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Wish I had here, the bed floor that I cut out of my bed, to accommodate the winch gantry sub frame... but it is leaning up against my garage wall down in Baja. You can have it, but you'd have to come and get it... Better to find one in NE. amigo . I have no intentions of ever using it, so there it sits... and I expect for a long while, as not much is ever hauled North out of Baja, back to the USA.
rusted floor along the bed/cab wall<br/>
lifting the bed after cutting with plasma torch
cut line for plasma torch
Winch, gantry, & sub frame on top of chassis.
Wife cleaning up in the background... as always..
Last edited by bajafishnut; 05-30-2017 at 01:14 PM.
Reason: to give credit to my wife..
Basically, the entire floor, frame width, is in one piece with cross supports. No intention of hacking into your thread, but just to confirm that bed mods are all adjustable, just like most steel... so Go for it amigo, cut & weld in the new...
Plant is....idle. Basically, we're just a nuclear fuel storage facility now! I'm hoping I don't find too many more of those spots after sandblasting. I really wish I had somewhere to have this thing dipped, I'd feel better knowing it had all the rust cleaned out. But, I'm not driving to Illinois to get that done!
So now I'm having second thoughts. I was awake at 3 am this morning, thinking about that box. I think I need to take another look at pulling those box sides. I just don't think I can get the rust and crap cleaned out of it, and get everything coated and sealed up without pulling the sides. I think it will drive me nuts if I don't do it. So, I'm going to take another look at that box tonight, and see what it will take.
Seeing the rest of your build, that would probably be best as you'd know everything is right inside the bed. I take it no progress on finding another dipper with a bigger tank?
Nope, not anywhere close, anyway. Closest one is in Illinois, a little farther than I want to go, so, just another reason to get it down as far as I can.
I feel your pain Pat. You do what you have to do. Even if you found a bigger dipper it will be a project getting everything sealed and coated. Wish I was closer I would bring over my magic hat and help. Keep up the good work.
I'd consider pouring phosphoric acid into the cracks, as it converts rust to ferric oxide, from ferrous oxide, and ferric will not rust any more... Several marine applications would work, and I think that Eastman makes a rust converter too. It will turn the rusted area black in color, and stops the surface rust.. allowing you to paint right over it... Good luck on whatever you decide amigo,
Brought the bed home this weekend. Got all the trim stuff off, and hit it with the power washer. After careful contemplation, I've made a change of plans. Originally, I was going to pull the box sides, and then get it sandblasted. But, this thing is in such nice shape, and you cannot believe how many spot welds hold those box sides on! So, I'm going to do one last check, and see if there is a dipper within driving distance that can do this box (the guy I go to locally doesn't have big enough tanks). If not, I'll go with sandblasting.
Okay, change of plans again. I just don't think I can move forward without pulling the box sides off, I think it will drive me nuts, knowing I won't be able to get every speck of rust out, or get everything sealed up. It actually kept me awake the other night! So, after a second look, I've decided to pull them. And, actually, it won't be as bad as I originally thought. My biggest concern was the seam along the back, I knew it was going to be tough to get to the spot welds. In fact, it's almost impossible. The box side actually wraps around an internal support, so, those spot welds are not accessible. But, since I'm planning on welding this seam shut anyway, I'm going to just (very carefully) cut the box side off at this seam, and weld it back on later.
Last edited by 67nukeford; 06-01-2017 at 07:54 AM.
So, here is a shot of the spot welds I'll have to deal with. Front ones will be easy. I've ordered a right angle drill, to deal with the ones inside of the box, that hold the top of the side on. Shouldn't be too awful.
Of course, there is ALWAYS something hidden. This is the rear pass. side seam. Filled with bondo. So, I'll have to get this straightened out. Its about a 1/4 inch thick. Super.
05-30-2017, 01:12 PM
