The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Truck Bed 101 info needed

I just removed all the old cross sills and side angle rails from my 46 Chevy 1/2 T truck. These has seen plenty of use on the farms of Iowa, but had too much rust to be salvaged. I have new cross sills, and hardware. I need some basic info/suggestions/dimensions to begin putting the bed back together.

As I said, the bed was too far gone to get good dimensions. The sides are good, and most of the front section. Although I did have to remove the mounting angle pad, due to rust.

What secures the sides to the frame? Are they secured to the cross sills? More questions to follow, as I learn more.

Thanks.

Steve,

There is a sponsor on Stovebolt, called Mar-K. They have diagrams and parts that may just work for you. You might try looking at their site. Hopefully, it will at least answer some of your questions. They make a real nice product. Hope this helps you out.

Rugo

Ditto on Mar-K. Great people who share all kinds of excellent info.

Thanks Rugo, and DrewP. The parts came from Mar-K via Jim Carter.

You cannot go wrong with Mar-K
Also, check out this Tech Tip:
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/bed/bed_mounts.htm
Harold

Thanks, Harold. What I have a time understanding, is how the bed sides are attached to the cross sills, which ride on the frame. Also are the running board to bed aprons, attached to the side panels, or free under the front cross sill?

I'm not sure if a 46 is different, but this is how it works on a 53.

The angles are welded to the bed sides. Bolts attached the angles to the cross sills through the wood floor.

The running board aprons bolt to the running boards, but are not attached to the bed.

Steve,
Try this site - great photos.
Harold
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/sets/72157631884205225/

Lynngrove is correct about the sills connecting to the bed side by bolting to the angled strip through the bed wood(vertical mount). This is on 1/2tons. On a 1 ton (AD) the cross sills bolt directly to the bedside with 4 bolts on each side(which stick out the side and IMHO look silly...but kind of bad [censored] too. It is a one ton!)
I wonder why the 1/2 tons didn't use this. I'm tempted when building my 1/2 ton bed to copy the 1 ton's cross sill mount method. It would probably ease assembly.

On the custom bed we are building for my 53 3100, we welded the ends of the cross sills to the bed sides. We also welded the front panel to the bed sides (didn't use the long threaded rod) and also to the front cross sill. The entire bed is welded up into one unit. Time will tell if that was a mistake or not.

I tried offering up my pieces, based on the info I received, and speaking with the folks at Jim Carter. While I have a better understanding, the pieces (and the stars) don't seem to align correctly. Granted this truck was almost 70 years n Iowa farms, and the bed may have been "McQuiver'ed" several times, but trying to figure our where the blocks and cross sills go still has me puzzled. Surely someone has some pictures, or drawings, of their bed build, that they would be willing to share with this poor boy.

Thanks, in advance.

If you have not visited www.Mar-K.com you really should.

At the top you can select your truck year and model to visit their parts catalog for that truck's bed. Lots of good exploded drawings and info about what parts & quantities go on that bed.

A few months ago, I ordered cross sills, angles and strips for my 53. They included detailed assembly instructions for an entire 53 bed with the parts, including photos and measurements.

I bet Mar-K has similar instructions for your truck.

Between Jim Carter and Mar-K, I finally figured it out. Thanks to all.