Metal bed for 66 LWB - Anyone tried?

[tgoatman]

Hi all -

Wondering if anyone out there has ideas for a metal bed for a 66 LWB. I still want to use my truck as a truck, so puttingin pretty wood isn't a good option.

Does anyone supply metal replacement bed floors for these?

Has anyone tried to build one cutom?

Bad idea?

TIM

[TehNewGuy]

Hey Tim!

A buddy of mine didn’t want to do the whole wood floor in his 79 step side, so (for reasons I can’t remember) he came up with a plastic bed. I know it sounds horrible, but its plastic they use on boats, Starboard. They used it in place of wood from the steps on the ladder, center console/dashboards to the bumpers on the sides on boats, the starboard is tuff and thick. Lasts a very long time, he’s had his in for close to 10 years no problem. He laid it in place of the wood and just put the metal rails on top for a good look, hauls all sorts of stuff in the bed and it still looks good too. I know it’s not metal but might be worth thinking about. Comes in all sorts of colors too, plus you dont have to paint it and if it gets scratched you cant hardly tell.

[tgoatman]

Hey - what's happenin?

[Hx16457]

I have done this in my 65 LWB.
I removed a 1976 LWB metal floor (mostly bolted in).
braced up the 65 LWB, as not to allow it to rack, prior to removing all the supporting structures. then removed from the frame.
removed all the structures (left behind from the wooden bed, as well as the crossmembers. The only supporting piece I left was the rear crossmember that attaches the left bed side to the right bed side.
The same left to right bed side piece was removed (lots of spot welds) from the 76 floor.
I left the inner fender wells attached to the 76 floor and use the entire bed.
Moved the 65 LWB bed into my garage, turning it upside down. removed the forward end piece from the 65 bed (just unbolted it).
then brought the 76 floor assy. in turned it upside down and dropped it into the 65.
I clamped the rear 76 floor (now resting on the rear Left side to right side cross memeber) to the rear bed sides crossmember to keep it tight, and make sure it did not move.
I used the wood bed holes along the sides (of the left and right bed sides) as marks and drilled holes to match in the 76 floor. Then bolted it all the way around (both sides).
The ofrward end did need to be trimmed a tiny bit on mine, so I cut about 1/8th inch off. This cutting/trimming will be clearer to you when you try to reinstall the forward end onto the 65 bed. The 76 floor will be sticking out a tiny bit too far...
Once I made the trim, I then mounted a 1x1inch piece of angle iron on the 76 floor (bolts mostly, with some welds (your choice). the angle was turned up so that I could use it to bolt the forward end back to the 76 floor.

Then get a lot of help (we used a tracktor) get it out of the garage and flip the bed back on to the frame. We hung it from the tractor forks and pushed the frame under while lowering the bed down on to it.)

Now all those spot welds I drilled out on the rear can be used as welding points to weld it back to the 65 rear crossmember.
i used seam sealer around the edges to seal it up, drilled some drain holes at the front.
pretty much all the 76 crossmebers attached to the orginal 76 floor lined up with the 65 frame and holes. I used caragebolts to bolt the bed back down to the 65 frame, tack welded them in place, then tightened them down.
Once you get started it will all be clearer, but it can be done, and it worked out reall well!
Next step I have is to get it LineX'd









NOW

[62 short step]

This is what I did in my 61 4x4.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=376942

[tgoatman]

Awesome! it looks great - and sourcing a good donor bed would be easy. Thanks so much for the post. I can't wait to do this to mine...

TIM

[62 short step]

Originally Posted by tgoatman

Awesome! it looks great - and sourcing a good donor bed would be easy. Thanks so much for the post. I can't wait to do this to mine...

TIM

Thanks.

[ABX131]

I am guessing that a metal bed is not as thick as a wood bed, how do you make up the difference and keep everything lined up properly?

[Hx16457]

I used som 3"X3"X 1/8" shims I made at my work (steel) to help line everything back up!
Very easy project. I have never built/rebuilt a truck or a car so if I can do it anybody can! Use your eye on the body lines and get it back into alignment.

[1966c10shrtbd]

Just am wondering if anyone has used composite decking?
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...&storeId=10051

[Hx16457]

I have seen a picture somewhere online where some had used it!
Do some searching around maybe you can find that pic.
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[eastxbbqman]

The po just welded plate steel over my original wood bed in my 66 gmc. Have had a cord of wood in it with no problems.