Fabricating a bed

[mechanixman]

Hello all, I have a 52 3/4 ton I bought with no bed.
I've found a couple pieces here, and a couple pieces there, but no complete bed. (I want to get one as cheap as possible, so those brand new $1500 beds a quite a ways out of my price range.

I can get my hands on the cross braces, front panel, and tailgate.
I guess I'm asking how would you make your own bed sides?
I can get my hands on some steel, cut out bed sides on a plasma cutter, then use a metal break to start the lip, but that was as far as I got.

Thanks

[swizzlestick]

I was thinking about this my self. here's some info http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/be...des/index.html

[mechanixman]

thanks
I was thinking about it, I guess I could buy a short bed, and make some longer panels, then all I need to worry about is an extra cross brace and stake pocket. I'm going to buy a whole new floor later, so the wood/strips to hold it are of no consequence right now.

[OrrieG]

I cannot remember the build thread but a couple of guys have made the step sides using sheet and emt or pipe for the upper rolled section. I remember one that was double wall on a square tube frame work to fit around a highly modified rearend clip. A deep search might turn them up. I remember fabricated tailgates too. If you can find one to get measurements off of, most of the pieces look easy to fab.

[mechanixman]

Is it possible to buy stake pockets?

[torchlight]

Originally Posted by mechanixman

Is it possible to buy stake pockets?

Yes:

http://www.horkeyswoodandparts.com/p...l#stakepockets

Also, you might want to check out this build thread and/or send a message to Atommik. He has tabbed his own bed panels and did a really nice job:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...495795&page=13
Posted via Mobile Device

[Atommik]

Hey it's Atommik...(thanks for the compliment torchlight!)

I made my own bedsides, front panel, and smooth tailgate. The box on my truck was very beat up and stress cracked really badly around the stake pocket holes. I decided to make my own box so I could customize it slightly, but make it mostly original looking. In order to not have to duplicate everything exactly from the original, I designed a very simple "frame" with cross members for the box floor and that mounts to my s10 frame. I am doing an S10 swap so how it mounts to the frame is quite a bit different than on an original frame, but I'm sure it would not be difficult to make it work on an original frame. If you have any questions, PM me and I'll give you my email or phone #, or whatever works...I may have a few more photos also that are not on my build thread.

And..."xpickup" on this site has built quite a few side panels also...he does awesome work and is a great source of information!!

.

[mechanixman]

Thank you very much atommik,
I must say you're build looks fantastic right now. I love throwing some colors into the wheels to bring it all together. Real slick. I can't wait to see it all put together.

Torchlight, I was hoping for something a bit cheaper than that. Maybe $20 or $30 a set.

Would anyone have some use pockets they'd be willing to sell or know someone else that has some?
Thanks again, M3chanixman

[mr48chev]

You will probably have to pull them off junk beds one at a time until you get a set if you are cheap like me.

On the bed sides, I'd see what the metal supplier that you get the sheet metal from charges to shear the metal to size. Figure out how long you need the sides and how tall they should be including the part that you bend over with the brake and ask what their fee is to shear it. It will either be real inexpensive or they will hit you with a minimum by the hour quote that blows the whole idea. It might save a lot of hours of cutting and fitting though.

[Atommik]

When I built my box, I got the sides cut to size and bent at the top and bottom, the pieces for the front panel and box pieces all cut to size, the 2x4 tubing I made the stake pockets with, and the 1 1/2 tubing, all for $350, delivered!

[Big Port Jimmy 6]

Stake pockets
http://mack-products.com/products-pa...stake-pockets/

[mechanixman]

Thanks everyone so far with the help.
If I did manage to get my hands on a shortbed, and try to graft on the front section, how hard would it be?

I know its preffered to use a TIG for the panels, but the best I have is a MIG to work with. Can I use a MIG and still get a decent finish? I was reading another thread where on guy said he uses a flapper disc to take down the weld so it's flush with body. Any other ideas?
Nick

[coralhead]

Originally Posted by mechanixman

Thanks everyone so far with the help.
If I did manage to get my hands on a shortbed, and try to graft on the front section, how hard would it be?

I know its preffered to use a TIG for the panels, but the best I have is a MIG to work with. Can I use a MIG and still get a decent finish? I was reading another thread where on guy said he uses a flapper disc to take down the weld so it's flush with body. Any other ideas?
Nick

You will still need to get two more stake pockets since the 3600's had three per side.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by coralhead

You will still need to get two more stake pockets since the 3600's had three per side.

True but if he doesn't plan on hauling loads in the truck I don't see why it's imperative to have the third posts. They do stiffen up that long section of bedside though.

[mechanixman]

I do intend to haul things like go karts, and other projects/parts in the bed. But probably nothing that would put much stress on the bes sides like Mr48chev was talking about.

Atomnik had some bedsides he shipped to me for the cost of freight. (thank you very much)
So I can successfully make the full bedside. Right now I'm just trying to get my hands on a bed. There are a few people around here with them, but they don't want to sell them. We'll see

[mr48chev]

If you have the sides and can make them work you should be able to gather up the rest. Just about all the Chevy/GMC truck trinket vendors sell the cross sills

MAR-K sells the cross sills for 25.00 each and I don't think many local shops would bend them up for that. The stock style rear cross sills are 100 from them. That gives you prices to go by and then you start shopping but watch the shipping as sometimes what looks like it is a real deal turns out to be a bit of a burn when they hit you with excess handling costs.

[mechanixman]

Before I try fabricating anything, I want to try to get this first.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/pts/3701570887.html
then maybe this
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/pts/3706174023.html

The metal break at school is only a 5.5 or a 6 foot break. So If I can get my hands on one of these, that would be best. I've talked to the man in the first ad, and he's said he would love to sell them, but then broke off contact. I sent him another email. We'll see how it goes.

[mr48chev]

I'd be checking both of those out. It looks like there are some interesting goodies in the first one and the AD pieces in the second one look worth checking out. I'd say having cash greenies in your pocket and something to haul the pieces then and there would be a plus on the first one. Cash talks be backs walk.

[G&R's57GMC]

LMC has the bed parts and their are less expensive even for the over size items.

[mechanixman]

Well they reproduction panels are still quite expensive.
I'm looking at $1700 just for the bed sides and fenders, and that's without shipping

[coralhead]

Originally Posted by mechanixman

Before I try fabricating anything, I want to try to get this first.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/pts/3701570887.html
then maybe this
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/pts/3706174023.html

The metal break at school is only a 5.5 or a 6 foot break. So If I can get my hands on one of these, that would be best. I've talked to the man in the first ad, and he's said he would love to sell them, but then broke off contact. I sent him another email. We'll see how it goes.

If those runnng boards are not too bad you could offer $125 and start from there. LongBed running boards/splash aprons are getting hard to find.

I'd try to work out a deal for the bed, fenders and runningboard package. Like earlier mentioned have a fist full of Franklins and Grants. I love cash in hand and so do others. That is negotiating power. While there are not too many long bed items out there, the demand is not as great as the Shortbed stuff. If that was a shortbed in the first ad they would be gone by now. LB stuff tends to be around longer and not sell as quik.
The voice of expierence.

[mechanixman]

Unfortunately the bed is sold. But they still have the running boards. I don't know about the splash aprons. I'll find out later

[mechanixman]

Alright, I'm getting a long bed (the 8ft, not the 9ft) for $200
When I finally get it home, I'll post some pictures of it. I'm sure I will have a few more questions.

[coralhead]

Originally Posted by mechanixman

Alright, I'm getting a long bed (the 8ft, not the 9ft) for $200
When I finally get it home, I'll post some pictures of it. I'm sure I will have a few more questions.

With the 8ft bed you to shorten your wheelbase by about a foot but you will also have the chance to center the axle better in the rear fender opening. Not sure why the stock location is so far forward of the opening.

looking forward to seeing it.

[mechanixman]

I have a chance to buy a pair of running boards for a 9ft truck.
$250 shipped to my door.
Should I pass, or is it too good a deal to pass up?
Thanks