The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Installing New Bed

I have a 1950 Chevy 1/2 Ton P/U. I bought the Chevy Duty bed kit which contains nuts and bolts to attach the bed strips to the bed boards, bed boards, mounting blocks, and a bed bolt kit (used to attach the bed to the frame).

Unfortunately, the kit did not contain instructions, and I do not remember the bolt scheme when I took it apart a few years ago.

Here are my questions:

For the 6 bolts bed mounting kit, the two long bolts go through which piece? The tail cross sill or the front cross sill? Where do the four shorter bolts attach?

There are 50 some-odd bed bolts. Some are 1/4" and some are 5/16". Which go where? I think the smaller go through the steel bed strips between the slats and the larger go through the steel strips that are next to the bed side walls.

Thanks!

Hey Richie. Glad to hear you're at the "putting it back together" phase. Someone here might chime in, but I didn't want to just leave you hanging. One thing you could do is order the "Bed Assembly Book" from Chevy Duty. I assume it explains where all the hardware goes, I think it's only $6-$7. Seems to me there is a link in the Tech Section at chevytrucks.org which deals with bed wood specs, etc. You might find what you're looking for there. Best of luck.

Regards,
Wannabe

Your long bolts are 3/8 inch carriage bolts. You should have two that are 12" long. They go first thru a 1-1/4" diameter washer that has a square hole offset, then through the bed wood, the #1 cross sill (closest to the cab back) the wooden block, the rubber or neoprene pad and then thru both top and bottom sections of the vehicle frame.

The other four 6 x 3/8 inch bolts are for the #3 cross sill and the rear cross sill. For the #3 cross sill, use the same order: bolt thru the washer, bed board, cross sill, wooden block, pad, etc, but the bolt only extends thru the top side of the frame rail.

On the rear, you do not use wooden bed blocks, but you do use the neoprene pad. The rear cross sill has blocks or ears already welded onto the sill. Follow the same order: Bolt thru the washer, board, cross sill, pad and frame.

The #2 cross sill is not bolted to the frame. It is fastened only to the bed sides, boards the sill itself.

On the other bed bolts, you're right. The 5/16 ones pass thru the angle iron on the bed side, then thru the board, the sill, etc. The 1/4 inch go thru the metal strips, passing between bedboards. You should have seven holes in each metal strip. Some of these bolts will pass thru the sills...others will be between the sills. The larger (1-1/4") flat washers are used on the bolts that go thru the metal strips and pass between the boards but not the sill. They touch a board on each side underneath and you don't want to overtighten them and bend the m,etal strip. Where these bolts pas thru the sill, use the 1 inch flat washers. Of course, lock washers on every bolt before the nut.

Thank you so much Texaholic. I am in your debt.