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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: thirsty on July 07, 2011, 09:52:29 AM

Title: New bedside
Post by: thirsty on July 07, 2011, 09:52:29 AM
If I bought a new bedside would it be just the outer skin or would it be complete? Where the tailgate parts bolt on and behind the taillights is damaged on mine and a skin wouldn't fix it.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: nucknoel89 on July 07, 2011, 10:21:39 AM
From what I've seen in catalogues it looks like they come complete.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: ToddN on July 09, 2011, 03:10:30 PM
Where are you looking at buying.  I'm debating on buying the wheel arch panels because thats the only place that isn't solid on my bed.  I have little to no bodywork experiance though.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: slammed79 on July 09, 2011, 09:11:47 PM
I've bought bedsides from the catalogue company, and wasn't overly impressed. I'd hit the yards and find one. A lot less cash.

Patch panels aren't too bad as long as you can weld.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: VileZambonie on July 10, 2011, 12:36:55 AM
what type of bed are we talking about?
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: ToddN on July 10, 2011, 06:22:14 AM
I'm talking fleetside.  I can weld....trailer hitches and crap.  Just not sure about the cutting thing. :-\
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: thirsty on July 11, 2011, 05:24:48 AM
I was talking about a fleetside 6'. I just picked one up and need to do some work to it and thought that a whole bedside might be the way to go.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: slammed79 on July 11, 2011, 11:06:12 PM
Got some pics of the issues? I'd try and salvage it if it were me
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: thirsty on July 12, 2011, 09:05:52 AM
I'll get some pics.
For now here is a little better information on the issues.
I got this bed cheaper than it was listed on craigslist for because the seller wanted to save the tailgate and trunions. He couldn't get the bolts out for the trunions because the welded in nut broke free, then he tried prying them out and cut them with a sawzall. I bought the bed anyway because there is no rust underneath at all. Wheel arches are perfect. Where I live it is very hard to find any of these beds so to me this is still a deal. But, if you look in where the tail lights bolt to the bed there is rust growing. I know what it will look like after I sandblast it (swiss cheese probably). I don't want to leave that area with any issues burried under a new paint job. I know that I can buy a patch panel for the outside and a new rear post but there is another piece in between them that I need.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: thirsty on July 12, 2011, 03:25:03 PM
This is what I am concerned about. The piece between the post and the outside skin.
(http://www.suitorsgarage.com/jsuitor/rttaillight.jpg)

The floor and the crossmembers make this bed worth fixing to me.
(http://www.suitorsgarage.com/jsuitor/bedfloor1.jpg)

(http://www.suitorsgarage.com/jsuitor/bedfloor2.jpg)
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: Cabcorner on July 21, 2011, 06:03:42 AM
That area of the box side can be repaired I did it on my short box fleetside. I made a template out of an old pizza box and cut the metal out of a flat section of a parts cab. I disassembled the box because the floor was shot and repaired the box sides on saw horses. My repair required 3 patches , the lower part of the tail light support that drops down and has the nuts welded on the back to hold the tail gate hinge,a 5"x1-1/2" section of the outer skin and a piece that repaired the lower 2-1/2" of the tailgate post and dropped down to the hinge. I  butt welded the last piece using a series of spot welds grinding them flush with a flap disk. I was pleased with the result and doubt I would have got a better repair from a body shop. I could have got the replacement box sides off craigslist at the time for 150 each but this project was all about cheap. I'll try and find some pics.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: thirsty on July 21, 2011, 01:56:42 PM
@Cabcorner. Pics are always great. I am probably going to repair the sides I have.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: Cabcorner on July 21, 2011, 04:51:36 PM
First try sending pics
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: thirsty on July 22, 2011, 05:43:39 AM
Nice job on the pieces you made Cabcorner!
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: Cabcorner on July 22, 2011, 07:27:02 PM
Thanks ,I lost the pics that show the rest of the process when I upgraded my phone.I was able to locate the holes by marking them in the outer piece,drilling it out then transfering them to the inner piece then I cleaned up the nuts and welded them on the back . It doesn't look it will be that easy for you. When I made the inner piece I made a lip that faced up in the pics and spot welded through the outer skin to strengthen the hinge area. Then I plug welded the piece in the pics to the inner piece and but welded it to the bottom of the post.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: thirsty on July 23, 2011, 06:26:50 AM
Yeah, I'll have to remove more than that. If I repair it I will need to replace the rear corner anyway so I would have it opened right up but it looks like it will be a tough piece to make behind the lights.

Somebody else must have had to repair this area also??

Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: Cabcorner on July 29, 2011, 05:44:26 AM
Hey Thirsty what do you have to loose ? If you are patient and determined, you can do this . Remember almost none of the inner post taillight area will  be seen , I overlapped the welds on mine.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: 1979C20 on July 29, 2011, 10:32:13 AM
You could always cut the entire corner off a decent bed, or a crappy bed with a decent corner, and weld it to your truck.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: 80stepsideguy on July 29, 2011, 01:16:01 PM
If you got the complete bedside i say replace it , it doesnt take a whole lot of work to remove the old side n replace it with a new 1.Plus i see on the drivers side behind the tire its a little rusted, that you can cut and take a replacement panel n cut what you need n weld it in.


thanks
pat
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: rainman15 on July 29, 2011, 07:41:19 PM
I bought a complete fleetside drivers side panel and it came complete with wheel well and inner bed panel.  Simple bolt on, one minor weld near the back of the bed.  Cost about $700 shipped, but worth every penny.  I still have the over the arch, front lower and rear lower patch panels that I bought but didn't use if anyone is interested in them.  I'm not selling, I'll give them away if you'll pay shipping just to make sure they don't go to waste. 
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: thirsty on July 30, 2011, 09:27:03 AM
I really want to just order up 2 new bedsides but that would really set me back on the truck budget bad. Before I do that I am looking into another option. I talked to a bodyman that I deal with about cutting down some new 8' sides that I might be able to pick up very reasonable. Of course he said new 6' sides would be the way to go, but thought that modifying the 8' sides would be easier than patch panels and fabricating new braces in the rear. I am doing the bodywork in my shop and plan on painting it myself also but I would need his help and tools for this. If this way works out my cost would be $300 for both sides, fuel to drive 100 miles to pick them up, and some pizza and beer for the guidance from a life long bodyman.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: big bear on July 30, 2011, 11:55:32 AM
always so many choices lol   id either cut mine up and patch it, or just save for 6ft sides.   im not saying that doing the 8ft sides and cutting them down ect arent a awesome project and give us something to talk about haha . id just go the other route. either way, good luck man.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: thirsty on July 30, 2011, 02:15:52 PM
Grrrr...As of right now those 8' sides are not available.
I hoping to save some coin so my paint supplies would come easier.

Earlier my daughter came to the garage for an oil change. She was looking at the truck and we were talking about it. I told her about probably not getting the bedsides I was looking into and how I was excited to have new steel instead of patch panels then explained that the paint I chose was going to be pricey. We talked about maybe making the paint less expensive and the options with the bed sheetmetal. After a while she throws down a rag and says "Daddy!, As long as you have waited to get your truck done! Don't sacrafice anything to save money or time. Hold out for new parts and the paint that you want...both." I think she must have been talking to big bear or something. haha

Now I'm off to mow a 3 acre lawn and think about this.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: big bear on July 30, 2011, 04:04:14 PM
hahaha  great minds do think a like.
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: Bitzer! on August 02, 2011, 03:16:13 AM
"Daddy!, As long as you have waited to get your truck done! Don't sacrafice anything to save money or time.

I'm with your daughter on this! If it's worth doing > it's worth doing properly!

Of course there are areas you can short cut and it wont make a difference but to keep the rigidity it's gota be right  ;)
Title: Re: New bedside
Post by: Cabcorner on August 14, 2011, 06:51:30 PM
    Hey Thirsty if you are not happy patching your bed you're probably not gonna be happy with aftermarket bedsides ,besides $700 can buy you a whole southern bed.
http://buffalo.craigslist.org/pts/2483558025.html