I am assembling my bed for my 1953 half ton. I am reusing the sides and front. The angle strips that weld to the inside of the bed sides were rusted away, so I had to remove them and buy new ones. I have the 2 outside bed boards laying in the bed against the sides. The new angle strips that extend out over the outer boards are not exactly the same length as the boards. They are slightly shorter. So, I need a little help in order to figure out exactly where to position the strips. At the rear of the bed, should the metal strips stop right at the end of the wood, or should the extend past the wood to the rear sill, or should they be a little shy of the end of the wood. I don't have a correct truck here to look at, so if one of you guys have one you think is correct, please take a look and let me know please. THANKS
Mike Burns 1940 Chev 1/2 ton 1953 Chev 1/2 ton 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe 1947 Indian Chief 1943 Indian 741
I took one of the old trashed angle strips and positioned it using the bolt holes that the fender bolts go through. In the bed front, the angle strip stopped at the bolt flange on the front panel. On the rear, it extended beyond the wood slightly. So, I'm assuming that this is normal and correct. Could one of you please confirm this for me please. THANKS
Mike Burns 1940 Chev 1/2 ton 1953 Chev 1/2 ton 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe 1947 Indian Chief 1943 Indian 741
Mike, the angle strips on mine (new ones from Mar-K) extend nearly to the back of the rear cross sill. As far as the front, I believe the originals stopped short of the bed front panel flange, as it goes on the inside to allow assembly with the angle strips welded to the bedsides.
Here's some pics of the original bed and the rebuilt one.
Moving your thread over to Making a Stovebolt Bed.
Last edited by klhansen; 06/23/20258:02 PM.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Thanks Kevin, that confirms my thinking. I can move forward a little further now. The black on your wood and bed strips looks nice. What did you use, and how did you apply it?
Mike Burns 1940 Chev 1/2 ton 1953 Chev 1/2 ton 1950 Studebaker Starlight Coupe 1947 Indian Chief 1943 Indian 741
I can confirm that the bed angle strips overlap the rear sill.
In my case I bolted my strips in place rather than welding to provide a little wiggle room for assembly. There are 2 bolts that are visible with everything assembles between the front 2 stake pockets. I used acron nuts on those to give it a finished appearance.
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)
... The black on your wood and bed strips looks nice. What did you use, and how did you apply it?
Thanks Mike, here is the info you were asking about. Look a couple posts down from that one also, for pics of the can of stain I used.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
