The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Alternate sources for bed wood and strips - 1951 Chevy 3100

I purchased an oak bed and associated strips and hardware from Mar-K in December 2024 for my 1951 Chevrolet 3100. They indicated it would take about 3 months to deliver it. I've been trying to get an update from them with no success and just discovered this news. Hopefully I can recover some of the $1200 from my credit card company. Any suggestions on where I might look to get this bed now?

Sorry you got caught up in the bankruptcy. I would contact your credit card company and dispute the charge. That may help.
As far as oak wood, you can get that from most lumber suppliers, and would have to get it cut to size. Here's information on dimensions. LINK
Bed strips should be available from other vendors (try Jim Carter www.oldchevytrucks.com -they may be able to supply them).

I don’t know if your card company will refund you. I was in the same boat when Patrick’s ripped off people and the card company had a time limit that is why there were excuses by Patrick’s to get past the time limit.Most reputable companies don’t charge the full amount until they are ready to ship.and I learned the hard way so if they want to go past a week or two then cancel cancel cancel.

Thank you--appreciate your input.

Steve - I did some checking with some fellow Stovebolters in the Kansas City Area and confirmed that both of these local sources, Jim Carter and Classic Parts (both of these links are to the "pine board" offerings), have in-house shops that produce their own wood bed board sets. Not sure if your '51 has the early 1947-51 9-board layout or the later 1951-53 8-board layout??? They both also offer metal strip sets and hardware.

Both sources offer pine and oak, so you should be able to get an oak board set like you originally selected. Just use the links above to start looking at their offerings and hopefully get your bed project back on track. Let us know how your materials search pans out as other Bolters would like to know what you find out.

I have the 1951-1953 8 board layout. I have ordered parts from Classic Parts before and will check out both sites. I retired from the FAA and they do much of their training in Oklahoma City, so I have probably spent a year and a half of my life in that area attending various schools. I was familiar with Mar-K and had driven by their building many times when I was back there, so I just naturally picked them based on my familiarity with the town and also the fact that I always liked the people in OKC--not the weather so much since I'm a Californian!

The good news is that it looks like the Bank of America has credited my card for this loss as they conduct their investigation into the matter.

I too have inherited my truck from my grandpa. He bought it in the year I was born--1950. Lot of memories in that truck and hopefully I'll have it back on the road pretty soon.

Thanks again.

AH - Another "Grandpa" truck kept in the family!!! Glad to hear your financial predicament has been resolved. Looking for forward to hearing more your pursuit of the bed boards.

If you happen to have some basic woodworking equipment- - - - -table saw, router, planer, etc. and the skills to use them, try finding a local sawmill to sell you rough-sawn wood and make your own bed strips. Lots of Amish/Mennonite communities do custom sawing at pretty reasonable prices.
Jerry