Want to change from wood to metal? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

5150 · 06-25-2004, 08:14 PM

All the wood is rotted out of my 70. Can I just put down some steel and tap weld around the sides? Any recommendations would help. Too costly to go back to wood, probably going to use a spray in bed liner after I'm done.

*Gee_Emm* · 06-25-2004, 08:19 PM

I would remove the rotted wood and strips first to prevent rust problems to the sheet of steel you lay down. You will have to block up the cross supports so that they touch the sheet you put in. If you just layed a sheet of steel in there it would just be floating above the cross bars.

5150 · 06-25-2004, 08:26 PM

What do you mean block up the cross supports?

Talk to me like I'm an idiot, because I am about some things.

*Gee_Emm* · 06-25-2004, 08:36 PM

You would have to put some sort of spacer equal to the thickness of the wood you take out down on top of the cross bars(the beams that run from left to right under the wood) so that the sheet of steel you lay down in the bed ends up being at the proper height. Kinda hard to explain but if you go look at it, you might understand what I mean.

Quagmire · 06-25-2004, 08:53 PM

let me know if you find some type of solution. i'm currently in the same boat myself. not that the wood is all rotted out, but i really would prefer to have a steel bed.

i have talked to a few people and found out that it's a hell of a lot easier going from steel to wood than vice versa.

good luck

06-25-2004, 08:14 PM	#1
5150 C10 Club Tennessee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: White House, TN 37188 Posts: 8,281	Want to change from wood to metal? All the wood is rotted out of my 70. Can I just put down some steel and tap weld around the sides? Any recommendations would help. Too costly to go back to wood, probably going to use a spray in bed liner after I'm done. __________________ Bryan www.gmtruckshow.com Project "Andes"-Halen's First Truck Project: Patina Burb for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4

06-25-2004, 08:26 PM	#3
5150 C10 Club Tennessee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: White House, TN 37188 Posts: 8,281	What do you mean block up the cross supports? Talk to me like I'm an idiot, because I am about some things. __________________ Bryan www.gmtruckshow.com Project "Andes"-Halen's First Truck Project: Patina Burb for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4

06-25-2004, 08:53 PM	#5
Quagmire A splendid one to behold Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: moore, ok Posts: 251	let me know if you find some type of solution. i'm currently in the same boat myself. not that the wood is all rotted out, but i really would prefer to have a steel bed. i have talked to a few people and found out that it's a hell of a lot easier going from steel to wood than vice versa. good luck __________________ 67 swb 02 wrx

06-25-2004, 08:19 PM	#2
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 3,991	I would remove the rotted wood and strips first to prevent rust problems to the sheet of steel you lay down. You will have to block up the cross supports so that they touch the sheet you put in. If you just layed a sheet of steel in there it would just be floating above the cross bars.

06-25-2004, 08:36 PM	#4
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 3,991	You would have to put some sort of spacer equal to the thickness of the wood you take out down on top of the cross bars(the beams that run from left to right under the wood) so that the sheet of steel you lay down in the bed ends up being at the proper height. Kinda hard to explain but if you go look at it, you might understand what I mean.



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