The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk bed is finished !!

well guys, i finally finished the wood in my bed. turned out way better than i expected.
sanded with 150 grit, 1 coat of min wax wood finish dark walnut #2716 stain, and 5 coats of minwax indoor - outdoor helmsman spar urethane clear gloss.

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view&current=DSC01743.jpg

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view&current=DSC01744.jpg

i did it all with the wood in place. i know, not the best way, but i didnt want to take it all out this time.

now i gotta figure out and fab a sheet metal bed cover and paint it the color of the truck.

leonard

Lookin good!

Slow down your makin the rest of us look bad.

Have a happy thanksgiving.
Ken

LOL.
thanks ken... yea, i have done a lot since march when i got it, thats for sure.

leonard

Did you start with oak boards.

bill, not sure what wood it was. it was there when i bought the truck. here is what it looked like when i first bought the truck.

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/...00/?action=view&current=DSC01284.jpg

but since my truck is outside with only a cover on it, the south florida humidity and rain made it start to mildew, thats why i went with a dark stain.

leonard

Leonard strikes again!!

I'll give you this.....Leonard you are a busy guy!

As Ken said, slow down! You're puttin' us all to shame!

Just kiddin' Once again,good job!

Jock

thanks jock...

yea, once i get a project going, like my 57, i tend to go full bore ahead. fortunatly i had the funds to keep it going this long, and luckily it is "just about" where i want it, since the funds are starting to run dry. LOL.

now its time to just cruise it. put about 50 miles on it today, which was nice. the imediate things i want to do is get a spare tire winch form a new truck at my local j-yard so i can finally put my spare tire up under the back, then make a sheet metal bed cover. thats will be it for the short term. but as you all know, these things are never really done. LOL.

thanks again, and talk to you all later.

leonard

Leonard,
Looks Super, NICE JOB!
An for future inquiries, your bed boards are "Red Oak".
Tim

thanks tim.
i dont know squat about wood. LOL.
red oak. cool.

leonard

Red Oak. Cool! I like the way the grain came out.

Great job!

thanks bill

leonard

FANTASTIC bed job!

Will you please post how you under bed winch comed out with pictures Please? with yr, make, model of donor I was thinking the same thing for my 56.

Thanks
Brad

Great job Leonard!
To help with the spare tire winch, here's some pix of mine.
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk203/Longbox55/100_0937.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk203/Longbox55/100_0938.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk203/Longbox55/100_0939.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk203/Longbox55/100_0940.jpg
The winch itself is from an '88/'89 C 1500 (any '88-'98 will do, 4x4 would be preferred, though) the cross member it's mounted to is a 2x3 with an additional mounting added to it and a brace bar to prevent rotation of the crossmember with the tire on it. It's mounted to the frame using existing holes. I only had to drill 1 oval hole to allow the winch shaft to pass through at an angle to clear the lisence plate. The other cross member shown came off the donor truck, and is a support for the shaft. I did have to alter the end that holds the tire by adding 2 extension plates. That was due to using a 2wd winch, which is for a wheel with a smaller index bore. The 4x4 or 3/4-1 ton versions have a larger tire retaining peice, and would be preferrable. For the crank mechanism (those peices were missing from the donor truck in my case) I used a McGuard Spare Tire Lock kit, which incluseds a keyed shaft that goes on the winch, and a long 5/8" hex keyed shaft to operate it. As I don't have the ratchet that the donor truck usied, I'm using a 1/2" ratched with a 5/8" deep socket to operate it. I suggest the deep socket for maximum contact to the key shaft to prevent slippage/twisting.

thanks brad.
i have not found a spare tire winch yet. still looking. need to hit a few more local junk yards. soon. when i do i will surely post some pics.

longbox55,
very cool install you did. i love it.
now i am really pumped on getting one.
can you please post a pic of where you run the tube out by the rear bumper ?
i would like to hide mine up under the truck if possible.

thanks again guys.

leonard

Ouch my eyes!