Slick 60's

This repair is in progress.

I will add more pictures to the slideshow as this moves forward.

I don't do this for a living so any pointers or suggestions are welcome.

I used a 1987 short bed in good shape I bought for $100. This bed is built almost like the 64 bed expect for the cross braces under the floor and the floor sections around the wheel wells. Once the parts needed are transferred to the 64 I will need to use seam sealer and rustproofing to protect the floor and front panel because they will need to be assembled the same way the 64 was and will rust out again if not protected. Drain holes will need to be added as well.

The 87 bed was very clean underneath for an Ohio truck thanks to the galvanized coating Ford sprayed on the floor and braces. Too bad the rest of the bed wasn't coated the same way. It came off the truck as seen in the pictures.

I only need the center section of the floor from front to back and 3" of the front panel.

I worked on the bed with it laying upside down and used a two drills to drill the pilot dimple then drill out the weld. The floor and braces are very thin steel making them easy to drill. Since most spot welds are 5/16 I used a 3/8 bit to drill them out. I used a 3/16 self starting bit to cut the pilot dimple. Some spot welds needed to be drilled through, most did not. All the spot welds across the front brace did need drilled through.

The front panel is heavier steel and takes longer to drill out plus these welds must be drilled laying on the ground in front of the bed.

I used a sawzall to cut the braces. Of the tools I used for disassembly, air chisel, cut off tool and sawzall the sawzall was the most destructive and will cause alot of rework for you if you are not careful. Be careful this will go right through thin panels.

Once you get the first cross brace removed be careful standing on the floor to remaining braces the floor is very thing and will bow or bend easily.

http://s254.photobucket.com/albums/hh11 ... =slideshow

looking good! I'm anxious to see the finished product. Got 1 coming up myself in the next 3-4 weeks.

Looking real good.. Thanks for all the pics..

I'll be working on the same project soon.. You are one up on me though, I will be replacing the crossmembers and the rectangle corners. One question, where the floor meets the interior side panels do you plan to drill out all the spot welds or just cut very close ???

Looking at my donor bed I thinking about just cuting very close to the seam (on the interior box side) then clean up nice with a grinder. After the seam sealer is applied it will never be seen.

vic,
One more question. Do you have plans for the crossmembers you removed from the '87 bed?? If not, would you be interested in parting with the shallow one with the "risers" on it ???

The middle one
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh11 ... C00043.jpg


That was two questions. LOL

Been side tracked working on unhacking the brakes and steering column.

I saved the cross braces because I may need to use them rebuild the top parts of mine.

I have not decided to cut off the top of the donor braces or create repair parts from the bed sheet metal.

If I don't use them you can have them if you have not already used something else. I have the brakes unhacked but not the steering as soon as I get that done I plan to get back on the bed floor.

Since the bed floor infront and beind the wheel wells are in very good shape I intend to repair the cross braces then cut the floor from the donor so it will just drop inside where the old seam and ridge are now. I intend to trim the edge of the old bed floor from front to back along the old seam just short enough to support the new bed while I attempt to weld this into place.

You may recall I mentioned there were two differences between modern beds and the older beds. One of them is the way the braces are installed and how big they are. The newer bed braces are upside down compared to the older beds and the braces are twice as tall.

Sorry for the delay in responding. I don't get a chance to check this site very often. I'll turn on the reply notification.

vic,
I'm replacing everything, center section, rectangle corner panels, and crossmembers.

I think I will be all set with crossmembers. The '86 crossmember with the risers I will reuse, I just may need to build new risers to fit the height I need. The other long '86 xmember ( 2nd back from the front) I also plan to reuse. I am going to cut it off leaving a 1" flange, cut the crossmember again so when it is welded back on the flanges it will be the same height as the other long x-member with the risers.

I'm thinking I also may try to use the two short x-members between the wheel tubs by cutting them down the same way.

My front and rear crossmembers I will use 14ga. box tubing. I have a repair panel to finish off the rear by the tailgate.


If all goes well the only spot welds I will need to drill out are on the '86 rear x-member. I cut the floor just behind the front x-member so that one is already gone.. I dont need the front 4-5" as my floor is only about 90" long.

Good luck with your column and brakes. I with ya on being side tracked, I don't have my engine hoist temporarily so I can't get the bed off to work on it...