I managed to make it back out the junkyard today, with truck and tools. Luckily the 8 footer was still there, so i pulled it. Fender flares were ruined so I left those...

I removed the steps and walked it out on its end. Very glad I had my generator, angle grinder and cut-off wheel... lessons learned from pulling the shortbed one. I don't think I would have been so lucky this time, as the bolts were much more rusty.

And here it is at home. (It will look much better once I remove the "other" bed and put the 80's fender flares on. I am thinking the center post pockets may need to be removed in order for the later fender flares to fit, and I am still on the fence about whether to try to cut the corner pockets off at 90* and try to flatten the bed rails, or just leave them alone...

 

I would suggest to try and shorten the center pockets, or incorporate holes in the 80's fenders for them. Then seal the small seam with 3M all around autobody caulk seam sealer and adhesive (or of equal quality).

Shouldn't be too hard to do that.

It looks like the USFS added those "plates" to the back of the truck. Shouldn't be har to remove those either if desired.

Looks like a good start to a project to me.

 

Thanks '81 Explorer, for your suggestions and interest in this thread. I will probably shorten the center pockets, as I am hesitant to notch out the fenders, I'm afraid they might develop cracks if I do that. If they are rediculously short I might have to eliminate them, but I would like to keep them, of course.

Those weird diamond plate braces will have to go. They were welded on as part of a very well made but UGLY custom rear bumper added by the USFS. Easy enough to grind off with the cut-off wheel, but not something I wanted to do in the junkyard. I just zipped off the bottom weld so I wouldn't have to remove OR buy that rear bumper.

The bed is in rougher shape than I would have liked, and clearly it's going to take a bit of work to make it presentable, but I think it will be worth the effort.