The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Help with 1946 1/2 ton.

Just recently bought a 1946 1/2 ton chevy pickup and have a question. On the insides of the bed sides is a strip to slide wood under, this strip on both sides is badly rusted and I need to remove and replace. No signs of bolts, are these spot welded in place and what's the best way to remove?
Truck is in pretty good condition for its age and I'm doing a resto/mod.

If it's like my 1954 I am planing on taking mine off and putting stainless strips on and I was thinking of grinding the spot welds so I would not put holes in the box sides.otherwise would drill making holes in sides that would have to be filled. I guess it depends if you want to save the strip but if yours are rusted out bad I would grind the welds on the old strips.

here you go, there is a removal guide in the center of this page that confirms what kevinski said

mar-k angle strip guide

When I got my truck (also a 54), the side pieces were already gone, probably for the same reason you are asking about them. The bed side was in great shape except for the area where the bed side strips had been. about 75% of the side had rusted through almost the entire length of the side strip. I took my bed sides to a fabricator and had him cut the bottom of the sides off right above the rusted out line and weld in a newly fabricated bottom. They did an okay job. I had to fill in a little along the weld line where it was not flush. I am trying to decide how to attach the new stainless steel angel strips. If I spot weld them they will discolor at the weld. I am considered drilling and attaching them with Button Socket Head bolts. This would not be an issue except between the back of the fender and the rear of the bed. The nut side of the bolt would be exposed on the outside of the bed. Most of the nuts would be concealed in the fender well for the majority of them. I have put off doing anything because I can't decide on my best option. I will be curious to see how you solve this.

After reading the mar-k angle strip guide I might go with the spot weld. Even though I paid the extra cost for stainless angle strips if the discoloration is too much I could always paint them to match the body color.