Bed Disasembly Q's
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 2
From: Wingo, Ky
Bed Disasembly Q's
Finally getting ready to figure out what I am going to do about the trashed bed on my 73 F100 Shortbed. My bed is perfect except for the passenger side that got hit last year. I found another bed that is basically trash but has a good passenger side panel.
I figured I could cut costs if I can get the beds apart myself then let the body shop put them back together. I need to remove the whole passenger side(outer panel and inner panel). Can I remove both at the same time or do I have to do it separate? How big of a job is this and what all do I need? Thanks.
I figured I could cut costs if I can get the beds apart myself then let the body shop put them back together. I need to remove the whole passenger side(outer panel and inner panel). Can I remove both at the same time or do I have to do it separate? How big of a job is this and what all do I need? Thanks.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
I have a similar questian. I noticed on my bed, the bed "wall" near the cab can wiggle up and down, like it is seperate from the bed...is it supposed to do that? Is it a bad idea to weld it so it does not move?
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
You'll have to seperate them individually, the bed side will be a lot easier than the inside panel. Drill out all the spot welds, sometimes its easier to see them if you hit them with a welding grinder first, then drill just thru the spot weld.
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 2
From: Wingo, Ky
If not, how many spot welds are holding on the outside panel? Its very hard to see them right now until I buff it off with something and what size spot weld cutter do I need? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for the help.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: South Central PA
I know your looking to save money, but if you accidentily cut something or bend something your not supposed too, it will cost more for the body shop to "clean up your mess" so to speek. If it were me hired to do the repair, i would want some of the inner sheetmetal still attached to the outside portion, so that Id have everything i needed to do the repair. You could just lop that whole side off the bed floor length ways like you said, and let them handle the job. Besides, that way if it gets screwed up, its on them. Not saying you dont know what your doing, Its just what id prefere if doing the job for you. Call the body shop and ask them hat they'ed prefere you do.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,219
Likes: 190
From: Colorado Springs
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 2
From: Wingo, Ky
About 1200 bucks for everything and thats including new panels. I haven't went to get a new quote since I found a donor bed.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 2
From: Wingo, Ky
The donor bed is now in position to where I can work on it. I got it off the ground about 3ft so I can get all around it and under it. After getting it up higher I realized the structure of the bed is in pretty bad shape. Nothing is good except the bedsides. So I may just lop them off right at the floor seam. Then take the passenger side of the bed to the body shop and let them tear apart my good bed and transfer it over.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
you can drill all the way thru the spot welds on the junk bed, just use a bit thats slightly bigger than the welds, welds are around the inner wheel well lip, along the inside bed lip, around the front of the panel and a few on the back lower corner and in the tail light hole. it would be easier if you left the bed in tact and just removed the side that way the bed is stable while your drilling and prying, you can have that bed side off in under 2 hours.
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 2
From: Wingo, Ky
I just tried using some regular drill bits at the bottom where the panel meets the floor that I picked up from Tractor supply. It was a no go, they didn't want to cut the weld at all.
There are places where I don't want to drill through the inner bed panel b/c it has to be swapped to the good bed as well.
There are places where I don't want to drill through the inner bed panel b/c it has to be swapped to the good bed as well.
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 2
From: Wingo, Ky
I worked on the donor bed some today. I removed all the spot welds except for the ones down the back. What is the best way to remove them? Do I have to drill through the outside of the outer panel? I don't see any other way to get to them. The spot welds are on the part I have grinded down to bare metal in the pic.
The ones that are on the inside of the taillight housing I got them out. The only way I knew to do it was drill from the outside in. Is there a better way? Thanks for any help.
The ones that are on the inside of the taillight housing I got them out. The only way I knew to do it was drill from the outside in. Is there a better way? Thanks for any help.
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 2
From: Wingo, Ky
Anybody have any ideas before I start drilling through the panel around the taillight? By the time I drill through all the welds there won't be much of nothin left of that piece if there is no oher way to do it. Looks like there is at least 10 spot welds and no way to do it from the other side not enough room to get drill and cutter in there.