Replacing the "ends" of the bed ( where the brake lights are.

[Clyde65]

How do you replace the ends of the bed?

This

[jonzcustomshop]

they were spot welded originally from the factory, but I think it was done before the stake pocket was welded on, also they probably used one of those spot welders that looks like a giant pair of tongs to reach up in there..

easiest way would be to eliminate the seam, and just weld along it, I am curious too, to see if anyone has a solution for retaining the original appearance.

[likaroc13]

this is the response i got from Tony (LilRed66) when i inquired about bed end panels:

I don't have a good, loose pair of fleetside bed end panels. They are being reproduced and I have purchased them, but not installed them. The only way I know to replace a pair is to weld the entire seam to the bedside panel, because they are spot welded and can not be reached. The repopped panels are around $80.00 each, plus tax and shipping.

someone filled the backup light holes on mine, but they didn't do a good job since you can see the outline where they were....i'll probably just get the holes re-cut & install new backup lights

[Clyde65]

Thanks guys! I filled mine way back 20 years ago cuz I couldnt find any tail light assemblies and buckets so I welded them up and put a home made roll pan with 4-39 F*&d tail lights and now I wanna change...... I might not.

[lakeroadster]

Why couldn't you use a cut off wheel to remove the old parts, then locate the factory spot welds and drill them out. Then plug weld the new parts back on in the same spots the factory welded the originals at the factory?

That's what I did on the stake pockets on my stepside. Seems like the same procedure would work for these panels also.

But that' purely speculation on my part.

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

Why couldn't you use a cut off wheel to remove the old parts, then locate the factory spot welds and drill them out. Then plug weld the new parts back on in the same spot the factory welded the originals at the factory?

That's what I did on the stake pockets on my stepside. Seems like the same procedure would work for these panels also.

But that' purely speculation on my part.

the problem is a mig welder will only reach about the lower 1/2 of the spots.

[jonzcustomshop]

just a thought...what if we do like lake roadster said with the spots, and then use panel adhesive to glue it together....?
maybe alans classic will cjhime in on wether that would work...

[collins10672]

you have to remove the entire stake pocket assembly to get to the spot welds on the tail lamp panel.there is no other way it can be done and retain an original appearance.this was the way it was done at the factory.the bedside has to be removed,stake pocket removed and then you can get into the spot welds and remove the tail lamp panel from the bedside.then reattach new tail lamp panel with spot welds.then reattach stake pocket with spot welds.not too easy of a job,but not impossible either.good luck

[Sillyoldman]

I'm going to find out real soon. I bent up the original one. I plan on spot welding the body side in and mig the gate side in a few spots. Removing the old one was fairly easy with an air chisel. There will be spots that I cant get to but the metal is so heavy I don't think it will matter after I get everything welded and the supports connected.