The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed Kudos to Mar-K!!!

I doing a 1950, 3604 truck, when I did the “body off” the frame work (I never could figure out why they called it a “frame off restoration”) I was planning on replacing the original wood which is still solid throughout but badly blistered on top. The steel strips are still in good shape and still has some paint on them, there is only surface rust that easily comes off with the wire brush on the bench grinder and they aren’t bent up at all.
So I’m not really ready and probably won’t be for a couple more years but when I heard Mar-K had 10% off in October and free shipping, that just sounded like to good of a deal to pass up, even in these bad economic times.
UPS dropped off the four packages today (100lbs worth). Every thing was nicely packaged and I checked all nine boards, and they look real good, no splits or knots are the right length, they have all the through holes and countersunk holes and look like they will fit just great.
I figured I’d just as well throw in some new strips rather than take the time to clean up the old ones. And rather than try to scare up all the nuts, bolts and washers I’d get a bolt kit for the GM long box. And those came nicely baged and boxed. I know your not gonna believe this but the box when I opened it smelled like it was mildly perfumed, like a nice gentle pleasant something on the news paper packing.
Oh yes, the shipping, I ordered it last Thursday afternoon the 27th and it was delivered here this morning Monday the third.
All in all, I’d say that I would give Mar-K an A+ and highly recommend them. Once again they have held up their reputation as a US manufacturer still maintaining high standards.
Thanks guys,
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I too am happy with the USA mfg MAR-K. I bought a complete bed assembly including tailgate for my 59 stepside 3100. I test fitted and bolted it together and like the quality. Just the packaging alone shows the service. Protected and organized! Nice to see a USA made bed and done in good quality. I recommend MAR-K as well. Great stuff.

I wanted ash and got that through another vendor, Horkey, as I had seen his stuff and decided that the less pourous and just as pretty ash was for me. He really has a nice operation as well.

Good for our hobby, these guys are!

Now if some USA rear fenders were made I would be thrilled.

Ralph

Thank you so much for the kind words!
We appreciate all our customers!

I will have to third the approval of Mar K, I ordered a complete bed from them with custom upgrades and it was here in less than 2 weeks. packaging could not have been better and it is nice to buy aftermarket parts that actually fit. chinese stuf cant come close to this quality

I also just received the new bed kit. I agree with you guys- it's nice quality and packaged well. I only have one gripe- it's not EDP coated. Maybe that's actually a good thing?

Ok, I have a question for you guys... Are the spot welds on the tailgate, and on the bedsides supposed to be smoothed out with filler? I think they were probably visible from the factory?? I'm just trying for total originalality- even got the pine boards for the bed, to paint black.

rasman.. about the USA made rear fenders.. doesn't Dynacorn make them? I could be wrong, but that's what I'm looking for too.

Correction- I found out dynacorn's fenders are NOT made in the USA. 11/15/08

I am a bit surprised that there is not a GM approved replacement parts maker for rear fenders (maybe there is and we just dont know)as I think the trucks are every bit as popular as some of the cars out there that the reproduction USA stuff is being made for. Mar-K type company would be the type of USA mfg. outfit that already is set up with freight shipping and quality control that would be good. I have decided to let the bodyman work on the old original steel ones. They will need some work but they are real.

Leave the spot welds, as we have said many many times, these old trucks were utilitarian in nature and the factory never did any thing with the welds. Just check out the stake pockets where they are spot welded to the bed sides on a stock AD.
DG

Thanks Denny, that is what I suspected.

Loved the gorilla-proof shipping Mar-K uses!!! Good quality at a good price and Made in USA!

Well, I just assembled the new Mar-K bed. Easy as pie. I started out by using heavy duty sawhorses, shimmed them to perfectly level. Started assembling the bed, checked it for square, tightened everything down, test fit the boards... it's only taken me a couple leisurely hours. Now, if only I had my fenders here, it would be ready to take to the paint booth.

Firs MAK k IS great to do business with, I've ordered the following and nary a complaint.

Bed Wood, Front of Bed, Bed Rails, Bred Strips and Complete Bed Bolt Set.

BTW I painted the bed wood with Por-15 and then Gloss Black. Came out great.

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/568419115tPfSKV

But I'm trying to figure out how I should start the bed re-assembly. Anybody got pictures? Or what steps you've taken to reassemble the rails, wood and bed?

V-6 Fix Modelman:
If you ordered parts from us you should have received bed assembly instructions, which includes information & pictures on how to put the bed together. If not, let me know and I'll send them to you. Just PM me with your name and address and what truck you are working on.

I finally finished my bedwood and installed (a year later...)
Very impressed with the quality of the wood, thickness of the bed sides and tailgate, Wish that they coulda given me a break on shipping....(Canada Eh!)...Nice tight grained red Oak, with out a single Knot!, I would recommend them to anyone!