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#1 |
Junior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ponder, Tx.
Posts: 19
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Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
Hi ya'll from Ponder, Tx. I'm considering this idea as an alternative 'cause going to wood at this time is cost prohibitive. The steel floor is trashed and I already picked up a steel floor front bed wall. Lookin' for some ideas and support from the membership as to the easiest way to go about this. Cardboard template, or use the old floor piece flipped over on the plate, etc.. Any suggestions, (please .. no cussin') will be appreciated.
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,534
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
Sounds like a good plan. Definitely use the old bed floor as a template. Steel or aluminum? Check the cross sills for rust holes.
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'72 GMC SWB C1500 Custom, frame-off in progress. 383 SBC, 9:1CR, Comp Cams XE262H, Scat internal balanced crank, Eagle SIR 6" rods, Keith Black dish pistons, Dart Iron Eagle 72/180 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, Stewart stage I water pump, Holley 4bbl vac sec, TH350 with B&M Shift Improver Kit. 12 bolt positraction. ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#3 | |
Junior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ponder, Tx.
Posts: 19
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Southeast Tx
Posts: 1,302
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
Welcome form College Station! Great little steakhouse y'all got up there! I've seen it done before. There is a car/truck show here next weekend. I was at it 2 years ago and there was a 67-72 that had a diamondplate bed and inside walls...If it is back this year, I will take pics and post them for you...Good luck!
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"The rays of light thru the Shiner Bock bottle make me wanna turn the key and put down the throttle...and get lost down 35" - Jason Boland www.YouTube.com/user/593Films - Watch My Videos! ![]() 1977 Silverado K10 2014 Dodge Durango (Wife-mobile) 2008 Dodge Ram Lone Star Edition (Daily driver) |
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#5 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
Have you priced the materials you're looking at? 6 foot by 6 1/2 foot is what you'll need...won't be cheap.
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Pleasanton, TX
Posts: 1,723
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
Howdy from South Texas! Good luck with that bed floor.
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#7 |
Keepin an eye out
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: So.Cal
Posts: 3,921
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
Sounds like a good idea
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1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351 |
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#8 | |
Still drivin' a Rat Rod
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Monett Missouri
Posts: 4,925
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
Quote:
Of course if you have it use I say ![]()
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Rusty Member #13872 Instead of saying.....you are a discomfort in the back of my front.....one should be able to say...... you are a pain in the *a$#* 71 GMC LWB 49 Chevy 85 Chevy G20 Check out my website |
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#9 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
I considered this a long time ago for a short fleet I had, the floor was sagging between the cross rails, like 3 tons of driveway rock was loaded in it, (knowing the PO, it wouldn't suprise me one bit either) I honestly can't remember the numbers, this woulda been back in like 2000 or so, but I remember pricing a wood floor being just a tick more.
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#10 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
You`re not the first to "ponder" this.Take a trip to Solution,TX.You`ll find your answer.Sorry,my middle name is Ass.
Steel is cheaper and stronger for this use."Converting" to wood is where it gets expensive,not the wood itself.I mean,you can come up with your own wood for cheap.But,bedstrips,bolts,modify/change front panel,and don`t you need different supports?The diamond plate will prolly need to be ordered in over 4' wide if you don`t want a seam.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Praireville. LA 70769
Posts: 390
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
Steel is much cheaper and stronger. I used steel for my bed. I used two sheets, I think it was $110 for both. Price was the driving force on this decesion. Alum. was over $100 per sheet. This was in 03. Welcome to the board
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11 Surbaban 70 C 10 still in progress |
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#12 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Centennial, CO
Posts: 2,954
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
I think it would look great. But I wonder about electrolysis/corrosion from the combo of alum & steel. Maybe using thin rubber strips under the alum to mount it would help?? Or you could use spray liner on the inner bed sides, gate and front panel, then liner the tops of the cross sills. Just something to think about...
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ClusterTruck: 68 C10 Bought in 89, wrecked in 03. Slow low $ rebuild started '17. 6.0 & TKO http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=788602 93 K1500 Short Step, 350, NV4500, EBL flash ECU. Vortec heads & roller cam someday... 05 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. 3” lift & 6-speed 02 E320 the insurance total “free car” 13 Tahoe LTZ |
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#13 | |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
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#14 |
Junior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ponder, Tx.
Posts: 19
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
Thanks for all the inputs everyone, I'll keep you posted on the progress. Special-K hit it right on the head with his response about additional pieces/parts, that's why I'm leanin' toward aluminum or maybe even steel like phase one suggested. The Ponder steak house is still cookin' too.
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#15 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Williamsburg, Ohio
Posts: 1,783
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Re: Diamond Plate bed floor for a '68 short fleet...
You can go with 14 ga deckplate - steel -- once fitted, have it sandblasted both sides if you can before rolling -- Zero rust on it or equivalent. You could scotchbrite the whole thing with a drill before cover application to both sides. You will have 2 symmetrical halves that can be welded longways in the middle. I got my plate from American Steel in Dallas--next to Pilgrims Pride. I have a plywood template with all hole locations that can be borrowed. Zero rust is a urethane base that can be overcoated with any automotive finish. I have many pics. Flower Mound
Last edited by dennislbrooks; 06-03-2006 at 05:18 PM. |
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