Stepside bed removal - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Chevyman680063 · 07-23-2008, 06:39 PM

Anyone have any tips on removing a stepside bed? I have the bed unbolted and the tailgate off. I wanted to take the fenders off before I tried removing it but the bolts/nuts are rusted together. I tried tightening the nuts to see if they would snap off but they just spin in place since the original bolts have a phillips head and can't keep the screwdriver from slipping off. You think I could use an air chisel to take off the bolt heads without damaging the inner bedsides? Thanks in advance.

65chevy4x4 · 07-23-2008, 06:49 PM

I took my fenders off my stepside bed last month.I use a small grinder with a 4-inch cut off wheel.I cut the nuts off had the fenders off in no time.

Chevyman680063 · 07-23-2008, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65chevy4x4

I took my fenders off my stepside bed last month.I use a small grinder with a 4-inch cut off wheel.I cut the nuts off had the fenders off in no time.

I have an air cutting wheel too and thought about trying to cut the heads on the bolts as much as I could without cutting into the bed then trying to chisel off what's left since I don't have an air grinder yet. That's the next air tool on my list though.

TN67chevy · 07-23-2008, 11:56 PM

i tack welded the bolt then removed the nut or snapped the bolt.then me,cherry picker,and 8 yr old son set it off

2bits · 07-24-2008, 12:18 AM

I used a ratchet with a socket, I think mine were the hex pattern. I couldn't get them all off, and I gave up and just put the bed on as it was. No access to air tools...

72armyswbtruck · 07-24-2008, 01:58 PM

Try an Impact Hammer (doesn't require any air tools and can be had for around $30 bucks thru craftsman)

67ChevyRedneck · 07-24-2008, 02:54 PM

Almost all of mine were shot, so I used a grinder as mentioned above. Just go slow and when the head starts to get real thin, you can pop it off with a chisel & hammer smack, or punch it through the hole.

Oh, and don't wear shorts and a T-shirt, I burned the hell out of my forearms and legs

rscam · 07-24-2008, 09:15 PM

I used a 5/16 drill bit and drilled the center of the head where the Phillips screwdriver goes. Just like you would drill out a rivet. You don't have to worry about cutting into the bed sides that way. It works great.

2bits · 07-25-2008, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rscam

I used a 5/16 drill bit and drilled the center of the head where the Phillips screwdriver goes. Just like you would drill out a rivet. You don't have to worry about cutting into the bed sides that way. It works great.

I like that, I will try it before I have the truck painted!

rscam · 07-25-2008, 08:52 PM

I only thought of that because I had to take a fender off at a junkyard and you can't really get a grinder in the junkyard. But I had a battery drill with 4 batteries. So thats what I came up with. You may have to hit the screwheads with a hammer if you don't drill them exactly center.

chip46wis · 07-25-2008, 10:08 PM

I welded a 1/2 nut on each phillips head screw---the heat loosens the thing up and they come right off with a couple wrenches

07-23-2008, 06:39 PM	#1
Chevyman680063 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 850	Stepside bed removal Anyone have any tips on removing a stepside bed? I have the bed unbolted and the tailgate off. I wanted to take the fenders off before I tried removing it but the bolts/nuts are rusted together. I tried tightening the nuts to see if they would snap off but they just spin in place since the original bolts have a phillips head and can't keep the screwdriver from slipping off. You think I could use an air chisel to take off the bolt heads without damaging the inner bedsides? Thanks in advance.

07-23-2008, 06:49 PM	#2
65chevy4x4 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ST. Joseph MO. Posts: 38	Re: Stepside bed removal I took my fenders off my stepside bed last month.I use a small grinder with a 4-inch cut off wheel.I cut the nuts off had the fenders off in no time.

07-23-2008, 11:56 PM	#4
TN67chevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: hohenwald TN Posts: 12	Re: Stepside bed removal i tack welded the bolt then removed the nut or snapped the bolt.then me,cherry picker,and 8 yr old son set it off Last edited by TN67chevy; 07-23-2008 at 11:57 PM.

07-24-2008, 12:18 AM	#5
2bits Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas Posts: 504	Re: Stepside bed removal I used a ratchet with a socket, I think mine were the hex pattern. I couldn't get them all off, and I gave up and just put the bed on as it was. No access to air tools... __________________ _______________ Thomas '78 Silverado '74 Monte Carlo '47 Teardrop Trailer East Texas Classics Local Club

07-24-2008, 01:58 PM	#6
72armyswbtruck Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,034	Re: Stepside bed removal Try an Impact Hammer (doesn't require any air tools and can be had for around $30 bucks thru craftsman) __________________ "Remember, They can Kill You, but they can't eat You, That's against the law!!!!!!!!!"

07-24-2008, 02:54 PM	#7
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: Stepside bed removal Almost all of mine were shot, so I used a grinder as mentioned above. Just go slow and when the head starts to get real thin, you can pop it off with a chisel & hammer smack, or punch it through the hole. Oh, and don't wear shorts and a T-shirt, I burned the hell out of my forearms and legs __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! Last edited by 67ChevyRedneck; 07-24-2008 at 02:55 PM.

07-24-2008, 09:15 PM	#8
rscam Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Monroe,Georgia Posts: 313	Re: Stepside bed removal I used a 5/16 drill bit and drilled the center of the head where the Phillips screwdriver goes. Just like you would drill out a rivet. You don't have to worry about cutting into the bed sides that way. It works great.

07-25-2008, 08:52 PM	#10
rscam Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Monroe,Georgia Posts: 313	Re: Stepside bed removal I only thought of that because I had to take a fender off at a junkyard and you can't really get a grinder in the junkyard. But I had a battery drill with 4 batteries. So thats what I came up with. You may have to hit the screwheads with a hammer if you don't drill them exactly center.

07-25-2008, 10:08 PM	#11
chip46wis Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,317	Re: Stepside bed removal I welded a 1/2 nut on each phillips head screw---the heat loosens the thing up and they come right off with a couple wrenches



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.