removing cross sills im almost ready to start removing the cross sills under my steel bed. What is the best way to remove the spot welds? can i grind out the welds with a cut-off disk?

09-02-2007, 03:35 PM	#2
72highlander Sophomore Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: brownwood, tx Posts: 927	Re: removing cross sills you can, but it will leave a large area to repair and make it thin all around it. the best thing to do is get a big a little larger than the weld and drill it, trying not to drill through. they make a spot weld bit, but i've had just as good luck with a normal bit. __________________ 1972 Chevrolet Highlander SWB 1972 Custom Deluxe 3/4 2WD 60k miles these trucks don't need vacuum gauges cause they don't suck! two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights do make a left all i want is a little more than i'll ever get it's better to be judged by 12 than to be carried by 6

09-02-2007, 05:24 PM	#3
class01 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 295	Re: removing cross sills so i would drill downward into the bottom of the bed? the holes would get filled when i reweld the new sill,Thanks. did you use the bed patch panels they sell or did you cut your own patches out of a junk bed?

09-02-2007, 08:21 PM	#4
passthebuck Sisyphus was my mentor! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA Posts: 984	Re: removing cross sills Below is my steel bed project. I did my removal from the underside. It couldnt get to the spotwelds because the cross sills were too tall. I took my cutoff wheel on my angle grinder & cut them off, & I tried to use one of those spot weld cutters, but they failed instantly... I then tried an 11/64 (or something close to it) drill bit on the spot weld (after I center punched it) without going too deep & it just poped off. I just couldnt find a good donor bed so I had to do it by melding 2 bed floors. I ground the welds smooth & I'll get it line-x'd eventually. Dont use the patch panels they sell-they dont line up! Be prepared to weld a million holes! Good luck! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=138385 __________________ passthebuck #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car Last edited by passthebuck; 09-02-2007 at 08:23 PM.

09-02-2007, 08:51 PM	#5
class01 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 295	Re: removing cross sills THANKS! passthebuck this is my first project. I hope it turns out good as yours

09-07-2007, 10:51 PM	#6
passthebuck Sisyphus was my mentor! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA Posts: 984	Re: removing cross sills I forgot to add that a wirewheel on an anglegrinder will be your best friend to help find spotwelds & to prep the steel for welding without taking off too much metal (like using a grinding disk would) __________________ passthebuck #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car

09-07-2007, 11:06 PM	#7
class01 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 295	Re: removing cross sills thanks for the tips,i just got a welder today.its still gonna be another week or so before i try my luck at this

09-07-2007, 11:25 PM	#8
passthebuck Sisyphus was my mentor! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA Posts: 984	Re: removing cross sills keep me posted! __________________ passthebuck #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car



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