The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Challenge installing new bed in Fred our 1952 Chevy 3100

I am on a mission to install my 8 board bed. I have prepped the pine boards and purchased the required metal strips, bolts and fasteners.

The question at hand is regarding the installation of the outer boards. These are the two narrower units with 2 predrilled holes. I got the passenger side board in and loosely attached the fasteners. Moving to the drivers side I observed that the boards don't have groves on both sides like the other 6 boards. To accommodate the metal strips. In their present state the side of the outer board closest to the differential does'nt have a grove. Am I on the correct path?

Yes the outboard pieces on both sides are not grooved where they go under the welded side strip. They can sometimes be a challenge to get under existing sides. Install them first, leave the bolted connections loose, if you need to you can carefully bend them up slightly. If you notice how these beds are built it is all about movement, between the boards, the eccentric washers with oversize hole for the attachment bolt to go through the board and the strip design. They grow, shrink and constantly flex, both loaded and unloaded. I have attached a folder of pictures that may help.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/albums/72157631884205225/with/8130479153/

Thank you so very much for the pictures and your comments. I am back on track.
Feeling confident that I can bolt this beast together.

Just a quick update that the bed is installed. Thanks again for the help from a fellow bolter. MERRY CHRISTMAS

Thanks Brad. I'm reassembling my 51 chevy bed and your pictures help a lot.

Is this the same for a 46? Are the outside of the outside not groved?

Outside boards on the 46 are not grooved. They slide under.
Dan