Bed Bolts
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 189
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From: So California
Bed Bolts
Can anyone tell me what size and pitch the bolts are that hold down the center bed sills. These are the bolts (4) that are recessed into the bed wood and go through the center bed sills and extend through the frame.
Thanks in advance.
Scott
Thanks in advance.
Scott
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
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From: Brentwood, TN
Midfifty catalog pg 127. I don't pay attention to the size of the bolts since I never use them...just weld bolts to the bed crossmembers in the four positions and eliminate the "through the wood" feature. Works best with new wood flooring but old holes can be filled too.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 189
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From: So California
Old F1
The truck is a 56 F100
CharlieLed
That is kind of what I am trying to do. I am boxing my frame and want to weld the nut to the inside of the frame before I weld the boxing plates.
Thanks for any help.
Scott
The truck is a 56 F100
CharlieLed
That is kind of what I am trying to do. I am boxing my frame and want to weld the nut to the inside of the frame before I weld the boxing plates.
Thanks for any help.
Scott
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 654
From: Brentwood, TN
I think that we are coming from two different directions...my goal is to eliminate a (actually 4) bolt from coming down through the wood into the frame. You appear to be compensating for closing off the access within the frame to the end of the bolt. I am not a fan of frame boxing so I will leave my comments at that.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,994
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From: Morgan Hill, CA
I'll have to take a look tonight, but I put the bed on my 52 a few days ago. I think there are 6 bolts that are flush-head style bolts with dished washers that go through the wood, through the bed cross members, through the rubber pad, and to the frame. I'm pretty sure that they were 3/6 coarse thread. There were two more at the back that bolt directly from some angle brackets to the frame (so...not through the wood). Those two were 7/16 coarse thread standard hex head grade 5 bolts with nuts and lock washers.
Dan
Dan
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Brentwood, TN
You are correct Dan (I am assuming that the 52 is the same as the 53-56 here) but the forward pair of bolts pass through the bed strips and not the wood. The other 4 that do pass through the bed wood attach through the center pair of cross supports.
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Senior User
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From: So California
CharlieLed
I would like to eliminate the 4 bolts that go through the wood bed to connect the 2 center bed sill plates. My thought is to bolt the sill plates to the frame and then build the bed in place on the truck. Do you see any flaws in this plan?
Thanks
Scott
I would like to eliminate the 4 bolts that go through the wood bed to connect the 2 center bed sill plates. My thought is to bolt the sill plates to the frame and then build the bed in place on the truck. Do you see any flaws in this plan?
Thanks
Scott
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
BTW, I just finished installing the bed wood on my 51. I used 1/4"Ø bolts. The middle 4 were 3 inches long and the front 2 were 2 inches. On mine, the middle 4 ran through the cross members and the front 2 were connected to the bracket; hence the shorter length. I know that the carriage bolts are 5/16"Ø, but I couldn't find any countersunk 5/16"Ø screw and the countersunk finishing washers at the local hardware store. The largest that they had was 1/4".
BTW, tolerance of a 50 year old truck bed alignment is not exact. You will need some wiggle room on the holes to line things up.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Moore (or less), OK.
If I am not mistaken the wood bolts to the supports you speak of as well as through them to the frame. The bolts go through the rub strips and connect to the crossmember supports. The bolts in between them hold the wood together to the rub strips with large washers underneath.
Unless I am misunderstanding your question.
Unless I am misunderstanding your question.