The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Stepside sheet metal questions

Okay I'm new to this, and I have a few questions.

I have a 1966 C10 with a short, stepside bed.

First, the original wood is gone, and a piece of 3/4" plywood is the new floor. I want to put a bed kit in. From what I've seen in catalogs, a piece of angle trim goes between the bed floor and the side of the bed. I have a row of holes along the side of my bed where that piece of trim appears to fit. My question is does that piece of trim simply bolt through the side of the bed? Secondly, several of those holes are elongated, torn, etc. I saw a truck on Ebay, and it appeared that a strip a few inches wide had been run down the inside of the bed behind the angle trim piece that covers the bed floor/side attach that I've mentioned. Anyone shed some light on this?

Secondly, I have several small rust holes in my floor pan. I am planning on removing the rust and welding on a patch. What gauge steel should I use, and is it better to weld it to the underside or to the inide of the floorpan. Thank you!

Isaac

not sure about a 66 bed but I believe the angle moulding was spot welded on. It appears that somebody drilled out the spot welds or in the case of the elongated and torn areas they just ripped the angle piece out.

Yup! Spot welded to the bedsides and bolted to the bed thru the wood.

Aw now you tell us!! I formed a piece, even made the rib, and welded it to the bottom. Tough job!!
popcorn The Truth is Out There (Put it on the top know he tells me) :rolleyes:

Thanks for the great information people! I now need some advice on how to fix the holes and damage along where the angle trim was spotwelded on. My goal is install new angle trim along the bed sides, so I need to know how it is installed. Is it spotwelded on like the original trim? I was originally intending on painting the bed in pieces and then assembling them, but if welding must be done, I would need to have the floor in first. Thanks again for the help.