Pics

[Already Gone]

I am going to fill the stake pocket holes and remove the tubes on the front and center stake pockets. If anyone has done this to their truck (mine is a longbox) I'd like to see a pic of how it looks. The guy I bought my truck from has a body shop and he tried to talk me outta doing this for a 1/2 hour this morning, saying it would make the truck look non-stock and weird. I want to basically keep the stock look of the truck with a few slight (like filling the stake holes) and the gas cap will be gone and filled when I get the rear gas tank mounted.

[72MARIO]

I would fill them unless you want to stick stakes in your feshly painted stake holes.

I shave mine. No Pics but it looks way smoother. They will never be able to get the paint inside the stake pockets either.

[Already Gone]

What do you mean by shave em? I was planning on getting a small piece of metal welded in then then filled and painted and yes the only thing that will be in the box of the truck is air. I just came back from coffee with a buddy of mine (a pro body man) and he suggested that I do not take out the actual square tube (stake pocket ),I guess under the hole. He says they do that on trailer queens and show trucks. He said I will some some box ridgidity and might develop cracks as I plan to use and drive this truck daily in the summer.

[72MARIO]

To "Shave" is the Newschool term used to decribe removing unwanted emblems or to weld unnecessary holes.

When I shaved mine I cut a patch to fit inside the hole I tacked a 1/8" rod to the center of the patch so I could hold onto it. then Tack Tack Tack. till it was welded up solid. For the fronts I left the pocket you decribed. I know it looked kinda funny leaving the old box under the hole I shaved but, I thought it was there for strength and ridgidity like your buddie mentioned. This truck is a Show Truck and I thought it needs to be there so it's staying.

[72MARIO]

here is a pic. It's kinda dusty. but you get the idea.

[matthufham]

I'm done with the right side of my 77, the welding part is easy, the bondo's the hard part (5 layers currently). i just left the stake pocket in there and just covered the top with scrap metal. the last guy had quite a few holes drilled through the bed rail that you probably don't have, so it should be much easier.

[longnlow72]

i have done both in my truck it really cleans it up

[longnlow72]

feel free to ask any questions if you want

[Already Gone]

Thanks for the help guys. LongnLow did you leave the stake tubes or cut em off. I can by the pic you left the front ones on. Yes I think the truck will look much cleaner and smoother with the holes filled. Longnlow is your truck orange & white? I really like the orange & white, yellow & white and of course pink & white like mine.