My plans to go hunting this weekend fell through so I decided to spend my time workign on truck stuff.

Last weekend I made great progress in cutting and mocking up the parts for the rear of my bed. I spent a bit of time over the week fabbing some small detail parts and painting inside of the stake pockets, etc.

I clamped everything into place this afternoon and paced around the garage a few times pondering and worrying about if I was ready to actually try and tie it all together. I got it all set up and fired up the welder and started tacking the parts in place. To be able to do all the the welding I needed to tack it all together and then remove the stake pockets and rear crossmember from the truck. It all went together nicely!! I was able to get it all welded out.

Tomorrow I will do a bit of grinding to purty this thing up a bit and then I should be able to weld it to the truck. I should be able to post some pics either tomorrow or monday....

Frosty adult beverages all around!!!!!

Bobby

 

Well done!

 

I was rained out so far and Sunday doesnt look any better.

 

Sounds like you made some progress good job keep up the good work cant wait to see some pics

 

The hand-wringing is what takes the most time, not the doing.... Once you get past that, it's hard to stop! Good job! Pics??

 

My thoughts exactly, once I make the first cut or strike the first arc, I'm on the home stretch and running hard. It's just talking myself into it that takes time. Keep up the good work Bobby.
Jeff

 

Alright can't wait to see the pics i've been keepin up with it so far.Ive got the same problem with mine. Pics pics

 

Gentlemen, and ladies

Thanks for the kind words. Great news! The part is on the truck and completely welded in place!! Woohooo!!! Things went alot faster today as I did all the hand-wringin' yesterday.

I could sure save alot of time grinding if my welding was better. To attach the stake pockets to the truck I drilled the flanges about every inch and a half (a bit overkill) and plug welded the holes.

I still need to smooth up the plug welds but it is looking great and its super strong, me bedsides no longer flex at all.

I took lots of pics. I'll try and get them uploaded either tonight or tomorrow. Now I need to build a tailgate.....

Thanks again
Bobby

 

I couldn't wait! I'm pretty pumped up about how it all turned out!

I uploaded some pics of the finished stake pocket rear sill assy to my gallery "bed stuff"
Here is the link to the gallery;

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=25204

Bobby

 

Bobby,

In the final picture it looks likes the left side is about a 1/4" lower than the right side.














- Just kidding. I really admire your willingness to tackle a job and the creativity you will use to get it done Bobby.

 

plug welds, grinding, yeah right. Just took a look, thats as professional a job as I can imagine. I looked over your work and couldn't see anything that resembled the mess I make. It passes the test as far as I can tell. really nice work bobby, keep it up. oh, by the way I've got a 52 that needs a ton of work, when can you start? later tony

 

Wow! The shame of it is, it looks too perfect! People will never suspect the amount of work you put into that, it looks store-bought! So what's next???

 

Pretty slick if you ask me.

 

look's good bobby,to bad we are so far away from each other.i have a near perfect tail gate i took off my 49.keep up the good work.look's like we both had a good productive week end.tracy

 

Tracy,
You have a good tailgate?? I might be interested, I'll send you a pm about it.

Just for a frame of reference, here is what I started out with. The PO had welded some lovely tailight brackets to the original stake pockets


and here is where I'm at now


Thanks everyone. Without the encouragment and the kick in the pants from the poeple on this site I'd probably still be in the "hand wringing" mode and never get anything done

Bobby