wood kit over metal bed floor?

[srea76]

Anyone tried one of the wood kits that go over metal floors? I'm curious if it would be cheaper than replacing metal floor? So aproximate cost and pictures please.
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[Monte Carlo Man]

I don't think that covering a problem area with wood is going to fix your situation.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Monte Carlo Man

I don't think that covering a problem area with wood is going to fix your situation.

Maybe his metal floor is just a little beat up and he wants the look of a wood floor? I like the idea myself.

[71swb4x4]

My concern would be what happens when moisture gets between the wood and the old metal bed. I think the metal bed would rust a lot and the wood would rot a lot.
If it was a show truck it would probably be OK, but for an everyday truck that sees rain it could be a problem.

I am no expert, so don't take my concerns as gospel, just something to think about.

[Bishops Trucks]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

My concern would be what happens when moisture gets between the wood and the old metal bed. I think the metal bed would rust a lot and the wood would rot a lot.
If it was a show truck it would probably be OK, but for an everyday truck that sees rain it could be a problem.

I am no expert, so don't take my concerns as gospel, just something to think about.

I agree. You would be holding to much moisture under the wood causing discolration and rot to both the wood and the metal under it. Wood needs to breath all the way around.

[71 super]

Bruce Horkey Wood products and prob. Mar-K , makes a "show deck" so that you can install a wood floor over your exsisting floor for shows and removable for daily use. They are pricey, but if you ant the look of wood they are the way to go and still use the truck to.

[srea76]

Originally Posted by Monte Carlo Man

I don't think that covering a problem area with wood is going to fix your situation.

My metal floor is in pretty good shape, but does have some small holes from the previous owner I have repaired. Problem is it is not perfect and I am going to either buy a new metal floor or wood if it is as cheap because I actually like that look better.

[67chevemall]

cut most of the steel floor out and just keep some for supports so the air and water
can move about. $0.02

[kody29]

ya i have a full metal bed in my 68 and im going to lay wood over it but im going to por 15 my bed frool it should prevent the rust but mine will only see shows

[custom1970]

I also been considering doing this. Have thought about laying plywood (sealed) down first, then screwing the wood and metal strips to it. Has anyone done this or seen it done?

[OLDROCK&ROLLER]

Oak plywood over steel bed. Garaged with cover. Been in there about 10 years.

[RPBurris]

Is this the truck in your avitar? It looks like it is a later model stepside bed. When i had a 76 stepside i made an oak bed that was removable in case i ever wanted to put something back there without damaging the floor. Dont have any pics but i would suggest looking at doing it yourself for way less than buying a kit. You can get oak or cherry planks even at Menards these days or check out a local lumber yard

[treveiger]

Maybe put some steel supports on top of the steel bed then put wood over it so it has room to breath so to speak. And if wanted to drill a few small holes in the steel floor to make sure water gets out. Just a thought.

[custom1970]

Originally Posted by OLDROCK&ROLLER

Oak plywood over steel bed. Garaged with cover. Been in there about 10 years.

that looks great! do the carrige bolts go thru the metal bed or just the plywood?

[67chevemall]

^ ya that looks awsome!

[OLDROCK&ROLLER]

Originally Posted by custom1970

that looks great! do the carrige bolts go thru the metal bed or just the plywood?

Thanks,carriage bolts goes thru the metal bed.

[Jeffs70]

I watched a video on those being installed and The thing about the wood bed that goes over the metal was great because It can be easily removed and then put back in the truck when you want a show look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT5iF4XO6oM

[srea76]

Originally Posted by OLDROCK&ROLLER

Oak plywood over steel bed. Garaged with cover. Been in there about 10 years.

ok that looks alwesome and pretty cost efficient. Please give us more details. That is exactly what I am looking for.

[Orangetonicclicc]

The thing about converting a metal floor to wood is the cross sills will need to be change out also the front bed panel will need a panel piece extenson or need to be swaped out. The Rear cross sill cost a little bit of coin. They make replacement panels for metal floors depending on your metal fab skills would be the easiest fix. A total replacement either way is pricEEE!!!! I personally love the wood look!!!! prefrence, money and skills is the key. Go to Mar-K online they have a great how to conversion you can print.

[Slick67]

I know this is an old thread, but thought I could bring it to life again. I am currently doing wood over steel (also bed liner) and it seems to be coming out nicely. The expensive part is the strips if you get stainless with hidden fasteners, about $5oo from Mar-K. I chose to use White Oak since it is a native wood and it has a nice grain. The wood was a little pricey, $308 for 3/4 inch thick by 8ft 2in long by various widths. I purchased 12 peices just incase I make a boo boo on measuring. By the way, the inner fenders are 45 degrees front and back. And the hidden fasteners are 1 1/4 in long, but 2 inch can be ordered with the kit.
I needed "breathing space" for the wood but didn't want to be too high off the steel and needed support throughout the whole bed so I used 1/8in thick plastic lattice work from Home Depot. I covered the whole bed for $30 and it will not rust like metal or rot like wood, aluminum was my first choice but very expensive to cover the bed floor enough for good support. I am doing my finishing cuts this week and should have it installed completely this weekend and then pull it all back out to cover in spar eurethane with UV protectants before reinstalling it for the final time. I have a gas filler neck in the bed so I will be mounting that to the top of the wood. Here are some pics.

[custom1970]

Looks great! I also had a old spray-in linear that i couldn't stand. This will make it look like a different truck.

I did the same thing a while back. However I used Mahogany. The biggest problem i found was that the strips are a little to short around the wheel wells. I ended up making a small trim piece along the sides to hide that and to give it a tight finish all along the sides. I also made mine so that it could be removed without a whole lot of work.

[Slick67]

Originally Posted by custom1970

Looks great! I also had a old spray-in linear that i couldn't stand. This will make it look like a different truck.

I did the same thing a while back. However I used Mahogany. The biggest problem i found was that the strips are a little to short around the wheel wells. I ended up making a small trim piece along the sides to hide that and to give it a tight finish all along the sides. I also made mine so that it could be removed without a whole lot of work.

I agree, the strips are a little short. For the rear, at Bruce Horkey's they have polished S/S sills for about $60 - $80 that can be custom cut to cover the endcap of the wood from side to side so you can move the strip forward to the fender well. At Home Depot they have polished aluminum, looks almost chrome, it is edging for tile floors in the flooring department for $12 for about 8 feet. It is shaped like quarter round and very small (3/8 high) and has metal coming down from the quarter round about 3/4 of an inch with triangles cut in so you can mount it. It would work perfect at the front panel of the bed as a filler between the wood and metal or for dressing it up a little around the edges.
I also noticed fully chromed metal dowel rods 1 1/4 in diameter that were 7ft in length that could be cut in half to make a home-made sill for the back or cut it into peices the size of the strips to make custom fillers for the short peices touching the inner fenders. Guess my mind is working overtime, but I try to make custom items that look great without spending my whole check!

[Slick67]

The custom Corvette cover on the breather is held up by 2 stantions (chrome tubes) I made out of household faucet overflow tubes from Home Depot and they work great!!!