The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed 6 board bed

Hi Guys,
I am contemplating building a 6 board bed on my 1954 Chevy 3100 short bed. Since my truck is modified, I'm not concerned about the 8 board original pattern. I do want the board face to be as even in width as possible.
You know the old saying, "measure twice, cut once", well, I thought a couple other people overseeing my measurements and plans might help me see if I am figuring right.

After searching the forum for "making a wood bed", I did think it was interesting that there are 2 web sites with different measurements for cutting the groves in the boards. The GMC Pauls Truck Part site shows a grove width 3/4" from the outside edge of the board compared to the Mar-K measurement of 9/16"(see below).
http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm
http://www.mar-k.com/Catalog/PDF/Instructions/Bed_Wood_Dimensions.pdf
This would leave a 1/4" Router grove width from the edge of the bed strip(if using a 1/2" width between adjacent boards), compared to the Mar-K dimensions only leaving 1/16". No big deal I guess, just something I noticed while searching for measurements. Since I will be buying the 1 1/2" Mar-K bed strips I will use their measurements.

So here's what I came up with for measurements(Please correct me if I am figuring wrong). My truck bed width is exactly 49 1/4" square. I will need 5 Bed strips and 2 side angle strips = 7 X 1 1/2" = 10 1/2". The four middle boards will be 7 1/4"(leaving a exposed board face of 6 1/4" because 1/2" of bed strip coverage on each side)...4 X 6 1/4"= 25". The 2 end boards will have to show a face 5/8" more to fill the 49 1/4" bed...so, 2 X 6 7/8" =13 3/4". (I am also using the Mar-K recommended 1/2" space between boards. Soooooo...10.5" plus 25" plus 13 3/4" equal 49 1/4". So 4 middle boards at 7 1/4" and 2 end boards probably 8" since the angle strips will cover the topside edge. Does this sound about right?
Thanks for any insight, or correction!

Hank,I think you will come up a bit short on board width. We have been doing this for 30+ years and still draw a drawing or sketch of the ends of the boards when we do a custom wood bed. Leave 1/16 to 1/8 gap between the outer boards and the bedsides, then draw in your boards and strips. Leave 1/16 gap between the bedstrips and the adjacent raised part of the board. Original angles are 1-1/2 wide. Adjust the dimensions on your drawing until it looks like you want. You might even draw it out on a big piece of cardboard before you cut wood. Like you say, measure twice cut once.

http://www.mar-k.com/CustomForms/BedWood.pdf is a form that might help you lay it out. It will also help locate the cross sill holes for bed strips

Mar-Ktech

Thank you for your reply Mar-Ktech.

I took your advice and used poster-board and drew the dimensions on the poster-board and placed it in the back of the truck. Your right, my 2 end boards should have been wider.

You did mention that the "original" angle strips were 1 1/2" wide. Your angle strips are also 1 1/2"(on wood bed face)...is that correct?

Thanks again for your help!

Correct, Mar-K angles are 1-1/2" wide.


Mar-Ktech