Why does my wood look like this??

[Steve Cole]

I assume this is original style but why? Why the little strips of wood on the far left and far right? Looks to me like the two center strips could have been a little wider like the boards next to them and the little ones on the end eliminated. I have seen wood beds with equal width boards in them before so why didn't the factory do this in the first place?

On another note, does anyone know of a company that will sell the bed wood in individual pieces instead of the whole kit? I just need to replace one board.

[GMCPaul]

That's is original to how GM did it. I don't know why but I would guess a engineer figured that changing of board widths would help more evenly distribute the load across the boards. To my knowledge none of the bed wood companies sell individual boards as most tout the fact they match the wood for appearance. I do offer the bed wood sizes here if you want to make your own board or have a local cabinet shop make 1 for you.
http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm
Paul @ GMCPauls

[Tom Vogel]

I was going to tell you to see your urologist.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

I was going to tell you to see your urologist.

Posted via Mobile Device

[slow-1]

I would think any competent wood worker could make one for you.

[Steve Cole]

It looks like that is what I will have to do.

[Lou Boffa]

the routing on the boards is pretty easy using a table saw and a stacking dado blade. GMC Pauls has the edge profiles to cut. Just gotta find the appropriate wood, dimension and finish.

[68Stepbed]

Is that your bed, there? If so, that seems to be red oak. I work at a family owned picture frame shop and we carry red oak. PM me for contact info if you're willing to drive to east TN for a board.

[CC69Rat]

Which board is it ? I have some red oak left over from my GMC build. Just extra rough cut pieces. How wide is the board?

[Steve Cole]

68Stepbed and CC69Rat,

I am totally blown away by your kind gestures; seriously, I'm humbled. I really appreciate both of your offers but I think I can buy a board at the Home Depot. I was on their website earlier and I'm pretty sure they carry red oak. I just need one of the 5.5" center boards so I can buy a 1x6 and shave it down a hair. That's my plan anyway. If it doesn't work out I will let you know, my wife has lots of family in your neck of the woods and we go there semi frequently.

Thanks again guys, you rock!

[big mike71]

A 1"x6" is only 5 1/4" wide and 3/4" thick.

[LONGHAIR]

Yeah, what he said^^^ If 5 1/2" actually shows, a 1x6 is not going to fit, the metal strips cover something like 1/2" on each side. Aren't they thicker than 3/4" anyway?
As another cabinet shop guy, I would offer to make you one too, but the shipping would probably be prohibitive?

[gale]

Originally Posted by Steve Cole

I assume this is original style but why? Why the little strips of wood on the far left and far right? Looks to me like the two center strips could have been a little wider like the boards next to them and the little ones on the end eliminated. I have seen wood beds with equal width boards in them before so why didn't the factory do this in the first place?

On another note, does anyone know of a company that will sell the bed wood in individual pieces instead of the whole kit? I just need to replace one board.Attachment 1135163

The wood was different widths and different number of boards in various years.

I ordered wood for two beds, '54 and '67, from Brothers and it was drop shipped from the manufacturer in Oklahoma but I do not remember the name. You might Google "pickup bed wood Oklahoma" and pop it up.

Strange to me that everyone wants the wood grain to show. I bought stepside trucks new from '64 to '81 and the wood was painted black in every case.

I like my trucks pretty but I still use them as trucks.

[gale]

Originally Posted by Steve Cole

68Stepbed and CC69Rat,

I am totally blown away by your kind gestures; seriously, I'm humbled. I really appreciate both of your offers but I think I can buy a board at the Home Depot. I was on their website earlier and I'm pretty sure they carry red oak. I just need one of the 5.5" center boards so I can buy a 1x6 and shave it down a hair. That's my plan anyway. If it doesn't work out I will let you know, my wife has lots of family in your neck of the woods and we go there semi frequently.

Thanks again guys, you rock!

I just went out to my garage and measured the wood for a '67 and a '54.

The '67:
The 2 middle boards are 5 1/8 x 3/4.
The 4 wide boards are 7 1/8 x 3/4.
The 2 outside boards are 3 1/8 x 3/4.

The '54:
4 boards are 6 3/4 x 3/4.
2 boards are 4 7/8 x 3/4.
2 boards are 4 3/8 x 3/4.

Tailgates and front panels are the same for each truck. Chevrolet used the same tailgate from '54 thru '87. They got their money's worth out that die.

[oklalawnboy]

The place in Oklahoma is Mar-K they sell the parts or kits. You can get the mouldings from them too.

[special-K]

Great offers from two great members

Originally Posted by big mike71

A 1"x6" is only 5 1/4" wide and 3/4" thick.

Actually,1 x 6s measure 3/4" x 5 1/2". But still the same situation. Gotta make those from 1 x 8. The OEM boards are 3/4".

My wood looks like this > XXXXX

Hey! Who censored my picture?!!

[gale]

Did you notice my reply from last night with the measurements? Those measurements are from new Mar-K boards stacked in my garage.

They are waiting for me to paint the rest of the bed parts.

[Steve Cole]

LONGHAIR - the 5.5" measurement I mentioned was the total width, not just the part that shows.


Gale, I noticed your reply! Thanks for measuring; I was pretty sure that the 1x6" at home depot was actually 3/4"x5 1/2" and according to GMC Paul's website, the center board measures 5 7/16" wide so that is why I said I could "shave a hair off" the width and make it work. Your measurement of 5 1/8" will still work with the HD 1"x6", I just have to shave a little more off. Whichever width is correct, the standard 1"x6" should cover it.

Thanks for all the replies! I am going to go home tonight and measure my wood! (hehe) and see how wide mine actually is.

[gale]

What we can see of your truck looks very nice. I'm painting my '54 Cameo Blau from a VW Beetle. It's a light blue with a little gray in it. I think it was used around 2000 and even then not much.

GMCPaul credits quite a few sources for his dimensions while mine are only from new Mar-K boards.

[gale]

Originally Posted by Steve Cole

LONGHAIR - the 5.5" measurement I mentioned was the total width, not just the part that shows.

My measurements of 5 1/8 are from new boards in a stack, not installed.

[pritch]

Back to the original question of why--look at where the bed to frame bolts are. If you start tinkering too much with spacings you may end up with the bed bolts in a runner, or so close to the edge of a board it may not hold very well.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by pritch

Back to the original question of why--look at where the bed to frame bolts are. If you start tinkering too much with spacings you may end up with the bed bolts in a runner, or so close to the edge of a board it may not hold very well.

Good catch. It would be nice to have the boards all the same width but as you noticed the staggered forward bed mount bolts would cause a problem.

[prostreetC-10]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

I was going to tell you to see your urologist.

I was going to say the same reason why you are blind!

[taotaoali]

figured that changing of board widths would help more evenly distribute the load across the boards. To my knowledge none of the bed wood companies sell individual boards as most tout the fact they match the wood for appearance