The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Wood Bed Question ... Metal Strips between planks?

I have a 1957 Chevy Pickup Stepside that just has a great big piece of ugly plywood in the bed. I'd like to take out the plywood and put in some nice oak strips, but I am trying to figure out what to use for the metal strips in-between the oak pieces.

I know that I can order the stock metal strips from the LMC catalog for $50, and then order the hardware kit for another $20 or so, but I am just trying to figure out if there is anything else that I can use that will get me by for cheaper . . . It doesn't have to look perfect . . .

This truck is ugly, and I don't want to put a huge amount of money into it, but I'd like to replace the single piece of plywood with a wood-planked bed. My Uncle is a carpenter and will happily provide me with the oak planks. I am just trying to figure out what I can use for those metal strips.

If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks all!

It doesn't sound like your investment will be that great. I am assuming th eoak wood is free or a a "relative" price. I think the new metal strips and hardware would save a lot of time and extra work in the long run. Besides they look great!

If you do a search here there are should be posts for pattern sizes and the dado cuts etc. I would go with the strips and hardware it all works as a system and would be the easiest approach I think.

the metal strips aren't "between" the planks, they're on top of and covering the gap between, like a channel with the fingers down that fit into slots in the planks - you don't necessarily have to have them, just put the wood pieces snug [not tight] together and go with it - I used salvaged fir flooring, has worked fine for about 15 years so far

Bill

Thanks Guys,

This truck is a runner--a bit beat up and certainly not in cherry shape. My Uncle had this wood from a previous job, so I can't beat the price. He's got tons of scrap wood kicking around and we scrounged up enough matching planks to do the bed. With some sanding and some varnishing, we'll get them looking real nice.

I didn't like the idea of spending $70 on the metal strips, but from some web searches, they do look pretty good, so I am beginning to reconsider. I'm still in college, so sometimes extra cash is hard to come by. I was just checking to see if there was any alternative to buying the metal strips. We'll see what happens . . .

Bill--your fir floors look great!

Once I get this done I'll post some pictures . . . probably won't be till the end of summer though . . . Thanks again for the help!

I used white oak for my bed and made up some Wood strips tee's out of the same material on my bed also, So far so good !
Todd

I did what Bill did an used a finish nail to gap the bed (Hickory)boards on my 52, my wood covers the 1/4" steel plate that is welded in the bed.
"Pics in photo bucket".
Tim