Crusty Rusty Leaky Squeaky 67 Step

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

That bedside looks super nice Vic.

I wish it looked as good in person as it does in the photo, Scott. The seamed area toward the back will need a considerable amount of finesse to get it to look right. Best choice would be to leave it in primer like I originally contemplated.

[Vic1947]

The last few days have been devoted to bodywork. The bedsides are ready for 2K primer as are the front and rear wheel wells. I've picked back up on the bed floor and even with my customized spreader tools, it's pretty tough sledding. There's a zillion dings in just about every place you look. The spray bed liner will hide a lot, but not the dents. I figure I have a couple more days of grinding down filler, then it should be ready for a coat of Slick Sand. I've been mulling over doing the undercoat and spray liner with the bed in primer and all assembled, but I haven't come up with a way to set it down on the chassis when the time comes. It gets pretty heavy when it's all put together.

[sduckworth13]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

The last few days have been devoted to bodywork. The bedsides are ready for 2K primer as are the front and rear wheel wells. I've picked back up on the bed floor and even with my customized spreader tools, it's pretty tough sledding. There's a zillion dings in just about every place you look. The spray bed liner will hide a lot, but not the dents. I figure I have a couple more days of grinding down filler, then it should be ready for a coat of Slick Sand. I've been mulling over doing the undercoat and spray liner with the bed in primer and all assembled, but I haven't come up with a way to set it down on the chassis when the time comes. It gets pretty heavy when it's all put together.

Vic, I'm always ready to help whenever you need it. Just give me a call, I'm 10 minutes away.

[Low Elco]

4x4 across the bed at tubs, cherry pickerfrom rear, jack that dude right up.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

4x4 across the bed at tubs, cherry pickerfrom rear, jack that dude right up.

This is what i do with my 8' bed, i will say that it does stress the rails a bit, if you added some reinforcement under the rails i think with a 6' bed it would be no problem. I did note you have a cherry picker, you can fab up a lifting jig.

[bguild]

Vic I would be more than happy with the bed installation if need be.

[jlsanborn]

Great update Vic! My bedsides are whacked in that same area and try as I might, still wound up with some thick filler there. I bet yours turn out sweet.

Assembled seems like the way to go. Maybe a couple 4x4's spanned across, under the bed rails, tied together with another underneath, down the center like an "H"? Find center of gravity front to back and snatch it there with the engine hoist? I've been putting four straps with S hooks under the four stake pockets but I think that'd be a little too sketchy for finished goods. Rolling the chassis under instead of trying to roll the hoist around is way more controllable too.

[Xeen]

Vic you could build a rig in the up stairs garage ceiling and use a chain hoist with two frame chains and an anchor shackle to lift it, piece of cake.
Alternatively you could simply undercoat the floor then bolt it to the frame then assemble the header panel and sides then apply the spray liner.
You are almost there Vic, the finish line is right in front of you!

[Elliot949]

Dang... If you lived closer to me I have a bed lift that works with my Cherry picker...

[Dean'smeanmachine]

looking very good, i enjoy watching your build . your a pro hands down

[Vic1947]

Thanks everyone for all the good suggestions. I think maybe if I clamp the 1" square tubes I used to shorten the bedside to the inside of the top rails, it would make them sturdy enough to use 4x4's and the cherry picker. I know that when I first got the bed, I tried to pick it up by putting hooks in the stake pockets and they immediately began to deform. Course there are no stake pocket holes anymore. Back then, there were holes in the floor where Roy bolted in a chain for lifting, so I ended up using them, but they're long gone now too. Anyway, I think you've collectively provided me with a workable plan. Thanks again!

[Vic1947]

More work on the bed floor over the weekend. Spread the last of the mud on the dings and dents, then sanded it down ...mostly by hand. I was just about out of Slick Sand with nowhere to pick some up on the weekend, so I shot what I had on the tailgate end of the floor and let it setup overnight. Today I made a trip to Wholesale Paint and brought home a gallon of Slick Sand so I'd be ready for the change in the weather. If you can stand a few more pics of the floor, just wanted to show the before and after working the polyester filler. It does a great job of filling sand scratches and pinholes. Tomorrow I'll tune-up the spray gun and squirt the entire floor and then it's back to sanding on it one last time. It will then get a heavy coat of 2K primer and be ready for the spray in bedliner.

[swamp rat]

Lots of work, but looking good!

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Lots of work, but looking good!

x2

[jeh]

Looks good Vic, hard work always pays off!!!!

[Elliot949]

I feel your pain on the floor Vic... I am doing the same thing to my Repop Floor...

[sduckworth13]

I feel like I'm visiting a high end bodyshop every time I visit you Vic. All the work you've done looks top notch. Thanks for all your help trying to sort my overheating issue out, I appreciate it very much.

[Bennett68C10]

Nice job on the bed floor, it takes a lot of patience and skill to make it look that nice.

[RatRod68]

oh man Vic, I feel your pain. We fixed every single dent and ding in my Dad's bed floor, and then he covered it up with carpet

[RatRod68]

oh man Vic, I feel your pain. We fixed every single dent and ding in my Dad's bed floor, and then he covered it up with carpet

[mcbassin]

Nice work on the floor Vic. I know how dang time consuming that can be. I think the results speak for themselves.

[Dean'smeanmachine]

looking good!

[Low Elco]

Floor looks good!

[Vic1947]

Thanks for all the comps, guys! The weather has turned positively gorgeous for the next few days, so I'm hoping to make a lot of progress on the primer front. After laying down a nice thick coat of Slick Sand on the entire bed floor I used spot putty to fill up some small chips and low spots I figured might show. Will resume sanding tomorrow after the pookie sets up. My goal is to have the undercoat on the bottom side done and the bed assembled and ready to spray bed liner by the first of next week. The shop was getting covered in dust, so I took some time to move things around and do a quick cleanup with the air nozzle. Looks a little better than it did, but it's a never ending battle.

[Xeen]

Great progress Vic, it will be gratifying for you when you get the bed done.