Hello,
I have a 1979 F150 with an 8ft bed, the bed floor has some rust, and I was going to purchase new bed panels that are 96" x 34", and replace the entire floor, but these parts have "Truck Freight" charges, and by the time you add up the cost, well I could find another full bed for that price.


So what I wonder is, can I cut out the bed floor, and replace it with an older looking wood floor, and has anybody ever done this, and what all would be involved, it seems that with the steel floor being a corrugated design, that I have some thickness to play with, and I don't want to have to replace the supports for the side panels to match up


Thanks for your help

 

Not exactly the same but similar, I did this conversion to a 60's vw double cab so in theory the work is about the same.

On your bed the cross beams are welded to the floor, on a wood bed they are bolted to the metal stripps that go between the wood planks. So you'll have to drill out ever spot weld in the floor of the bed or cut it all out and build your own cross beams.

You'll need a front lip welded to the front bed panel to support the fwd end of the wood and one on the back of the bed for the same reason.

I don't think the side will line up height wise, so you'll probably need side lips welded on to to hold up the outside two boards and around the wheel well opening.

wood wise... you are looking at $300 or more if you buy a wood bed kit but they you still have to buy the metal strips that go between the wood.

I would suggest copying the bed system of a 60's c10. They were the last trucks to be full beds with wood.

This would make for a cool one off if you can build it.

 

I like and have used an all wood flat bed. Mixing wood and sheetmetal would be hard to get right I think if it wasn't designed for it. Also possibly expensive.

One option for your metal would be the floor from a later model from the JY. I understand they can interchange up through the 90's. There have been several posts on this.

Another option is to find an autobody store that is a sheetmetal dealer. They will have regular truck runs that can cut down on shipping.

Good luck!