I’m getting close to getting some paint on my 47-53 bed. In prepping the bed i started looking at it closer and I realized there’s really no type of a drain hole for water runoff in the bed on these trucks. Probably why my front panel was rusted out. With the bed slanting towards the cab the water would collect up against the front panel, seep thru and sit on the front rail. Has anyone done any type of a modification to that rail or some other way. I know there is a suggestion to notch the wood rails every so often. But I would think the bulk of the water would still run towards the front. Thanks.
How often are you driving it in the rain? If you do, park it on a hill or drive it up on ramps to let it drain if you're worried about it.
Use a leaf blower to dry it after you wash it.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
The factory box was no where close enough to being water tight, new it could drain through the holes all over where the metal strips meet the front of the box or out the back easy if the tilt was that way But as dirt gets into the tiny holes yes it can hold water much longer My solution was accidental When I repaired (not restored) my box I welded metal strip parts from a donor truck and then made new square holes as needed for the bed bolts The old original bed bolt holes are random and act as a drain
But maybe just park it pointing up grade and call it a day? Else since the wood isn’t original anyway Drill some holes? I think the solutions are as varied as the opinions that will follow -s
If you go to gmc Paul’s site there is a lot of imfo .He recommends every foot from the groove to the edge of the board a drainage cut .I also read somewhere that holes drilled in the grove the metal slat goes in every foot or so .
The thought was if there was something to modify it for better drainage it’d be better to do before paint. The truck won’t see a lot of water. Although I’m sure there will be water in the back from either a rain storm here or there or washing the truck. The front panel is lower then the cross member and the holes to attach the boards so the water will collect on that front panel. Proved that today while wet sanding. I could drill a few holes in that piece I suppose. Thanks Kevin I have seen that suggestion, that’s the suggestion I was alluding to in my initial post. I was going to do that to the boards. I’m just trying do any little tricks to help keep the truck in good condition for the duration due to the amount of time and money I have in to the truck. Thanks
Not an elegant solution but I just drilled a couple 1/2 inch holes in the bed. One on each side at the front corner of the bed about 3 from the side and 3 inches from the front of the bed. My truck does stay outside and does collect water if I am not careful.
