Factory tool box??

[starfire58]

Hey guys- I just purchased a nice rustfree 8 foot box for my 71. The right box side has what appears to be a factory toolbox built in to the lower front. the sheetmetal is actually stamped with a recessed lip that has a fiberglass box that extends in and is attached to the bed floor with brackets on the top of the rear of the toolbox. the door on the outside fits flush and has a piece of lower woodgrain trim acroos it. there is also a door lock cylinder on this door. I've never seen one of these. Are these common? I almost passed up this box because of the toolbox. I dont really like it but I do have a perfect rust free box side I can change this one out with. I just wondered if any of you have these in your beds or is this somewhat uncommon or rare? Just curious.

[Tuff Gong]

They are fairly rare and worth quite a bit if they are rust free. I would just keep it for now. You will be thankful down the road when it grows on you and you realize how hard to it is find them.
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[jocko]

Keep it, it will grow on you. It's a nice option in these trucks, and like Brian said, if it's in good shape, it's definitely worth a good bit.

if you really don't want it, you can stick a patch panel in its place, I've even seen a screwed on cover in place of the door - which of course looked 100 times worse than a door. I have to admit - I wasn't a fan when I first saw them - but they kind of grew on me. I don't have one now, but if I did, I'd keep it for sure.

Btw, welcome to the forum! Pics are mandatory now that we've given you our 4 cents.

[starfire58]

The box side is perfect but the toolbox door is rusted out. the fiberglass box is in good shape though. If I do change the bed side, I will be drilling all the spot welds and carefully removing this bed side so it could be saved and reused on another truck.

[starfire58]

I haven't gone to pick up this bed yet but when I do I will post some pics of the bedside and toolbox. Thanks for the welcome. Seems like a great group on here.

[SS Tim]

Its not a light yellow box is it?

[starfire58]

No. It's green and white

[motorcritter]

The '71 Cheyenne has one- the lid's a little nappy, but it holds my smaller tool boxes (electrical bits, 1/4 drive set, hand cleaner, shop rags, etc.). Had to adjust the latch so it wouldn't rattle. It's a handy item, keeps a lot of clutter out of the cab.

I was gassing up (like usual- the 402 drinks deep) and I look over at a Ford pick-up, '70's vintage, with a bedside tool box also- with a chromed lid! I could only shake my head in wonderment.
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[briank]

What is a straight rust free tool box bed worth and is there a separate key to unlock the box or is it keyed with the truck?
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[motorcritter]

The 'trunk' key operates the lock. No idea what a pristine lid would be worth. It's pretty simple, probably easy to refurbish.
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[briank]

I mean the whole bed
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[puppyluppy]

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[starfire58]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to swap out the toolbox bedside from my bed. I will be drilling all the spot welds and carefully removing outer bedside so it will be able to be reused if anyone might be interested. Toolbox itself is in good shape. The door is a little crusty. bed side is perfect. I don't know what this might be worth so I would be open to some advice or suggestions/offers. It will probably be at least a couple weeks before I get the bed home and remove the bed side.

[SS Tim]

Pretty sure it would be worth more and salable to more people as a full side vs a skin. A skin is real hard to ship. But if you are willing to do all that work maybe splitting the panel at the trim line and wheelhouse might be easier all the away around.

[starfire58]

I agree with you but my trucks original bed was junk but the right outer skin was perfect. So I drilled and split it. So, I don't have a complete side to use. My father and I ran a body shop for 25 years and I did a lot of panels this way. I don't think it would be too bad to ship a skin. No different than a quarter panel for a car. IMHO.

[SS Tim]

Well that is a very good reason. Really though, you don't like the tool box?
Making that side fit will be easy for you but I suspect that a lot of people are going to be leary of doing that much work.
Really like yor advice sometime on an idea I'm kicking around for a 9 or 10' wood floor bed.

[starfire58]

SSTim- If you don't have to save the panel your taking off,you can remove it a whole lot faster and easier. Installing the "new" used panel with all spot weld holes drilled already is just a matter of hanging the skin on, clamping it in place and plug welding through the drilled holes. grind these welds down when you're done and they are invisible. I'd be happy to give you any advice or any questions you might have on your project. I enjoy helping out if I can.

[starfire58]

SStim- ...and no, I really can't say I like the toolbox. Too utilitarian. I lean toward the clean, mild custom side.

[starfire58]

I went and picked up my bed today. Ok, you guys might be right. Maybe the tool box is growing on me! Maybe. I posted in the classifieds that I'm now looking for a solid tool box door. I'm still not sure about keeping the tool box but the bed is really, really nice and I may not want to go through all the work of changing out the outer bed side if I dont have to. Tool Box could be kinda cool I guess. Probably handy too! I am torn between keeping it and eliminating it. Thank you to all of you for your input. I'm new here and it's impressive to take in all the knowledge and expertise on these trucks that's available on this site.

[Steve Hafner]

. . . .

Mine was in pretty bad shape, so I had to spend a small fortune to have it repaired . . .
( but it was worth it . . . there aren't THAT many around )

. . . .

[SS Tim]

Come closer to the dark side.

[starfire58]

Ok Guys, you got me. They do look pretty good. Tim, I love the picture w/ the door open! Maybe I am crossing over to the dark side! LOL! If I can find a decent door for mine, I think I'll keep it. I don't have a key for it so I haven't been able to open it yet,but I think I'm going to call a locksmith this week to get it open and make me a key. Then I can see what the hinges look like and who knows? Maybe I'll find something good in there! LOL! Question, Were these available on all series of trucks or just 3/4 ton or what. How about the woodgrain trim across the door? Did they all have this like maybe part of the lower trim package? Were they available in all years 67-72? I know its a lot of questions but its got my interest now.

[SS Tim]

Want to say they were 70-72 but they did carry on into the square body on the left side. Any LWB pickup could be ordered with it. If the truck had lower molding there were specific moldings for the variations, black/wood & Longbed/Longhorn.

[starfire58]

SSTim- You are absolutely a fountain of information! Thank you. I was asking because I'm thinking about going with '68 lower trim on my '71. I love the look, I just wasn't sure about fitting this trim to the tool box.

[starfire58]

Tim- by the way I like the pictures of the dog I've seen. I have an all white blue eyed Husky myself. He's the 2nd husky I've had. They are great dogs.