anyone know if this bolt gets in the way of mounting the wood? does the wood have to be drilled out for the bolt head to fit? am i mounting it incorrectly?

 

I don't have a 55 but I think that its similar to my 64 bolt goes through the deck at the top with a big washer

[URL=http://s1257.photobucket.com/user/schoo11/media/bedfinished001_zpsb6f2d3eb.jpg.html][/URL
I used a small hole saw to route the hole so the washer is near flush to the deck
they show it better in classic haulers cat page 88

 

well I better take that back here's one posted to another thread
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...232fb4182f.jpg
AbBoy posted to lets see your truck

 

Remove the tube by drilling out the spot welds and bolt the brace down, bolt all all the other cross braces from underneath to hide the bolts. Unless your wanting originality.

Here's mine

 

What I do is trim that crossmember tube down about 3/8 ths of an inch to allow the bolt to drop down so that the head is flush. Weld the bolt in place so that you can install the washer/nut from the underside without needing to get a wrench on the head of the bolt.

 

Or like this .

 

I want mine to look exactly like yours!! do you have any more pics of your bed install or removing the tube?

 

charlieled i like that idea also. thanks guys. any ideas on drilling the holes on the front header panel? and i hear that its easier to assemble the bed off the truck, also the wood, then install on truck...

 

please delete

 

For sure. It is easier to install the boards and the strips and all 67 or so bolts off the truck. There are too many obstructions to try to do it on the truck. I sat mine on saw horses, then my son and I lifted it on the frame when done

 

No pictures removing the tubes, I drilled thru the spot welds (4) on each tube and popped them loose.

 

My front cross member didn't come with the brackets. But as posted either remove them, or cut them down till the bolt head is below the level of the floor boards. They do make bed strips that have the extra hole in them for the bolts. Mid Fifty has them in their catalog.

 

It is for a mounting bolt that goes all the way through to the deck. The stock metal skid strips at these locations have an extra hole for the bolts. If you have another way to attach the bed to the frame, them go ahead and hack it off. If not, then keep it.