Shucks First Build

[Shucks]

I need some help. My teachers haven't done this before and I've gotten mixed opinion on what to do here. Butt weld, overlap then weld or do I set the body metal back a little and weld it in? I've got the inner where I want it, the rocker just scares me.



Really could use some advice here

[old Rusty C10]

That is one cool looking build.. Im almost 50 and youre doing as good a job or better job than I do on these things.. with about 30 years at it Keep up the good work and tell your shop teacher that hes teaching you well

[Cape Codder]

In areas that you can get behind to hammer and dolly to keep the pieces aligned I like to butt weld but, if it is closed and you can't get behind a small overlap will be easier. The area inside the door opening at each end of the rocker can usually be butt welded without getting behind as there is enough bend in the pieces to hold the shape. Where the rocker meets the cab corner the factory overlapped those parts and had a bead of sealer over the joint if I remember correctly. Try to weld it it as close as the way the factory did and things will fit better. Trimming parts to butt weld takes patience to get a good fit. Take your time.

[Shucks]

No more floor

Any tips how to remove angle strips?

[73Super8]

Great job man. Subscribed. Always wanted a stepside.

[aggie91]

The angle strips are spot welded to the sides. If they are not damaged with rust thru, then I would not take them off.

But, it you need to take them off for repairs, then the best way is to use a spot weld cutter on all the spot welds from the outside of the bedside (its easier to body work the few spots on the out side of the bedside then all the spots on the angle strip once you replace it). You should be able to find the spot welds with a light sanding of the paint or using a wire wheel on the area where they are attached.

[Shucks]

Finally got them

Test fit process for everything

Angle strip fit


And then a problem... Wood won't fit. I didn't buy the wood new, when I bought the spare bed the wood came with it. After a week of staining and making it pretty it won't fit, gotta figure out what to do here...

[Cape Codder]

Do you have a wood shop in your school? You might get enough room between the planks with a hand plane taking a little off each one. A sharp plane is a fun tool to use.

[Shucks]

Originally Posted by Cape Codder

Do you have a wood shop in your school? You might get enough room between the planks with a hand plane taking a little off each one. A sharp plane is a fun tool to use.

Yes we do. We did the wood there sanding and finishing. We have a pretty solid woodshop, we'll make them work I'm sure. It's getting all the bolt holes on the crossmember to line up between the boards is all I'm worried about.

[InitialBoss]

Keep up the good work! I like the progress!

[Shucks]

Bummer news, the bed is too tweaked for me to want to use it, I'll Use the spare bed I have which is in better shape, I just really wanted to use the original bed.
Here's how the strips didn't fit,


The angles won't set flush to the sides of the bed either.
Back to square one.

Here's an interior though.

I'm kinda running low on cash so I'm piecing what I have already bought an putting it on and driving it as is. I have everything I need but won't be how I want it. Oh well, we'll get there.

[Shucks]

Different bed

[aggie91]

Looks good to me...

[Shucks]

I probably could have made the other bed work with a hammer and some elbow grease but all in all the inside of this bed is solid, no rust showing through on the sides, angle strips are solid. Kind of embarrassed I didn't use it in the first place..

[Cape Codder]

Plenty of folks around here would love to have what you guys call junk.

[Shucks]

Well it's definitely available to anyone who wants it! I just had two options and I chose the better of the two. I know that other bed will work for anyone, less work for me anyway to use the better bed.

[83swb]

Were those pre-bent brake lines? The long hard line to the rear looks spot on with the original. I really want to know what those round case magnaflows sound like, the part number too, post up a video if you get a chance.

[Shucks]

Pre bent yes.
Magnaflow round case mufflers 2 1/4 Magnaflow#642-14445 from Jegs
I'll grab a video once we have a permanent fuel supply. All I can tell you to describe them is they sound mean. I absolutely love it. Not screaming loud and cracking, but a mean growl, I love them.

[Shucks]

Wood fits this time around

[Shucks]

Here we go.

[aggie91]

Bed wood turned out nice. Keep it up, the truck is turning out nice.

[Shucks]

Nothing too much has changed except that I've seen my truck have a "complete" side for the first time since I had first gotten the truck.

[aggie91]

Looking Good, Its getting there....

[Hankster]

Looks good!

[** Burban]

Hey I'm Mason, I'm brand new here. I've been reading around for a while but just got my account activated this morning and found this.I was very interested right away, because I am also 17 and do a lot in my HS auto shop class. I just have a much slower moving project. Everything you've done so far sounds amazing except I can't view any of the pics posted.