Guys,

I laid out the wood in the bed of my truck to begin the installation. I quickly saw I have a problem around the half wheel area. It appears I need to do some cutting of the metal and the wood to get a tight fit. I've attached a photo. Has anyone dealt with this problem?

 

Mine fit flush. Hard to tell from the pics but mine seem to fit a bit higher on the bed?

 

The wood slats are flush with the rear of the bed and the tailgate. Looks like this felllow had the same problem. I found the picture on the internet, no info about the installation though.

 

Hey Bigblue,
Let's see your truck. That's our bed pic you have there. I think the '48 - early 50's had the metal bed on top of wood so our's sit a little differently. You'll need to cut out a bit of wood to make it work.
(Here's a pic with the tailgate up).

Where are you at in Texas?

Ben in Austin
1950 F1 (351W/AOD)

 

Big Blue, the wood goes under the flange at the bedsides, not on top.

 

I'm in Groesbeck, Texas but lived in Austin for 9 years.

 

Ross,

Can you look at the latest pic I posted and give further imput?

Mike

 

I'm not super familiar with the 48-48's that had steel over wood, but all the beds I've seen have the flange on the bottom of the bedsides over the wood. This is mine, which is not entirely stock, but look at how the flange is over the wood.

 

Not that this matters much but aren't the two bed crossmembers upside down?

 

Yes, they are, there are also rubber pads that go between them and the frame

 

Just checked a DC catalog and you are both right about the cross beams. I bought the truck out of Portland. The bed was already attached so it looks like I have other problems to deal with before getting to the wood bed liner.

ben73058,

Your truck seems to be most similiar to mine. Did you need to cut the metal in the half wheel area? Did you make a pattern for your cuts? Could I get it?

 

Hey Mike,
I can't speak for others but for our years with the half circle on the bedside you have to router out the wood a bit to get it to fit right. We then have a metal trim piece over it to hide it - we didn't have to cut the metal.

Next time you are down in Austin just give me a shout come by to take a
look at whatever helps you out. I went out & took a couple of pics with the finished strip in there (it's kind of dark sorry).

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Not sure if the cross members are upside down, but mine face the same. They are the same direction and there are rubber spacers between the cross members and the boards. I also have an oak shim at both ends to bring everything level.

 

Nope, that's the way the are on the 48 to 50's, my 49 is the same as the pic. These trucks came with 3/4" board on the cross members and then a sheet of steel over the top.

 

Maybe nominal rather than dimensional? A 2X4 used to be 2X4 instead of 1 3/4X3 1/2.