What is the preferred method for removing the bed? I see 6 hold down bolts that go through the wood and two at the rear that don't go through the wood. Is that all? Is there an easy way to remove these? They are pretty rusted.

 

Mine had 6 or 8 bolts, steel plate bed bottom. Some came loose with PB Blaster, but some I had to use a cutoff wheel on. I am impressed with your build thread, you do nice work.

 

I agree with ffb1951 . . . Most of Mine came off with PB Blaster and elbow grease. I only had to resort to cut off a couple. I had lots of rust though.

 

Is this a 2 person job. Didn't look two closely but I was having a hard time imagining how to losen the bolts without someone on top nod someone under the truck.

 

I have some combo wrenches (socket on one end and open end on the other) that I got many years ago. Craftsman but I don't think that they make them anymore. I used the socket end on the bolt head and turned the bolt until the loose end of the wrench wedged against the box side. I suppose that you could use a regular, short socket. 6 point would probably hold best.

Hope this helps.

 

Vice Grips! Spin until they wedge against the frame.

 

So... No one bothered to mention the 5/16" square drive required for the top of the bolts. Where do you come across one of those?

 

Don't forget the bolts at the bottoms of the fenders to the running boards, unless the fenders are already off. 2 really strong guys can lift a bed, but it's no fun and you can stretch the fenders if you're not careful. More is better.

 

Better than two strong men.

 

I would really love to have one of those. That shop is really nice, too.

 

For the 5/16" square drive, I have seen people take a 3/8" socket extension and grind it down to fit.

Sure makes me happy that one of the PO's had disassembled my truck. Rusted bolts are no fun at all.

 

I used a lock cutter I rented from Home Depot to snap the rusted bolts off - took all of 5 minutes.....

 

I used a short piece of 5/16" key stock and a 5/16" 8 point socket.

 

I ended up doing the same... even hardened the key stock...

no luck, ended up cutting the bolt heads off with an angle grinder. Took about an hour.

the bed was surprisingly light. Jackie and I lifted it off and carried it to the back yard no problem.

Ta da... next up, pull the front and rear axle.