The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Cross Sills

I am in the process of reassembling the bed on my 1952 short bed 3100. I am aware of the front cross sill, two center cross sills and the rear cross sill. But as I was looking through some parts that came with the truck I noticed a couple of cross sills that were smaller than the others. They looked like they were attatched to the bed wood to add strength, but did not come in contact with the frame. Are these original or could they possibly be off of a different truck?
Also, do the wood blocks for the front cross sill go in between the cross sill and the frame rail or in between the cross sill and the triangular crossmember supports that are on the inside of the frame rails?
any help would be greatly appreciated

You are right, the shorter ones just attach to the underside of the wood. The bolts through the bed strips hold them on. They are there to strenghten the bed.

I'm not sure where the blocks on a 52 sit, on my 46 they sit on the frame rail. You might try laying your cross sill across the frame and see where the holes line up.

Hope this helps
George

HighSchool: I have not seen the shorter 'reinforcing strips' used originally on any shortbed trucks of your year series. Perhaps other readers have different experience. If you use them, the only problem you might find is on the row of bedstrip bolts directly over the frame kick up area. The reinforcing strip may contact the frame.

46forme is correct, the wood blocks go under the cross sill where the bed to frame bolts go through, so the bolts go through the bedwood, cross sill, wood block, and frame rail. http://www.mar-k.com/bed_mounting_information.pdf Here is a brief description of the mounting for your bed.

Keep us informed how your project works out.

Mar-Ktech

Thanks 46forme and Mar-K tech. I think the reinforcing strips may be off of a 60-66 year model truck, as there are other parts that came with the truck that are off of the 60-66 trucks.

60-66 trucks had a different wood board width pattern, so you can identify the correct parts by the spacing of the bed strip holes. All should be the same. 60=66 cross sills had a 1" riser welded to them, so those should not be used on your truck. Correct reproduction cross sills are available from Mar-K and most other suppliers. Using parts that fit sure makes the assembly go smoother. I do not see a benefit of using the reinforcing strips on your truck.

Mar-Ktech