The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 1951 GMC bed question

On my 51, the rear stake pockets and tailgate hinge mounts are completely rusted away, flaky, and crumbly. Most of the rear parts of the bedsides are rusted away. I am not very experienced in that area, so patching it all myself is not really an option. Would it be cheaper to send it to a body shop or buy new bed panels with stake pockets and everything. I think they are 300 or 400 dollars a side.

It may or may not be cheaper depending on what body shop you take it to and the extent of the rust damage, and there is always a chance if rust through again down the road after the repair.
Personally, I wouldn't trust most body shops to do a repair like that. And if it's a good body shop that does restorations and not collision work, they will probably tell you you'd be better off with the new sides.
Buy the new bedsides if you can afford it.

I agree with ghostrider. Wait till you can buy new sides or put an ad in the parts wanted section of this forum and see what response you get. Cecil..........

Bed side repair is fairly difficult because of the large flat panels. Most bodywork is done on curved panels, which makes bondo useful and tricks the eye- you can't see if a curve is slightly off. A bedside that is oilcanned or welded is really easy to spot. I would find another bed or get new sides if you can. I doubt you can pay someone to fix it right for less than you can get a bedside or a whole bed from someone.

justin,

If its just the stake pocket that are real bad, they can be replaced separately. I've never done it but I understand that each spot weld needs to be drilled out and then the new pocked can be tack welded back in.