Changing a Bed
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Easter Island
depending on how hard the bolts are to get out is gonna be the issue...
if you get a couple of friends to help you with the lifting and use a torch to remove the bolts from the underside you could do the whole job in a couple hours... if you have to fight with the bolts to get them free and they turn into a total PITA than you will be there for atleast an afternoon.... and definately use a 1/2 in drive with a swivel for removing those bolts make sure you use a 6pt socket as a 12 point usually rounds the heads right off those bolts..... as I said you dont have to remove the tanks .. try to remove the bolts first and if all isnt going well and you have to pull the tank at that point you might as well go and borrow a decent torch set to cut the bolts from the underside... I dont know how good you are with a torch but if you have a fair amount of experience using one, you can do it with the tanks in the truck but be VERY VERY carefull.....
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From: Delta Jct Alaska
depending on how hard the bolts are to get out is gonna be the issue...
if you get a couple of friends to help you with the lifting and use a torch to remove the bolts from the underside you could do the whole job in a couple hours... if you have to fight with the bolts to get them free and they turn into a total PITA than you will be there for atleast an afternoon.... and definately use a 1/2 in drive with a swivel for removing those bolts make sure you use a 6pt socket as a 12 point usually rounds the heads right off those bolts..... as I said you dont have to remove the tanks .. try to remove the bolts first and if all isnt going well and you have to pull the tank at that point you might as well go and borrow a decent torch set to cut the bolts from the underside... I dont know how good you are with a torch but if you have a fair amount of experience using one, you can do it with the tanks in the truck but be VERY VERY carefull.....
if you get a couple of friends to help you with the lifting and use a torch to remove the bolts from the underside you could do the whole job in a couple hours... if you have to fight with the bolts to get them free and they turn into a total PITA than you will be there for atleast an afternoon.... and definately use a 1/2 in drive with a swivel for removing those bolts make sure you use a 6pt socket as a 12 point usually rounds the heads right off those bolts..... as I said you dont have to remove the tanks .. try to remove the bolts first and if all isnt going well and you have to pull the tank at that point you might as well go and borrow a decent torch set to cut the bolts from the underside... I dont know how good you are with a torch but if you have a fair amount of experience using one, you can do it with the tanks in the truck but be VERY VERY carefull.....
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 173
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From: British Columbia, Canada
I'd take a 3/4" drive flex-bar as sometimes you can just snap those bolts in two. Depending on if u can hold the top side of the bolt tight or not (vise-grips?). Two people is essential for this. Even a little propane torch to heat up the bolts, if that doesn't help then try heating and rapid cooling with water sometimes will help crack those stubborn bolts.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 659
Likes: 53
easiest thing to do is use a big disc grinder and grind the heads off. You'll spend hours trying to use a rachet on rusted bolts. No need to drop the tanks and crawl on the ground, just gring the heads and your goog to go
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Easter Island
it would be nice if it were that easy ,unfortunately you cant do that as the factory installed bolts have an oversized shank on them which is larger than the hole at the bottom of the crossmember under the bed...
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From: Delta Jct Alaska
What If I ground Them right to the frame, then used a big punch, or drilled them out?
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From: Easter Island
I sure wish you were closer I would just give you a hand doing it as I would just torch the bolts at the bottom......
you can't grind them to the frame as you would have a football sized hole in the floor of the bed at each bolt hole , the crossmembers that they go through are basically a C channel thats about 2" wide and 4" deep ...
drilling them would be about as effective as trying to chew them off with your teeth so I wouldnt recommend that....
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From: Delta Jct Alaska
try unbolting it first and use lots of "PB Blaster" penetrating oil on the threads and see what happens,
I sure wish you were closer I would just give you a hand doing it as I would just torch the bolts at the bottom......
you can't grind them to the frame as you would have a football sized hole in the floor of the bed at each bolt hole , the crossmembers that they go through are basically a C channel thats about 2" wide and 4" deep ...
drilling them would be about as effective as trying to chew them off with your teeth so I wouldnt recommend that....
I sure wish you were closer I would just give you a hand doing it as I would just torch the bolts at the bottom......
you can't grind them to the frame as you would have a football sized hole in the floor of the bed at each bolt hole , the crossmembers that they go through are basically a C channel thats about 2" wide and 4" deep ...
drilling them would be about as effective as trying to chew them off with your teeth so I wouldnt recommend that....
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 297
Likes: 5
From: Northwestern Ontario
You could take the bolts out of your truck at home....and only losely put two back in, prior to driving to where your other bed its. That way you'll know exactly what tools you need, and be that much ahead of the game. You may be surprised how easily they come out.
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Gordon
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Gordon
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Easter Island
Ok so today I decided to remove a bed off a future 94 Ford Lightning project as I am cleaning up the yard a bit before the snow starts and decided to get it over with while I had your project in mind and figured it would be easiest to explain to you with it fresh in my memory, to take the JUNK bed off your truck, the most efficient way is gonna be to cut or torch the bed floor around the head of the carriage bolt on the top so you can get a good bite on the head of it with a good pair of vicegrips so you can use a 1/2 drive ratchet with a 6pt socket to remove the nut from underneath fairly easy once the vicegrips wedge themselves up against the side of bed at each of the bolt holes you will be in business ... on the good bed it is gonna be easiest to torch all of bolts from underneath the truck, its fairly easy except for the left front as it sits over the front tank , that is the one bolt that is gonna be your problem child unless you remove the tank or unless you get lucky and the nut spins for you , or you are gonna have to figure a way to get a pair of visegrips to bite onto that very shallow carriage bolt head ...... Good luck and keep us posted ....
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2007
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tip- take a 2'-4' pc of pipe that fits over your ratchet handle for leverage.
PB blaster works good so does Kroil to loosen up rusty bolts.
if you dont have access to a sawzall, a hacksaw or hacksaw blade w/ tape wrapped around one end for a handle will do.
what about a snow shovel??? up in the Delta should be getting a little snow by now eh? just jokin, good luck, take your time. You'll kick its a**! you can do it!
PB blaster works good so does Kroil to loosen up rusty bolts.
if you dont have access to a sawzall, a hacksaw or hacksaw blade w/ tape wrapped around one end for a handle will do.
what about a snow shovel??? up in the Delta should be getting a little snow by now eh? just jokin, good luck, take your time. You'll kick its a**! you can do it!