Bed wood help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

*1972Ryan* · 11-07-2007, 10:30 AM

I have a 72 GMC stepper and the PO had put aluminum sheets in the floor of the bed. Wood and strips are long gone. I am wanting to replace the floor, but I want to go a different route. Does anyone have the measurements of the original bed wood boards for a shortwheelbase? I need the widths, lengths, and height of the boards. I want to install that plastic decking boards in its place and still have the metal strips to where everything still looks like the old bed, just with boards that don't rot. I know the widths are different and I think they are all 1 inch in height. If anyone can help me I would really appreciate it. I will try and post pics when I start it if anyone is interested.

Dingfodgy · 11-07-2007, 11:03 AM

Check with GMC Pauls (link provided below)- he has a page that lays this all out. I'd double check before you use the composite deck material. In order for it to look like a stock wood bed- you're gonna need to rout a rabbet along the edges of each board for the steel strips to lay in. If the boards are solid composite then I think you'll be fine, but if they are hollow or honeycomb core-than routing the edge will compromise alot of their strength. Good luck and if you get it figured out- post some pics so we all can check it out!

http://www.gmcpauls.com/

*1972Ryan* · 11-07-2007, 11:21 AM

I am using solid composite boards and plan on routing the edge if I can figure out how much to route. the boards are a kind of brown that goes well with my trucks paint scheme.

**john** · 11-07-2007, 01:46 PM

Heres a link to GMC Pauls wood info.

http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm

*1972Ryan* · 11-07-2007, 07:35 PM

bump

72BLUZ · 11-08-2007, 12:07 AM

I Picked Up All My Parts Thru Ebay

**special-K** · 11-08-2007, 07:41 AM

I`m not sure that syn-board will take the stress.It snaps when under stress.Not sure if it`s enough stress to matter.

wibilly · 11-08-2007, 08:13 AM

them deck boards don't come in widths wide enough for the wider boards. you will end up redrilling your bed supports. personaly i would redo it with wood it lasted 35 years the first time around

Gray Ghost · 11-08-2007, 08:24 AM

Right...no composite comes in 8" widths as far as I know as a deckbuilder. I have been told that glueing them up isn't an option either.

Stick with wood....the more exotic the better.

EAST SIDE LOW LIFE · 11-08-2007, 11:11 AM

The PO of my truck used a sheet of plywood, not great but why wreck a new floor if there is no where to park the truck or it is still a hauler with no time off for good behaviour. On the other hand if parking is under cover or you have a garage a wood floor IMHO still looks the best of all the different types of floors that I've seen.

Sorry that I cannot be of more help with your post then to give the above opinion, wish you luck with your bed project and look forward to progress pic's.

esll.

68speedalert · 11-08-2007, 12:12 PM

Here's a link to what we did:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=78098&page=2

Mordachai · 11-08-2007, 02:00 PM

I know that you can get that composite board 12" wide, but the 12" wide 'lumber' is only 5/8" thick. The 6" and 4" boards are all 1 1/4" or 1" thick.

you could just use 6" wide boards all the way across the bed, but you will need an extra strip or two and might need to realign them all for the bed to frame bolts.

11-07-2007, 10:30 AM	#1
1972Ryan Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Weaverville, NC Posts: 718	Bed wood help I have a 72 GMC stepper and the PO had put aluminum sheets in the floor of the bed. Wood and strips are long gone. I am wanting to replace the floor, but I want to go a different route. Does anyone have the measurements of the original bed wood boards for a shortwheelbase? I need the widths, lengths, and height of the boards. I want to install that plastic decking boards in its place and still have the metal strips to where everything still looks like the old bed, just with boards that don't rot. I know the widths are different and I think they are all 1 inch in height. If anyone can help me I would really appreciate it. I will try and post pics when I start it if anyone is interested. Last edited by 1972Ryan; 11-07-2007 at 10:31 AM.

11-07-2007, 11:03 AM	#2
Dingfodgy Lemme show you something!! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: St.Helens, OR. Posts: 876	Re: Bed wood help Check with GMC Pauls (link provided below)- he has a page that lays this all out. I'd double check before you use the composite deck material. In order for it to look like a stock wood bed- you're gonna need to rout a rabbet along the edges of each board for the steel strips to lay in. If the boards are solid composite then I think you'll be fine, but if they are hollow or honeycomb core-than routing the edge will compromise alot of their strength. Good luck and if you get it figured out- post some pics so we all can check it out! http://www.gmcpauls.com/ __________________ '67 CST-10 LWB ("Crusty") SOLD '67 GMC SWB ("Murdock") 2000 K1500 Suburban ("Betty") '95 BMW 325i ("Joy")

11-07-2007, 11:21 AM	#3
1972Ryan Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Weaverville, NC Posts: 718	Re: Bed wood help I am using solid composite boards and plan on routing the edge if I can figure out how much to route. the boards are a kind of brown that goes well with my trucks paint scheme.

11-07-2007, 01:46 PM	#4
john member #16 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Yuba City Ca. Posts: 3,618	Re: Bed wood help Heres a link to GMC Pauls wood info. http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm __________________ john http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showgroups.php board vendors http://www.flickr.com/photos/1745471...7602865984234/

11-07-2007, 07:35 PM	#5
1972Ryan Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Weaverville, NC Posts: 718	Re: Bed wood help bump

11-08-2007, 12:07 AM	#6
72BLUZ Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: lafayette, ga. Posts: 832	Re: Bed wood help I Picked Up All My Parts Thru Ebay __________________ Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.... Ronald Reagan

11-08-2007, 07:41 AM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Bed wood help I`m not sure that syn-board will take the stress.It snaps when under stress.Not sure if it`s enough stress to matter. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

11-08-2007, 08:13 AM	#8
wibilly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: northwestern wi Posts: 2,111	Re: Bed wood help them deck boards don't come in widths wide enough for the wider boards. you will end up redrilling your bed supports. personaly i would redo it with wood it lasted 35 years the first time around __________________ common sense isn't so common anymore

11-08-2007, 08:24 AM	#9
Gray Ghost Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Terrell, TX Posts: 1,967	Re: Bed wood help Right...no composite comes in 8" widths as far as I know as a deckbuilder. I have been told that glueing them up isn't an option either. Stick with wood....the more exotic the better. __________________ Kelly '05 GMC Sierra SLE Z71 Bone stock except for new bed rail caps.

11-08-2007, 11:11 AM	#10
EAST SIDE LOW LIFE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C., Canada Posts: 1,602	Re: Bed wood help The PO of my truck used a sheet of plywood, not great but why wreck a new floor if there is no where to park the truck or it is still a hauler with no time off for good behaviour. On the other hand if parking is under cover or you have a garage a wood floor IMHO still looks the best of all the different types of floors that I've seen. Sorry that I cannot be of more help with your post then to give the above opinion, wish you luck with your bed project and look forward to progress pic's. esll. __________________ Tomorrow is for doing today's stuff. ************************************* This truck has just the right amount of energy for me! Author: Warren Lake .... (member) Last edited by EAST SIDE LOW LIFE; 11-08-2007 at 11:15 AM.

11-08-2007, 12:12 PM	#11
68speedalert Semi-Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Washington, MO Posts: 390	Re: Bed wood help Here's a link to what we did: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=78098&page=2 __________________ '68 50th Anniversery LWB Custom Fleetside, '77 305 v-8, turbo 350, factory speed alert (still works), '71 drivetrain w/front discs. Some call it ugly yellow, others call it Ochre '83 Jeep CJ-7, <80,000 miles, original owner '04 Chevy Suburban, 4x4, 2500, 6.0 ltr, Predator Diablo programmer '95 GMC K1500 Extended cab

11-08-2007, 02:00 PM	#12
Mordachai Fat Fendered Fleetside Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: WPB, S. FL, USA, Earth Posts: 718	Re: Bed wood help I know that you can get that composite board 12" wide, but the 12" wide 'lumber' is only 5/8" thick. The 6" and 4" boards are all 1 1/4" or 1" thick. you could just use 6" wide boards all the way across the bed, but you will need an extra strip or two and might need to realign them all for the bed to frame bolts. __________________ 71 GMC lwb 56 Big window swb 93 GMC Sonoma (dd) radiused fiberglass fender project for 67-72

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