I used pine wood on my bed.

If your angle strips don't have rust-thru spots under them you might be able to just repair that end. But be aware that getting the rust out from between the bed sides and angle strips is going to be difficult or impossible. If you don't get the rust out, it'll expand under your new paint.

With the profile the angle strips it might be simpler to get a short section of new angle strip, although I have no doubt your son could form a piece to match. It just depends on how much work he wants to do. Cutting the entire angle strip off and replacing it with new would allow you to get the rust off the bedsides where the angle strip mounts.


Kevin
1951 Chevy 3100 work truck
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1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car)
Busting rust since the mid-60's
If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.