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Bed building questions.

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Old Nov 29, 2014 | 04:07 PM
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Bed building questions.

Have a 78' short bed with good bed sides but the floor is trash. Bulk head is pretty good, but the passenger side of the bed is loose. Today I found a 94' short bed bed that I can get for $75. The inside of the bed is perfect. It literally still had most of the paint on the bed floor.

I have read that this is the same bed floor as what is in my 78'. Is this true? Would I be better served using the 94' bed as a parts donor, or would I do better to remove the bedsides from the 78' and 94' and just use the 78' sides on the 94' box? Or is it better to cut the center for the floor out and use it in my 78' bed? Need help guys, steer me in the right direction.
 
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Old Nov 29, 2014 | 07:01 PM
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Yes I believe you can use the 78 sides on the 94 inner and bottom parts. You will need a spot weld cutting drill bit to make is go easier, but there is still a ton of welds to cut.
 
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Old Nov 29, 2014 | 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by 77&79F250
Yes I believe you can use the 78 sides on the 94 inner and bottom parts. You will need a spot weld cutting drill bit to make is go easier, but there is still a ton of welds to cut.
Think it would be better then just replacing the bed floor?
 
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Old Nov 29, 2014 | 07:59 PM
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I think it would be more sturdy a foundation to hang those 78 sides on....
 
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Old Nov 29, 2014 | 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by 77&79F250
I think it would be more sturdy a foundation to hang those 78 sides on....
Appreciate the input... Time to learn to weld!
 
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Old Nov 29, 2014 | 08:50 PM
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Look into "body panel adhesive", it might be an alternate route to welding?
 
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Old Nov 29, 2014 | 09:11 PM
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Originally Posted by 77&79F250
Look into "body panel adhesive", it might be an alternate route to welding?
Could be the first dent owner with a "Snap Tight" truck bed!
 
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Old Nov 30, 2014 | 04:22 PM
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Picked up the donor bed today.
 
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Old Nov 30, 2014 | 04:49 PM
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Pics of the donor...







 
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Old May 11, 2016 | 08:46 AM
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How did the bed turn out? I have a 78 that I'm going to try this with soon.
 
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Old May 11, 2016 | 08:50 AM
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Haven't put em together yet. The project is ongoing, but the bed is getting close to being the next item I tackle.
 
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Old May 11, 2016 | 09:09 AM
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I have an 80s style on my 78 and plan to do the same on re skinning. My thought was to maybe use rivets where you drill the spot welds out...just one idea. But if you plan to us the dent side tailgate "i believe" you have to mod the rear pillars or graph in the ones from your original bed.
 
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Old May 11, 2016 | 09:24 AM
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I'm using a body adhesive for mine. Already picked the stuff up. Basically all I am waiting on is to take it apart and put it back together.
 
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Old May 11, 2016 | 11:19 AM
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Your going to have to change the rear tailgate latching posts to the 73-79 style as well. Their are a ton of spot welds to cut in order to remove the bed sides. The 78 sides are the ones you need to be surgical with, but the 90's bed just take a saws all and remove the bulk and then grind the rivets and use a chisel to remove the remaining metal. Much quicker.
 
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Old May 11, 2016 | 12:30 PM
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pauli3wood is building a truly amazing truck right now. I highly recommend reading the whole thread but here is where he started with his bed work on post #145


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-build-10.html


One of my top three favorite threads on FTE.
 
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