How exactly do Fleetside bedsides come apart?

[Ziptar]

I am getting ready to strip the bed parts off the 85 to swap onto the 79. The 85 has a perfect Bed floor, Fender wells, inner bedisdes, end bed panel, and tailgate posts but the outer bedsides are rusted through. The 85 had a cap on it all it's life until I got it.

The 79 has great outer bedsides but, the Floor, The fender Wells, and the inner bedside behind the drivers wheel well to the tailgate post is rusted through in spots up to in inch from the bed floor from years of having a plastic bedliner installed. The Tailgate posts and the end bed panel are OK but not as nice as the 85.

Does the outer bedside skin seperate from the inner bedside? can I just swap the outer skins on the 79 to the 85 bed? It looks like on the parts blow up at LMC that the inner and outer bedsides are all one unit.

[piecesparts]

The bedsides are sold as a unit. They bolt to the floor and the front panel and are spot welded at the rear post (by the tailgate). There are companies that make skins, but whereever you weld, there will soon be rust---Inside where you can't see it. The whole units is a painless thing, short of paying for them.

[1badbowtie]

Well, the outer bedsides are pinch welded into place by just grinding them down just enough to seperate them, keeping in mind you want to keep it small because you have to have some surface left to weld onto, and the front bed panel will unbolt. This is A LOT of work, but can be done if you take your time and go slow.

[Ziptar]

OK Thanks, I'll post a pic of the inner bedside I am concerned about tomorrow, maybe you guys can give me some ideas on how to repair it maybe.

[bigblock73]

This should help (visually at least) what everyone has said so far.

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/exte...ed_rebuild.htm

[Ziptar]

Thanks Big Block, Read that in preperation for swapping.

OK This is what I have to work with this is the inner bedside and tailgate post on the 79:


The passenger side is the complete opposite, not rust what so ever on the bedside seam and tailgate post.

This is the inner bedside on the 85:



This is the Outer bedside on the 79:


This is the Outer bedside on the 85:

[84slopwaggin]

Sounds easier to swap the whole bed.

[Ziptar]

The 85's passenger bedside is wasted, the entire section from the wheel well forward is caved in, it's rusted through on top of and behind the opening of the wheel well.

After close scrutiny the 79's Passenger bedside is in really great shape front to back inside and out. No rust through or dents.

[qksilver]

I have just finished taking a 87 LWB apart. I tried to sell it, it didn't, so i took it apart so I could store it. Lots of 1/2 bolts and I used a sazall gently on the two welds connect the post to the bed floor. Used a big chisel on the two small spot weld on the back. It takes a lot of time to unbolt everything but it does come apart, plus the bed sides are heavy (single person)and the bed floor with the welded in braces are very , very heavy(at least 2 people)
If you have 2 good bedsides from one bed and the rest from another, I would remove the 79 bed and put it on saw horses or something similiar, then put the 85 bed on the 79. R&R the front bed panel then mount the 85 bed floor, then reinstall the bed sides.
Anybody who welds can spot them back together.
Just be sure to be real clean when you take the welds apart.
A lot of work but considering the price of bed sides, worth it to me.

[Ziptar]

Thanks for the info gksilver. Good to have an idea of the weights. The plan is to strip everything while it's apart and paint it with zerorust before it goes back together.

I am starting to think that keeping the 85's Driver bedside might be the way to go and just get a repair panel for the wheel well, I just worry the top of the wheel well will go the way of the other side and rust.

Maybe another bedisde from another truck entirely..