taking fender off a step side bed - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

qksilver · 03-26-2006, 12:40 AM

Been in the shop stripping a few truck that were given to me. Working on a step side bed and wondering if there are any tricks to getting the fenders off. I have sprayed them down for the past couple of days.
There is a phillips screw head on the inside of the bed and regular nuts in the fender well. I can't screw them out. I can't hold the screw driver when i turn the nuts, it just twists too much. It is a great bed so I don't want to use a torch to burn off the nuts.
Thanks,
Steve

krue · 03-26-2006, 12:47 AM

I bought a #4 (I think) Phillips screwdriver with a hole in the top of the handle and put a wrench on the nut. I put another screwdriver crossways thru the Phillips screwdriver (making a T) and turned it out (the wrench hit the fender and quit turning (some of the time, lots of swearing and starting over)).

russellmarling · 03-26-2006, 12:53 AM

I had to use an impact screw tool thingy (sorry can't rememeber the name of the tool) It unscrews as you hit the end of it with a hammer. It isn't fun. Sorry not much help.

krue · 03-26-2006, 12:55 AM

You might also wanna try an impact driver with the right size bit. Try tightening a hair before loosening.

qksilver · 03-26-2006, 01:13 AM

That was my nest thought! I need to find some friends who get into getting greasy, dirty and crawling around taking trucks apart

subtle71 · 03-26-2006, 01:27 AM

When using the #3 Phillips on a ratchet did not work for me because of the undercoating from a previous owner... Knowing that I would being using new hardware later, I grabbed the air ratched with the cut off wheel! vroom vroom

kingsolver72 · 03-26-2006, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russellmarling

I had to use an impact screw tool thingy (sorry can't rememeber the name of the tool) It unscrews as you hit the end of it with a hammer. It isn't fun. Sorry not much help.

They're called impact screwdrivers.Snap On sells em for 90 bucks...ask me how I know.

72armyswbtruck · 03-26-2006, 02:37 AM

I used an impact screw driver, no air power needed, I bought one from Sears so it was a craftsman, when you hit it with the hammer it turns the screw, This is what I used to take my bedsides off, lots of elbow grease and a BFH hitting the impact driver
Oh yeah make sure that it is set to loosen and not tighten

**uncle** · 03-26-2006, 08:37 AM

Drill it out, grind the head off from the inside (carefully), or sometimes you can tighten the bolt and it will break. I've only used the last method when removing bolts from the floor on a fleetside.

kaycee · 03-26-2006, 10:45 AM

I used a set of vice grips on the phillips head and a wrench on the nut and they came right off,I used new hardware when I put it back together .The floor was out of it and I was able to get to both sides from the bottom by myself.

cdowns · 03-26-2006, 11:26 AM

use cutoff wheel and slice the nuts off should take about 30seconds each

**Palf70Step** · 03-26-2006, 11:40 AM

What cdowns said. I've done 3/4 beds, the one from the southwest I was able to use my ratchet with screwdriverhead and wrench. But I had never seen threads on a bolt before on a vehicle over a year old

Most of the time, I just got a cutoffweel and cut the nuts off from under the fender. Too much rust and grime from the easter US area to worry about the bolts. Becareful though. You can slip and make a slice in the fender (Beleive me I know)

BrianJordan · 03-26-2006, 11:41 AM

the best way is to use a angle head dye grinder with a cutoff weel

qksilver · 03-26-2006, 11:51 AM

Thanks guys, any way I look at it a pain in the........

jay-dawg · 03-26-2006, 12:04 PM

I didn't have my cutoff wheel so I used the "drill the through the screw head technique."

chip46wis · 03-26-2006, 06:10 PM

I welded 1/2in nuts on each one, the heat loosens them and just a wrench or socket takes them off like they were new--------

subtle71 · 03-26-2006, 06:19 PM

I don't feel bad now that I see I am not the only one that broke out the right angle with the cut off wheel.

A lot of us think alike!

cflvulcan · 03-26-2006, 07:00 PM

me and my buddy just used a cut off wheel and an air chisel. we had the whole bed off the truck and apart under 30 minutes.

larry may · 03-26-2006, 07:16 PM

cut off wheel -4 inch grinder- hot wrench--- all work well.

03-26-2006, 12:40 AM	#1
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	taking fender off a step side bed Been in the shop stripping a few truck that were given to me. Working on a step side bed and wondering if there are any tricks to getting the fenders off. I have sprayed them down for the past couple of days. There is a phillips screw head on the inside of the bed and regular nuts in the fender well. I can't screw them out. I can't hold the screw driver when i turn the nuts, it just twists too much. It is a great bed so I don't want to use a torch to burn off the nuts. Thanks, Steve

03-26-2006, 12:47 AM	#2
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,448	Re: taking fender off a step side bed I bought a #4 (I think) Phillips screwdriver with a hole in the top of the handle and put a wrench on the nut. I put another screwdriver crossways thru the Phillips screwdriver (making a T) and turned it out (the wrench hit the fender and quit turning (some of the time, lots of swearing and starting over)). __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

03-26-2006, 01:13 AM	#5
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: taking fender off a step side bed That was my nest thought! I need to find some friends who get into getting greasy, dirty and crawling around taking trucks apart

03-26-2006, 01:27 AM	#6
subtle71 Granddad's Ol' Truck Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MS Posts: 588	Re: taking fender off a step side bed When using the #3 Phillips on a ratchet did not work for me because of the undercoating from a previous owner... Knowing that I would being using new hardware later, I grabbed the air ratched with the cut off wheel! vroom vroom __________________ *1971 Chevrolet Custom 10 short step-side* *2005 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD crew cab 2wd* [I]1971 Chevrolet Custom 10 Deluxe lwb fleet-side

03-26-2006, 02:37 AM	#8
72armyswbtruck Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,033	Re: taking fender off a step side bed I used an impact screw driver, no air power needed, I bought one from Sears so it was a craftsman, when you hit it with the hammer it turns the screw, This is what I used to take my bedsides off, lots of elbow grease and a BFH hitting the impact driver Oh yeah make sure that it is set to loosen and not tighten __________________ "Remember, They can Kill You, but they can't eat You, That's against the law!!!!!!!!!"

03-26-2006, 12:53 AM	#3
russellmarling Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Highlands, NC Posts: 138	Re: taking fender off a step side bed I had to use an impact screw tool thingy (sorry can't rememeber the name of the tool) It unscrews as you hit the end of it with a hammer. It isn't fun. Sorry not much help. __________________ '70 GMC SWB step-side- 454, 4 speed, air bags (in progress) '09 CTS-V M6 '03 Sierra SWB Z71 '82 Yamaha Seca XJ650R Turbo! '04 Yamaha FZ6

03-26-2006, 12:55 AM	#4
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,448	Re: taking fender off a step side bed You might also wanna try an impact driver with the right size bit. Try tightening a hair before loosening. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

03-26-2006, 08:37 AM	#9
uncle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Conyers,Ga. Posts: 7,288	Re: taking fender off a step side bed Drill it out, grind the head off from the inside (carefully), or sometimes you can tighten the bolt and it will break. I've only used the last method when removing bolts from the floor on a fleetside.

03-26-2006, 10:45 AM	#10
kaycee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Wyoming USA Posts: 2,453	Re: taking fender off a step side bed I used a set of vice grips on the phillips head and a wrench on the nut and they came right off,I used new hardware when I put it back together .The floor was out of it and I was able to get to both sides from the bottom by myself. __________________ 2001 Silverado K-1500 2005 FXDWG stage3 69 CHEVY Short/Step 327/4L60 373 posi 63 IMPALA 327/4L60

03-26-2006, 11:26 AM	#11
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: taking fender off a step side bed use cutoff wheel and slice the nuts off should take about 30seconds each __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

03-26-2006, 11:40 AM	#12
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 47,249	Re: taking fender off a step side bed What cdowns said. I've done 3/4 beds, the one from the southwest I was able to use my ratchet with screwdriverhead and wrench. But I had never seen threads on a bolt before on a vehicle over a year old Most of the time, I just got a cutoffweel and cut the nuts off from under the fender. Too much rust and grime from the easter US area to worry about the bolts. Becareful though. You can slip and make a slice in the fender (Beleive me I know) __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

03-26-2006, 11:41 AM	#13
BrianJordan Iron Thunder Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 377	Re: taking fender off a step side bed the best way is to use a angle head dye grinder with a cutoff weel

03-26-2006, 11:51 AM	#14
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: taking fender off a step side bed Thanks guys, any way I look at it a pain in the........

03-26-2006, 12:04 PM	#15
jay-dawg chevelito Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI USA Posts: 1,609	Re: taking fender off a step side bed I didn't have my cutoff wheel so I used the "drill the through the screw head technique." __________________ New deadline...when my son can drive. Aloha from Honolulu, HI

03-26-2006, 06:10 PM	#16
chip46wis Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,317	Re: taking fender off a step side bed I welded 1/2in nuts on each one, the heat loosens them and just a wrench or socket takes them off like they were new--------



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03-26-2006, 06:19 PM	#17
subtle71 Granddad's Ol' Truck Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MS Posts: 588	Re: taking fender off a step side bed I don't feel bad now that I see I am not the only one that broke out the right angle with the cut off wheel. A lot of us think alike! __________________ *1971 Chevrolet Custom 10 short step-side* *2005 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD crew cab 2wd* [I]1971 Chevrolet Custom 10 Deluxe lwb fleet-side

03-26-2006, 07:00 PM	#18
cflvulcan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Utica, NY Posts: 315	Re: taking fender off a step side bed me and my buddy just used a cut off wheel and an air chisel. we had the whole bed off the truck and apart under 30 minutes.

03-26-2006, 07:16 PM	#19
larry may Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: MISSOURI Posts: 3,256	Re: taking fender off a step side bed cut off wheel -4 inch grinder- hot wrench--- all work well.

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