Step one of a restoration project.... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**1971Stepside** · 11-04-2002, 03:16 PM

GET A TETANIS SHOT!! Holy Crap, this could only happen to me. Yesterday I was gettting the old wood out of my bed and trying to get it completely disassembled. Anyway, this one board needed a little coaxing. I climb up on the saw horses and then the bed (which is laying upside down on the horses) and give it a swift nudge with the leg. Well, it came out like that and my shin went directly into a nice rusty floor support and took about 2" of skin off nearly to the bone (there ain't much skin there to begin with). I'm bleeding everywhere and could barely get down off of the bed and saw horses. I did go back and finish after the wife bandaged me up.

Got my shot today and the Dr. was laughing at me!

So, to my question. Is there any way to salvage the bed strips? Mine are dent free, no surface rust, but the bolts are pretty rusted to the holes. I'm afraid if I grind off the heads I will mess up the strips...are there any tricks to this? I wish I had a blue wrench!!

Slammed67 · 11-04-2002, 03:24 PM

Ouch! That makes me cringe just thinking about it!

jmil1974 · 11-04-2002, 05:39 PM

Sorry to hear. I hate when that sh*t happens.

My only suggestions from experience:
Grinder + sweat
Drill + sweat
Add cussing as necessary

**Palf70Step** · 11-04-2002, 07:39 PM

Mine were all rusted, but if your wood was like mine, I knock the rotted wood out with a sledge, then I used a cutting wheel on my grinder and cut the bolts out from the side where the wood was. Worked real well and didn't damage a strip. Strips came out bent free on mine...just rusted to H3ll.

But....Boy can I feel your pain! I was down to one strip, ran out of cutting wheels, and since I wasn't going to save mine I used a chisel and 5lb sledge. On the last bolt, last swing...some fool let his hand get oin the way of the sledge.

Thank goodness for heavy leather gloves. Lucky no break

and NO SHOT

crazy longhorn · 11-04-2002, 07:57 PM

OUCH! i have been there also......usually step 1 is listening to the wife B#tch about the stitches! Oh well, I just tell her I am proud of all my scars!

Alexis · 11-04-2002, 08:07 PM

yeah i dropa wrench on my face twice, each time i cut open my eye brow. each eyebrow got cut in the same place. it was fun sitting there bleeding educating the nieghbors in my wide vocabulary of choice words.

11-04-2002, 03:16 PM	#1
1971Stepside Almost Satisfied Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,932	Step one of a restoration project.... GET A TETANIS SHOT!! Holy Crap, this could only happen to me. Yesterday I was gettting the old wood out of my bed and trying to get it completely disassembled. Anyway, this one board needed a little coaxing. I climb up on the saw horses and then the bed (which is laying upside down on the horses) and give it a swift nudge with the leg. Well, it came out like that and my shin went directly into a nice rusty floor support and took about 2" of skin off nearly to the bone (there ain't much skin there to begin with). I'm bleeding everywhere and could barely get down off of the bed and saw horses. I did go back and finish after the wife bandaged me up. Got my shot today and the Dr. was laughing at me! So, to my question. Is there any way to salvage the bed strips? Mine are dent free, no surface rust, but the bolts are pretty rusted to the holes. I'm afraid if I grind off the heads I will mess up the strips...are there any tricks to this? I wish I had a blue wrench!! __________________ 1971 C10 Stepside. LSx 6.0 with BTR Stage IV, Speed Engineering Headers, 4L80e transmission w/3200 Circle-D Stall. 3.73. Posi. Purchased this truck when I was 17. I started the rebuild (or take apart) in 1993. I have drug it around all over the country in pieces. Finally back on the road in 2021. "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do. Life's been good to me so far."

11-04-2002, 03:24 PM	#2
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	Ouch! That makes me cringe just thinking about it! __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

11-04-2002, 05:39 PM	#3
jmil1974 Ain't we cute? Join Date: May 2002 Location: Friendswood, TX Posts: 700	Sorry to hear. I hate when that sh*t happens. My only suggestions from experience: Grinder + sweat Drill + sweat Add cussing as necessary __________________ 69 C10 2WD LWB Fleet 350/350 power front disc conversion (6 lug disc kit from gmcpauls) and new engine, PS, A/C, fresh fluids, SHE DRIVES! FOR SALE $3900

11-04-2002, 07:39 PM	#4
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 47,249	Mine were all rusted, but if your wood was like mine, I knock the rotted wood out with a sledge, then I used a cutting wheel on my grinder and cut the bolts out from the side where the wood was. Worked real well and didn't damage a strip. Strips came out bent free on mine...just rusted to H3ll. But....Boy can I feel your pain! I was down to one strip, ran out of cutting wheels, and since I wasn't going to save mine I used a chisel and 5lb sledge. On the last bolt, last swing...some fool let his hand get oin the way of the sledge. Thank goodness for heavy leather gloves. Lucky no break and NO SHOT __________________ 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!

11-04-2002, 07:57 PM	#5
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	OUCH! i have been there also......usually step 1 is listening to the wife B#tch about the stitches! Oh well, I just tell her I am proud of all my scars!

11-04-2002, 08:07 PM	#6
Alexis Member since 2000 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Mountain View Ca / Mexico Posts: 7,874	yeah i dropa wrench on my face twice, each time i cut open my eye brow. each eyebrow got cut in the same place. it was fun sitting there bleeding educating the nieghbors in my wide vocabulary of choice words.



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