What to do with with bed... Fix steel floor or go with wood floor? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**70cst** · 03-05-2004, 08:43 AM

I am about to have one good bed made out of two beds. My bed has good sides and front but the floor is shot. I have a Tx bed I was going to use as a donor. (Use its floor and my sides.) The sides and front of the Tx bed is junk but it has a great rust free floor. Then I started to think...(ouch) Would I be better off converting to a wood floor? It will cost about $1000 to have the bed taken off...make two beds from one...and put back on the truck. Which is the best bang for the buck. I await your advice, suggestions, and opinions. Your humble truck enthusiast.
Regards,
70cst

JimKshortstep4x4 · 03-05-2004, 10:51 AM

Converting to a wood floor is not going to be cheap either as you will need cross members, wood, trim and a gazillion bolts. I really think more depends on what you prefer for a floor. Changing a bed floor out should not be that big of a project. I am not sure where your estimated costs came from unless you are having someone do the work.

Jim

*Gee_Emm* · 03-05-2004, 11:16 AM

What will cost $1000? The steel floor or the wood?

**70cst** · 03-05-2004, 04:45 PM

What is going to cost a $1000. That's what the body shop is going to charge to take the bed off my truck and then take the side and front from my bed and match it to the spare Tx bed. He will also have to take off the side fenfers and front of the Tx bed since they are full dents and bondo. He will then take the Tx bed floor and my front and side fenders from the original truck bed and make one good bed. Then he will put it back on my truck. I am truck body challenged plus with my work schedule I do not have the time to do this my self. I've been wanting to do this for about 3 years and I just decided to go ahead and have it done. I did not know if it would be feasible to go with a wood floor but the more I think about it...I think in the long term the steel floor is a better way to go go for my application.
If after this your confused join the crowd cause I think I just confused myself again.
PS...Since my wife said go ahead and get it fixed I thought I'd better do so before she changes my mind.

Kas68c10 · 03-05-2004, 04:58 PM

Go, go, go before the boss changes her mind!!!!

*Gee_Emm* · 03-05-2004, 08:55 PM

Are they doing any body work, paint for the $1000? Seems a little steep for just unbolting and bolting stuff together. There is going to be more work to put a wood floor in rather then a steel floor, more bolts, staining painting the wood and metal strips. Depending on what you are using it floor they both have their strengths and weaknesses for longetivity.

**70cst** · 03-05-2004, 10:41 PM

It's my understanding he will have to drill out all the spot welds. separate the inner and outer fenders...then weld the fenders together plus the front section of the bed...then mate all the metal to the floor...then re-install the bed back on the frame. He is also going to do some work on the roof. A lot of surface rust is on the roof and I want the rust sanded off and get some prmer painted on till I can get all the body work done and painted. I think I will paint POR on the frame under the bed while it is off.
I thought $1000 for all that work wasn't to bad. One thing the body man said that got my attention...he said it looked like a "fun project"...verses just another job.
After looking at the expense of converting to a wood floor I thought staying with steel was the better way to go. Also if I put in a wood bed I'd be afraid to haul anything.
I do appreciate all you feedback and opinions.
Regards
70cst

*Gee_Emm* · 03-05-2004, 11:16 PM

Oh, they are seperating the panels, hell I would charge a grand for that, I started to do that to a pair of bedsides but then decided to go look for some better ones.

03-05-2004, 08:43 AM	#1
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,374	What to do with with bed... Fix steel floor or go with wood floor? I am about to have one good bed made out of two beds. My bed has good sides and front but the floor is shot. I have a Tx bed I was going to use as a donor. (Use its floor and my sides.) The sides and front of the Tx bed is junk but it has a great rust free floor. Then I started to think...(ouch) Would I be better off converting to a wood floor? It will cost about $1000 to have the bed taken off...make two beds from one...and put back on the truck. Which is the best bang for the buck. I await your advice, suggestions, and opinions. Your humble truck enthusiast. Regards, 70cst

03-05-2004, 04:58 PM	#5
Kas68c10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Freeland,Michigan,USA Posts: 312	Go, go, go before the boss changes her mind!!!! __________________ 1968 SWB Stepside, 250,pwr disc brake and tilt pwr steering, 5 spd tranny, HEI,Accel coil,K&N filter,Seat from a later truck with built in seatbelts, front and rear sway bars, moved gas tank to under the bed, headman hedders, new chrome bumpers,one wire alternator,Weber k550cub carburator...WORK IN PROGRESS, Freeland MI , Just bought a 72 Jimmy!!!!!!!!!!!

03-05-2004, 10:51 AM	#2
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Converting to a wood floor is not going to be cheap either as you will need cross members, wood, trim and a gazillion bolts. I really think more depends on what you prefer for a floor. Changing a bed floor out should not be that big of a project. I am not sure where your estimated costs came from unless you are having someone do the work. Jim

03-05-2004, 11:16 AM	#3
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,002	What will cost $1000? The steel floor or the wood?

03-05-2004, 04:45 PM	#4
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,374	What is going to cost a $1000. That's what the body shop is going to charge to take the bed off my truck and then take the side and front from my bed and match it to the spare Tx bed. He will also have to take off the side fenfers and front of the Tx bed since they are full dents and bondo. He will then take the Tx bed floor and my front and side fenders from the original truck bed and make one good bed. Then he will put it back on my truck. I am truck body challenged plus with my work schedule I do not have the time to do this my self. I've been wanting to do this for about 3 years and I just decided to go ahead and have it done. I did not know if it would be feasible to go with a wood floor but the more I think about it...I think in the long term the steel floor is a better way to go go for my application. If after this your confused join the crowd cause I think I just confused myself again. PS...Since my wife said go ahead and get it fixed I thought I'd better do so before she changes my mind.

03-05-2004, 08:55 PM	#6
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,002	Are they doing any body work, paint for the $1000? Seems a little steep for just unbolting and bolting stuff together. There is going to be more work to put a wood floor in rather then a steel floor, more bolts, staining painting the wood and metal strips. Depending on what you are using it floor they both have their strengths and weaknesses for longetivity.

03-05-2004, 10:41 PM	#7
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,374	It's my understanding he will have to drill out all the spot welds. separate the inner and outer fenders...then weld the fenders together plus the front section of the bed...then mate all the metal to the floor...then re-install the bed back on the frame. He is also going to do some work on the roof. A lot of surface rust is on the roof and I want the rust sanded off and get some prmer painted on till I can get all the body work done and painted. I think I will paint POR on the frame under the bed while it is off. I thought $1000 for all that work wasn't to bad. One thing the body man said that got my attention...he said it looked like a "fun project"...verses just another job. After looking at the expense of converting to a wood floor I thought staying with steel was the better way to go. Also if I put in a wood bed I'd be afraid to haul anything. I do appreciate all you feedback and opinions. Regards 70cst

03-05-2004, 11:16 PM	#8
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,002	Oh, they are seperating the panels, hell I would charge a grand for that, I started to do that to a pair of bedsides but then decided to go look for some better ones.



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