Ok I am needing a set of bed bolts for my 78 F350 Camper Special....it has the odd mixture of the carriage bolt style bolts and the phillips head style bolts.....Since I know I am going to have to end up cutting them off, and getting exact replacements are all but impossible, I was wondering if I could use the new style SUPERDUTY bolts and frame clips?? There are 6 bolts are the 5 1/4 long.
And 2 bolts that are 4 1/4......Anyone know the length of the factory bolts in a truck like this? Will these work?

 

Dennis Carpenter has the bolts for the bed. They are 1/2"-13 X 3 3/4"
I believe the supercabs have a special bolt over the front fuel tank that has a torx head rather than the standard carraige bolt.
Here's a picture of one of Carpenter's bolts.

 

Yeah those bolts are easy to find, its the screw head bolts that no one makes. The f350s have the same issue as the supercabs and highboys with the gas tank because of the narrow frame....in other words, they use the screw head bolts with clips, because it is impossible to use the regular style bed bolts without dropping the gas tank to get a nut on. Thats why I was wondering about the new super duty/ranger bolts...

 

Trust me that is the last thing you want to do. Those bolts are around the $18 each mark plus whatever the cost of the nuts are. The nuts are not threaded, the bolts form the threads when they are installed. They seize fast quickly and can be impossible to get out even if you put gobs of anti-seize on them.

Two years after I bought my SD I tried to remove the bed bolts. I had to cut the heads off three, went thru 6 torx bits to remove the rest. An 850ft lb impact wouldn't budge them and a 1/2" breaker bar would just shatter torx bits. I replaced the bed bolts with yellow zinc phos coated grade 10.9 metric hex head bolts, washers and matching nuts. The nuts and bolts can be tightened by yourself, clamp a vise grips on the nut underneath and tighten the bolt from the top. The rubber bed mat in my truck covered up all the bolt heads.

 

Nutsandbolts.com has 1/2"-13 X 4" button head bolts (allen wrench) for $4.86 each.
Nuts and Bolts and Screws - Metric Bolts and Fasteners - Stainless Steel Fasteners

 

Wow thats great mike that could be just what I need!! Now, how about the fasteners, clips, or whatever they screw into on the frame? I'm sure they sell something that will work, but I'm not sure what to look for.

 

I ordered one from fastenal the other day. Hasn't arrived yet but it was about $5. He said it would be slotted but the picture showed torx head.

 

In the past I've gotten the retainer nuts from AMK Products in Winchester, Va.
You can order them online www.amkproducts.com In the online cataolg click on the red "bulk" square and scroll down untill you get to retainer nuts, it's in the left column.
The 1/2"-13 nuts are $5.00 ea. You might be able to find them cheaper someplace else. AMK's part number is B-11404.

 

Thanks Mike that really helps me alot! Now I know if I have to grind the bolts off, at least I can get replacements. Thanks again

 

another source is McMaster-Carr, google them to get website. I've used them for years for more things than I can remember. I have enough to do on the rebuild so I'm not interested in cleaning old bolts. I'm getting replacement fasteners from them as well for my F150.

 

You have to remember Ford is lazy, the inner bed from an 1996 bed is the same as a 79. They used these same bolts for years on the Supercabs.