The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed metal bed

any sugestions !!!! should i put a new metal bed and fenders or rebuild wood oak stakebed?http://community.webshots.com/album/552606800qSkkXs pix of 40 1/2 ton

Just a thought....I once bought a "pie-safe" in an antique shop in N.C. It had some old paint in the cracks and crevasses.....I decided to strip it and make it look like new. After many hours of chemicals and sweat it was done!!!! The new finish was flawless....it was beautiful,,,but something was wrong! It had lost the flavor that attracted it to (my wife) and I had done a great job of just turning it into another "ho-hum" piece of furniture. Are you getting the picture?

You've got a great (outstanding) looking truck....and I would be hesitant to replace solid, weathered wood and metal with new stuff. In fact I wouldn't even mess with the existing paint. If it's solid, I'd clean off the dirt and grime and use a good quality linseed oil over the whole bed and retain the patina that money can't buy today. If there were pieces that needed to be replaced I'd do my best to replace them with "old solid" wood. Of course, it's entirely up to you but I thought I'd just toss in my $.03.
because.......

If it were me, I'd stick with the stakebed. It has more personality. That said, you should do what you want. It is your truck.