Fleetside Bed Repair

[Mr.Jones]

Guys,

Good Evening,

Would it be difficult to repair this? Thanks in advance for your input!!!

[mechanixman]

Depends on how good your fabrication skills are!
It doesn't seem too difficult. As long as the rust only goes through two of the surfaces in the corner, it shouldn't be awful. Just bend a piece of metal to weld from the back of the bedside to the bottom of the bedside.

[Mr.Jones]

Originally Posted by mechanixman

Depends on how good your fabrication skills are!
It doesn't seem too difficult. As long as the rust only goes through two of the surfaces in the corner, it shouldn't be awful. Just bend a piece of metal to weld from the back of the bedside to the bottom of the bedside.

Thank you for the quick reply. You made it sound easy. I have no type of fabrication skills, but I am learning. I was hoping to keep the body line. But, from looking at the repair, it looks like I will have to stitch weld the entire line.

[Mac the Yankee]

There's a pretty nice Fleetside bedside (passenger side) on Ebay right now- might be work a look?

[OrrieG]

Welcome to the world of Fleetsides where no metal for the beds is reproduced except tailgates. Mine had the 1/4 sphere bottoms cut off for a lift gate when I got it. Also lots of dings to the back from loading bricks, concrete, etc. Bottoms were rolled up from backing into ditch banks and logs. I got the bottom corners at a wrecking yard off a 63 bed (they are the same in that area from 58-67). I beat the rest out. I don't understand your comment about the body line, the vertical line is a joint between the back piece and bed side spot welded when they join. I have an old fender I use to practice on, I cut lines with a sawsall and weld them up, drill holes and weld in plugs. Good way to dial in your welder before hand. good thing is the truck have relatively thick metal and grinders are your friend as long as you control the heat. I did not have the rust to deal with.

[Mr.Jones]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Welcome to the world of Fleetsides where no metal for the beds is reproduced except tailgates. Mine had the 1/4 sphere bottoms cut off for a lift gate when I got it. Also lots of dings to the back from loading bricks, concrete, etc. Bottoms were rolled up from backing into ditch banks and logs. I got the bottom corners at a wrecking yard off a 63 bed (they are the same in that area from 58-67). I beat the rest out. I don't understand your comment about the body line, the vertical line is a joint between the back piece and bed side spot welded when they join. I have an old fender I use to practice on, I cut lines with a sawsall and weld them up, drill holes and weld in plugs. Good way to dial in your welder before hand. good thing is the truck have relatively thick metal and grinders are your friend as long as you control the heat. I did not have the rust to deal with.

Thank you sir.

[BC Toy chest]

No worries just look at a bunch of photos of what everyone has been welding and practice on some similar thickness scrap metal that is like the bed side you will be doing your stitch welds on and you will do fine. Please post some pictures of your truck. My work aint as pretty as other folks but it holds up I am always learning and confidence is building. If this is your pet project and you got a passion for it you will learn quick and will surprise yourself with what you can do the skill will come.

[Mr.Jones]

Originally Posted by BC Toy chest

No worries just look at a bunch of photos of what everyone has been welding and practice on some similar thickness scrap metal that is like the bed side you will be doing your stitch welds on and you will do fine. Please post some pictures of your truck. My work aint as pretty as other folks but it holds up I am always learning and confidence is building. If this is your pet project and you got a passion for it you will learn quick and will surprise yourself with what you can do the skill will come.

Thanks for the encouraging advice. Pictures will be coming soon.

[pbeguy]

Not that long ago, I saw a complete NOS end piece for this bed on Ebay. It sold for 220.00 but is exactly what you need. There may be more available.

[Mr.Jones]

Originally Posted by pbeguy

Not that long ago, I saw a complete NOS end piece for this bed on Ebay. It sold for 220.00 but is exactly what you need. There may be more available.

Thank you for all the help.

[Mr.Jones]

Can I utilize the lower half of this bed cap (1960-66) to repair the lower half for my older fleetside bed caps (1959)? Can't figure out way the sizes are different for both pictures. Sorry. Thanks in advance for your input.

[OrrieG]

I do not know if they are the same. I use a woodworking profile tool to check stuff like that. Mine is 12" long, for longer lengths I transfer the measurement to a piece of cardboard and make a template. Good for working on door edges, etc when they are off the cab. Also use if for checking profiles from one good side of a part to the other side I am working on.

[Mr.Jones]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

I do not know if they are the same. I use a woodworking profile tool to check stuff like that. Mine is 12" long, for longer lengths I transfer the measurement to a piece of cardboard and make a template. Good for working on door edges, etc when they are off the cab. Also use if for checking profiles from one good side of a part to the other side I am working on.

Thank you. I am going to give this a try.