Finally touched my wood...

[teamadidas]

 I shouldn't have let the wood go so long before without treating it as the sun and rain wore it out.  But I finally got to it.  Took me about 10 hours of total sanding and 3 days of putting the 3 layers of Man O War varnish, satin.   I think it turned out great.  I did get carried away underneath the truck and bought $45 of stainless steel hardware which I kind've felt guilty about.  Besides the labor time it also involved sore muscles.  It's great to have a truck I can use again.   

[choptop]

That is gorgeous!!

[teamadidas]

reminds me of a basketball court.

[MarkS]

Excellent "touch"!

[1984k30]

What kind of stainless steel hardware did you buy. If they were bolts was it for looks or avoiding rusty bolts.  Chances are if you used stainless bolts and nuts the will gauld and have to be cut off with a grinder next time.  I try to always use a stainless bolt with a carbon steel nut that way less chance of gaulding and I can still use a torch to wash off the nut.

[teamadidas]

Crap I used stainless nuts with the regular steel studs that come off the trim pieces.  There were also six stainless studs in the front of the bed that I used stainless nuts with.  I hope I just didn't ruin things.

[1984k30]

You might be alright.  It seems like it is 50/50 with stainless hardware.  Sometimes you get lucky and don't have any problems.  Do you think you will ever have to remove them?

[Grover 1]

you can put anti seize on the nut/bolt and avoid gaulding.

[1983stepside]

bed looks good i need to buy new wood for my 83 swb stepside where did you get yours from? thanks

[slammed79]

I'd love to see some stainless strips instead of the black but its gorgeous.

[teamadidas]

Yeah I would love the stainless strips but at $60 a pop I am fine with the stock blacks for now.