Im sorry its so late for those who asked me, changing the outer skins are easy and you can do them at home with an air compressor and these tools. I know,ive done a lot of them on all makes. Normally id do both sides complete in an 8 hr shift but ive got more rods and screws in my as my old truck does,heres 3 hrs worth and that includs taking off the box so i could slide it back. Note how i cut around the skin to exspose the inner panels where the spot welds are, then using the flat bit in the air hammer i cut the spot welds then ground everything and hung the new panel. More pic's will be added tomorrow,sorry it's late.

 

WOW where did you find bed skins and how do you like the kicker bar traction set up?

Stay motivated, but pace youself, it does not have to be done over night.

 

PACE MYSELF???? LOL. Ive been gonna change them sense march.LOL. I bought them back in Jan. i can get more i have source's.lol. I made the trac bars in may i believe, i had an old set of 4 link bars i changed on a ProMod i worked on,it really makes a difference taking off on the roads,you dont feel axle wrap anymore it just shoots forward.

 

Whose skins are those? LMC? Goodmark? Homemade? (haha)

 

SHERMAN'S

 

OTHER SIDE IS DONE AND I STILL DONT HAVE 5HRS IN IT YET, YOU GUYS CAN DO THIS YOURSELF ITS EASY

 

Awesome. How different is it to do a Bronco? (Timewise? Toolwise?)

 

The structure is similar as is how it attaches. If you are cutting out a section as the OP did here, the procedure is identical.

If you're replacing the whole panel, i.e. with the wrap-around spot welded portions, there are two main differences.

1. The front corner wraps around the door jamb instead of the front of the bed, but in both cases the panel is spot welded (most people replace the spot welds with plug welds).
2. The attachment point to the B-pillar must be butt welded to the old metal, or you can go all the way up and tuck the flange and seam seal it.

 

Oops, I just took another look. The OP did do the entire panel, my mistake. You will have the above listed two differences if you do it that way. Otherwise you can cut out a section at the edges and butt weld the entire thing (a LOT more work by the way).

 

Same tools, same time frame, anybody can do this. One more thing that will help a beginner is to buy the panel and pull it out of the box and study the back side and your truck and you will see how easy it is,for those who do not have a welder you can screw them in place,have all your spot welds(new ones) drilled and ready, have some one else weld it all in place for you.

 

Thanks so much for doing this. It was very illuminating. Please include more info on sources such as why you chose one over the other.

 

im sorry i dont understand your ?. If you mean who's panel i bought i get my stuff threw Shermans here in Mich. because there close. NPD is not to far either and have good quality parts also.

 

Yes, that's the kind of info I was seeking. I found Shermans at this web address.
I have read/heard that the quality of some of these parts is better than others so was seeking info on who the good ones are.

 

Ive been buying from them for 20yrs, ive had pretty good luck, Also here NPD
https://www.shermanparts.com/ecat/base/index.php
National Part Depot

 

That is great info Bud. When I get back into my '79, I'm going to need bed sides so i will be getting some further instructions from you.