The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Removing Bed Side Angle Strips?

Hi Everyone,

I took one of the bedsides off the truck (57 stepside) and I'm wondering how to remove the angle strip. It's not bolted on, so it's either rusted, plug welded or fillet welded. Later today, I may wire brush it to clean it up and see more for myself.

I see the repop pieces so, there must be a way to remove the old ones.

Thanks All,

Mine were spot welded on. The easiest way to remove them is to simply drill out the spot welds. The holes that your left with is perfect for plug welding in the new angle strips.

Mine are also spot welded in on my 55.I see a lot of trucks at the shows that have stainless skid strips installed,but the angle strips are still the old originals.I have left mine with the original strips because they are in good shape.

For 47-54 trucks they make a piece that covers the old welded on angle strip. Maybe they have them for yours too.

If you don't want to drill them I cleaned the rusted ones on my 50 3/4 ton so I could see the dent of the weld, then I took a small angle grinder with a 2" x 1/8" disc and cut the weld out. It doesent't damage anything but the old strip if you are careful. Note on each end there are 2-3 spots close togehter then they spread out to about 6" centers. Work from one end and you can use a screwdriver to pry it up as you go.

A spot weld cutter will keep you from cutting through the bed side. Center punch the spot welds and drill through the angle strips, but not into the bed side. After the old angle strips are removed, clean up the remains of the spot weld on the bed sides with an abrasive wheel.

I have used the spot weld cutter from Eastwood and it is worth its weight in gold and it really works. Makes seperating spot welded panels a cinch.

Tony

So I am questioning the way my bed side angles were installed. The angles were attached to the bed sides with carriage bolts hanging onto the top of the side angles. The top of the angles had 1/2 diameter holes at the very top in two places (front and rear). The head of the carriage bolt lapped onto the angle. You can see this in the link - the carriage bolt is at the top of the angle about 12" from the tailgate. You may have to zoom in to see the connection.

"1/2 bolted" bed angle connection

Although I am certain that I had the original bed wood, I am uncertain if this was the original side angle. Has anyone ever seen this before? Should I go back with this installation or spot weld this angle as I understand would be the most common means of attachment?

Not the correct side angle strips.

Bob, I don't think they are original, especially when the bed disassembly pics you have show some weld repair. Check yours against a replacement pair in a catalog and I think you'll easily see the difference. They would have been spot welded.
However, if they work for you, I wouldn't worry about it. And you have a really nice looking truck. Perfect for advertising your construction business, I think.