The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Where to start when re-assembling the bed

Ok, I could buy a $16 dollar instruction manual but I can spend that money on food for my kids. So, I have the new oak, and bed panels pained, what would be the first step in re-assembly? I am guessing but would it be:
1. Cross sills
2. Bed sides
3. Front bed panel
4. Wood
5. Then rear tailgate

Where are most of the problems encountered? Will everything be square and straight by using the factory bolt holes or is there free play that needs to be addressed?

Michael

This is the way I did it.

1. Front panel bolted to sides
2. Install rear cross sill
3. Check for square, measure the diagonals
4. Install two outside boards (don't bold down just yet)
4. Install the rest of the cross sills, bolt down two outside boards.
5. Pick up unit and put on truck frame. mount with bed to frame bolts.
6. Install the rest of the wood pieces
7. Install bed strips and bolt down.
8. Install tailgate. DONE!

Hope this helps
George

Are we talking about an AD truck? Mine is a 53. I was going to buy the little manual there. But then was told after I started working on it, it would all come together. So thats what I did, I assembled all the sheetmetal with the exception of the TG. At that point I measured from each corner t get it square, which it was very close. I then started laying the wood in and the 2 centre cross sills. I then crawled below and started to put all the little nuts and washers on. After everything fit good I tightened it all good and all was well. Good Luck.

Couldn't have said it better. You really need to get the front panel and rear sill bolted to the bedsides first to stabilize everything and start to make the measurements for squareness. I trust that you test fitted everything before you painted the parts. If so, then everything will go back together with minimum problems.

We are now including the complete assembly instruction free with all restoration parts orders.

Mar-Ktech

Thanks for the info.
It does make more sense to do it the 46forme way!

Michael

Ok guys I got that printed off!! Thanks!

popcorn The Truth is Out There (I really like this forum questions will be coming right now learning and absorbing info) Ben

It sure would be helpful to have the full assembly instructions available off the Mar-K website. The instructions I was able to glean from there recently appear to be incomplete.

I second that Houston54.

probably a dumb question but if you are only going to replace the wood and bed strips is it necessary to take the bed completely apart - tailgate off -sides and front etc?

No you do not have to take the bed appart but taking it off and doing the work standing on end makes it easier.

that makes sense - standing it on it's end. i just hate to take anything apart that i don't have to because it seems it never goes back the way it was!!!