The forward flat floor was similar to the rear flat floor except the mounting on the forward end was different than the aft mount. On the aft mount, although a made a new top angle to fit around the gas tank nozzle, I was able to utilize the existing supports (with new hole locations), but the forward end was a totally new configuration since the panel truck did not have a cab backwall.
I had made an integral (welded) angle on the curved cab back when I installed the cab so that the the bed boards could mount under them but I needed something on the bottom side to bolt through to. So I bought some smaller c-channel (1-1/2” wide or so) and made a nut plate/cage nut strip. Apparently I didn't take a good pic of it, but with the wood in place, I simply drilled thru the integral angle (mounted on back of the cab) thru to the c-channel under the wood and then removed the c-channel and welded some cage nuts onto these holes so that I could simply install the bolts from the topside once I had a few started.
While working the forward bed I also wanted to start on the bed strips to make sure I didn't have something that I had overlooked. I used some 1/8 x 1-1/4 steel that I bought to start getting them made and installed. I used some hex bolts to temp install them for now. I eventually changed these to some better looking stainless hardware.
I also added 3 cross-braces in the hump area as well. I added a fwd and an aft one that I fabbed out of flat stock and a middle one that was fabbed out of rectangular tubing so it was stiffer. These will help keep the hump aligned and give me something to bolt the strips into when I install them.
1949 Chevy Panel Truck A Project Journal I'm old but I make up for it by being immature.
