The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Long bed panel truck bed wood

Where can I get bed wood for my ’47 1 ton panel truck? The wood is in good shape, but there is one soft spot at the rear doors. I have looked on several websites that sell bed wood, but I haven’t been able to find long bed panel wood.

Call Mar-K.....they do great work and if need be they can probably cut you one special order if needed. check them out in the bed forum.

I didn’t know about the bed forum, Thanks!
I gave Mar-k’s robot all my info. They got back to me about using their special request form. The form mentions “We cannot make boards wider than 9" or longer than 107". My panel Truck is in the shop, so I’ll have to wait to get the measurements. I found some dimensions but it’s hard to tell if it’s 106 or 108, and that’s just the cargo area, not specifically the wood.
Chevs of the 40’s has Long bed Pine Wood, and lists the 1947 ES Panel, but every other truck is on the list too. Bob’s Chevy Trucks has 1-ton long bed stepside, and mentions “Fits 107 1/4" Truck Beds”
I’d like to salvage the bed wood if I can. It is not warped, my biggest fear is putting in new wood and it warps. I saw that Mar-k kiln dries the show quality Oak, not sure if the Pine is treated the same.

You can call Mar-K and speak directly with a Tech. They will happily answer all your questions. Phone # is on the website.

Bed wood and parts out of Kentucky can make what ever you need also.

My '57 panel looks like it's just one big piece of plywood versus slats. Is that correct?

Hi I just picked up a 57 3105 panel that needs a floor bed . I am also trying to find out if it was a one piece floor with grooves for metal slats. Can’t seem to get an answer even from a truck bed makers. Any info?

From what I have read, I think it is just one big sheet of plywood. I found a picture(attached) of a '57 that does have the metal strips. btw, I think I'll keep the original wood for my '47 panel truck. It's in decent condition. I may need to repair the middle pieces near the back.

All good. Thanks

If you are talking about the solid wood floorboards on the art deco early 47 trucks, you can probably get a cabinetmaker or woodworker to make some for you. At some point in time the floorboards became plywood and assembled before the body went on. If they are solid wood, use the old ones to use as patterns for holes and the contour of the sides. The problem will be the metal hold down strips. They can probably be custom made. I contacted a place once several years ago, that gave some ridiculous excuse as to why it was impossible, because there wasn't room in the shop to do strips that much longer. So my point is you will have to shop around a little. That is if you can't save your originals. The hardware kits are available also, but you may have to buy a couple more bolts because of the length. I haven't researched that at this point, nor have I decided that regular carriage bolts couldn't do the job too. I think I may have the dimensions of the boards somewhere and will check to see. You may find them with a search.

I just re read your initial post. All cabinet grade lumber is kiln dried. It has to be. My plan is to buy lumber from my usual supplier, plan it to thickness and use my old boards as patterns. The width of the boards excuse is a weak one. Lumber is available in all widths. The expensive part comes in the grading of the lumber. You will need to buy Select, meaning no Knots. This bumps up the price. If you are not a woodworker, have the person doing it buy the materials. Easier that way than doing it yourself.

I got a hold of Mar-K in Oklahoma the techs name was Amy she helped me out with the correct forms to order the wood and rails for my 49” 3800 panel with 113” boards. While there are 11 boards narrowest is 4” and the widest board is 6.5”. I got under the panel to measure to actual widths as I dint want to take it all apart yet. I have seen a truck that had plywood then they routed grooves to make it look like individual boards this won’t work for mine or yours as getting a single sheet 5’x10’ in the panel would be a fun task (not) I looked at buying the red oak boards at a big box store and after I did the math on the boards that I would have to buy over width just to get the right widths and the time on the table saw cutting the grooves correctly to was cheaper to order from Mar-K

Hope this helps
Tophat 🎩

Probably hard to find in AZ, but a boat builder/repairer supply company would probably have longer (and wider) "marine grade" plywood.