Taking my bed off, hard task? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Smokin72on20s · 09-12-2004, 02:48 AM

i need to take the bed off of my truck, is there anything i should know before i start unscrewing all the bolts and taking the bed off? Also, could you give me a rough estimate at how much a short fleetside steel bed weighs?

tmcgrawlookalike · 09-12-2004, 03:10 AM

not really tough at all,but i would get some liquid wrench or equivalent and let those threads soak a little while before starting,unless you plan on replacing them after you torch `em off.i can`t give you #s on the weight,but i just had mine off last weekend and it only took myself and my neighbor to remove/install it.i had to replace the shock brace/crossmember and it was easier this way.

PrimeredThunder · 09-12-2004, 04:36 AM

Once you get the bolts out of the floor and unplug the rear wiring harness(lights, etc), after that its just a matter of lifting the bed over the tires and finding a good place to set it while you work on your truck.
A good piece of advice though, shed a little weight by removing the tailgate before you take the bed off. I've done it this way and was able to manuver it around the shop with just my dad and myself.

Kenny

70c10 · 09-12-2004, 08:44 AM

It's also a good time to paint the frame, underside of bed, etc...

bgunther · 09-12-2004, 09:03 AM

Unscrew? In my case it I had to cut them off. My bed was trash so I removed the tailgate and fenders and flipped it off myself.

71swb4x4 · 09-12-2004, 09:14 AM

I did mine last week, I removed the rear wheels and lowered it, with the wheels off you don't have to lift it nearly as high. Just mae sure you have it firmly on jack stands.

cdowns · 09-12-2004, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

I did mine last week, I removed the rear wheels and lowered it, with the wheels off you don't have to lift it nearly as high. Just mae sure you have it firmly on jack stands.

thats the way i did it and by using my engine hoist to lift the rear was able to remove it by myself. i find that using metal garbage cans as stands works well

Smokin72on20s · 09-12-2004, 05:50 PM

well i think i am going to get everything powder coated, so my other question would be what should i know about taking EVERYTHING off to get the frame over to the powder coating shop?

cdowns · 09-12-2004, 05:58 PM

just keep unbolting till there ain't nothing left to unbolt

73stepside · 09-13-2004, 02:44 AM

you can take the bed apart too. that's what i done to my 70. the bedsides have 3 spot welds on the tailgate trunions, but other than that it was pretty easy

**JIMs70GMC** · 09-13-2004, 08:33 AM

Took 4 of us to set the long bed on my 71. It's more awkward than heavy.

Joe67 · 09-13-2004, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdowns

just keep unbolting till there ain't nothing left to unbolt

I agree. strip that frame clean

Gibble · 09-13-2004, 10:16 AM

another easy way to remove the bed, is if you have a garage with the rafters still exposed, just life it off. Tie rope to each corner, fling it over the rafter, lift, and tie. You can then just drive the truck out from underneath...and you can work on the bed while it's hanging there! And when you need to park the truck back in the garage, just back it under the hanging bed. I did it, it worked great and saved space

09-12-2004, 02:48 AM	#1
Smokin72on20s Ebay Junky Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CO Posts: 893	Taking my bed off, hard task? i need to take the bed off of my truck, is there anything i should know before i start unscrewing all the bolts and taking the bed off? Also, could you give me a rough estimate at how much a short fleetside steel bed weighs? __________________ 1972 CHEVY C-10 SWB 2WD - Possible Typhoon 4.3 turbo drivetrain.. 1983 Chevy c10 swb 2wd - possible 350tbi supercharged...

09-12-2004, 04:36 AM	#3
PrimeredThunder Back from the Dead Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 522	Once you get the bolts out of the floor and unplug the rear wiring harness(lights, etc), after that its just a matter of lifting the bed over the tires and finding a good place to set it while you work on your truck. A good piece of advice though, shed a little weight by removing the tailgate before you take the bed off. I've done it this way and was able to manuver it around the shop with just my dad and myself. Kenny __________________ The only Carb that matters to me is the one under my hood! Salem, Oregon

09-12-2004, 08:44 AM	#4
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	It's also a good time to paint the frame, underside of bed, etc... __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

09-12-2004, 09:03 AM	#5
bgunther Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 36	Unscrew? In my case it I had to cut them off. My bed was trash so I removed the tailgate and fenders and flipped it off myself. __________________ 67 GMC LB (all in parts for now)

09-12-2004, 09:14 AM	#6
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	I did mine last week, I removed the rear wheels and lowered it, with the wheels off you don't have to lift it nearly as high. Just mae sure you have it firmly on jack stands. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

09-12-2004, 03:10 AM	#2
tmcgrawlookalike Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: warr acres,oklahoma Posts: 650	not really tough at all,but i would get some liquid wrench or equivalent and let those threads soak a little while before starting,unless you plan on replacing them after you torch `em off.i can`t give you #s on the weight,but i just had mine off last weekend and it only took myself and my neighbor to remove/install it.i had to replace the shock brace/crossmember and it was easier this way.

09-12-2004, 05:50 PM	#8
Smokin72on20s Ebay Junky Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CO Posts: 893	well i think i am going to get everything powder coated, so my other question would be what should i know about taking EVERYTHING off to get the frame over to the powder coating shop? __________________ 1972 CHEVY C-10 SWB 2WD - Possible Typhoon 4.3 turbo drivetrain.. 1983 Chevy c10 swb 2wd - possible 350tbi supercharged...

09-12-2004, 05:58 PM	#9
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	just keep unbolting till there ain't nothing left to unbolt __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

09-13-2004, 02:44 AM	#10
73stepside Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Moore OK 73160 Posts: 974	you can take the bed apart too. that's what i done to my 70. the bedsides have 3 spot welds on the tailgate trunions, but other than that it was pretty easy __________________ 04 GMC Sierra RCSS 70 CST LWB 04 HD Sportster 1200 Custom

09-13-2004, 08:33 AM	#11
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Took 4 of us to set the long bed on my 71. It's more awkward than heavy. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

09-13-2004, 10:16 AM	#13
Gibble mmmm....Rye and Coke Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: MB, Canada Posts: 485	another easy way to remove the bed, is if you have a garage with the rafters still exposed, just life it off. Tie rope to each corner, fling it over the rafter, lift, and tie. You can then just drive the truck out from underneath...and you can work on the bed while it's hanging there! And when you need to park the truck back in the garage, just back it under the hanging bed. I did it, it worked great and saved space



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