The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed 1940 Chevy 1/2 ton bed support

Hi,

I’m looking for the locations to place the cross supports for a wooden bed for a 1940 1/2 ton.
I have purchased a bed mount kit from a vender and tried it using the cross members I have. I place the 2 inch blocks under the first two supports and the 3.5 in ch block under the last support. The blocks do not line up. There is an air gab of about 3/4 inch at the middle block and middle support.
Is there a problem with these kits?
Do they need to be modified?
I can’t seem to find another place for the cross members.

Thanks,

Mike

Hey Mike, I've got my 2" blocks under the 1st support behind the cab, none on the 2nd, 2" under the 3rd, and the 3.5 at the rear. That leaves 3/4-1" between the 2nd support and the frame.

Dennis

Then the second is fastened to the bed with no support from the frame?

Is the last support similar to the first three?

Thanks,

Mike

Right, the 2nd is just fastened to the bed. There should be a rubber pad about 1/4 " thick between the blocks and bed. I'll take a look in the morning on whether the last is similar. Can't remember.

Dennis

Thanks,

If you get a chance, see how far the supports are from each other...

Again,

Thanks,

Mike

Here are pics of each of the blocks. Did as best as I could from under the truck. Measured from the front bed panel they are 2 1/2", 26 1/2", 53", 73". Hope this helps.

Dennis

Dennis,

I checked it out and now it works. I even found the place on the frame where the floating crossmember sat. Not only that, I discovered that The correct floating member has a bend in it at each end to accommodate the frame.

Thanks,

Mike

Nice. Here is a pic of what I think you are asking about. If not, let me know. We should probably be doing this under another thread though, if there is more. Glad to hear another '40 coming to life.

Dennis

Will do...

Thanks

Mike

I've just ben through this process a few months ago, but have just seen the post. What I am now trying to find out is, what do the stakes look like? Can they be purchased or can I make them? I have a 1940 1/2 ton, recently fitted with a bed that I purchased from Jim Carter. I would now like to fit some timber rails to the sides, but don't know where to look (I'm in Australia).
Hopefully someone can steer me in the right direction. Thanks, Bob

There's no standard for stakes. Just measure the size of the pockets and get some wood cut to fit them. A reproduction bed may not have the stops at the bottom of the pockets, but should have a thru hole for a bolt to hold the stakes in place.