So I put all of the body back on the chassis last weekend after getting the frame alignment checked out and started on making the Smooth running boards fit. (I had a slight scare when I went to get them out of the box and found a family of mice in there, but that's another story)

Because I am making the rear bed a tipper (Dump truck) I need to have the running boards effectively separate from the bed, so to do this I am refabricating the bottoms of the Fenders and leaving the running boards where they are so they go under the fenders.

I fitted the running boards so that they align with the bottom straight edge of the bed that they meet up to, however when I look at the truck from the side I cant help thinking that they look wrong. Like they are going uphill towards the rear. If I try to get them straight I get a big gap between the running boards and the Bed. Does this side profile look wrong to anyone else, am I being too picky? There are a couple of shots with the suspension in different positions, first one with the rear lower than the front that seems to show what I mean more.

Thanks
Lee

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I personally feel the reason your being so critical is because other lines on the truck are coming into play and enhancing that uphill ridge. The rear fender tapers down at the rear portion along the bed line and the most subtle up hill taper along the running board starts looking more drastic than it really is because of that.

I wouldn't say your being too critical. I do think a small touch of rake is mandated in these trucks to keep the fenders lips at the same height. Otherwise when aired out like your first picture, the back looks like it's sagging because of the sheer girth at the front of the truck. It actually just keeps things looking level even though they are not.

 

I would check them both with an angle finder. It looks to me that you need to lift the rear of the bed to match angles? If so you should be able to correct with spacers between the bed and frame.

Does your bed rail have the same angle as the window sill in the door? That is what I tried to match. Then the running boards to both.

 

Thanks Emay,

I think its mostly that I had envisioned the running boards being parallel to the floor with the truck level and seeing the rake as it is it was not what I was expecting. Although I am sort of coming round to it the more I look at it.

Here is where I may be in a bit of a bind. As I mentioned the Bed is actually able to Tip, when I made it I am pretty sure I measured as it was originally and put it at the same height. If not there is a welded frame with 3/4" bolts going through it to provide the hinge that I would need to modify for it to go up. Frame is welded into the bed

I will definitely check the angles though as you say as its hard to see in the photos, especially with the wide angle lens on the phone.

Thanks
Lee

 

Sorry Lee, but I had to enhance your image with Photoshop so my eyes could see what you mean a little clearer. It does look like your RBs are running up in the back. I assume that you used the original frame mounting brackets? If so I would think that the RBs are parallel to the frame? That would mean that your cab is too low in the rear?

I would ignore your RBs vertical relationship to your bed as it moves anyhow and concentrate on the frame and body. That would mean that in relationship to the ground your RB slope will be controlled by your vehicles rake.

I do like your rear bed tipper idea. How did you accomplish that? Did you buy a kit or do it yourself? Can you post any pictures of how you did it?

Your other alternative is to use the short RBs from cab-chassis trucks like flatbeds. My F2 came with them (see picture). This eliminates any relationship (horizontal or vertical) to your bed.

 

Thanks Pete, Its not the vertical relationship I am concerned about, its the horizontal. I have updated the original photo with a red line of the area I am talking about, just click the picture in the post above and you will see what I mean. If the running board isn't exactly parallel to the bed this ends up with a gap here. I think it is probably that my original bodywork was beat up to the point of dimensions I took from it were not what they should have been. Thus the rear of the bed is probably slightly low.

Just Click the link in my Signature, there is a whole section on my website detailing the modifications I made.

Thanks
Lee