removing cross sills

[class01]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[passthebuck]

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]

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]

keep me posted!