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I went up to see the progress on Dad's truck today and learned I needed to deliver the bed bolts. So, I went home and discovered I had a mix of them and wasn't sure what was needed. A lot of searching in the catalog found this:
Hmmm. That's pretty small, so here's a close-up of the 80-84 section:
Ok, now I have a set of numbers, what size are they? Turns out I couldn't find those numbers in the master parts catalog (maybe ND can), so I turned to Ford's Standard and Utility Parts Catalog. Bingo! However, as you can see below, they show them as metric bolts and mine are 1/2-13's. So, I entered the inch equivalent of those metric numbers and, sure enough, that's exactly what I have. I've recorded the inch #'s, in blue, for posterity.
And, here's what they look like - before powder coating. And, you might notice that one of them is a bit wasp-waisted. I've repaired it and will show that, as well as the powder-coated bolts in Dad's Truck Build.
I've done some looking and there are some sources for the bolts. However, you are likely to find some of them with a S437 finish instead of the S40 finish shown in the catalog. Here's the difference, from the Standard and Utility Parts Catalog:
S40: Zinc plate
S437: ELECTROLYTIC ZINC PLATE, TRIVALENT CHROMATE, LEACHED AND SEALED, INTEGRAL TORQUE CONTROL LUBRICANT: This finish is an electrolytic plating of zinc, followed by a trivalent chromate conversion, leached to a silver-white color in a sealer.
bolt for $25.63. http://www.tascaparts.com/oe-ford/n803020s437 has it for $3.94, although it is an S437. And http://oemfordparts.jackyjones.com/oe-ford/n803020s437 has them for $4.80.
has the N803022 for $26.01. http://www.tascaparts.com/oe-ford/n803022s40 has them for $15.40, but it is an S40 so won't match the S437 exactly. And http://www.fordparts2u.com/oe-ford/n803022s40 has them for $19.67.
As for the N803023, Tasca has it for $20.07, and Ford Parts 2U has it for $26.18.
So, for about $80 plus shipping you could have 6 of the 8 bolts new. However, with no hits for the elusive N803021 then you are kinda stuck.
I guess you remember the previous threads and the several different ways around this? No way am I going to pay $80 for the bed bolts.
Double check your tubing on the bed where the bolts go through. If the tubing is a little bit bent or collapsed, the factory bolt will tighten down without clamping the bed tight to the frame.
My bed bolts are 7/16-14 just like all Ford bell housings.
But my '87 truck only uses 6 bolts in the bed, four oval and two square under the head.
Interesting. The first drawing does show that in '85 Ford went to 6 bolts - the N803020, 22, and 23. In other words, they did away with the 21, which might explain why no one has them.
However, they show those bolts as being the same ones as for the 80 - 84 beds, and all the bolts I have are 1/2-13. And yet the # cross references to the metric bolts shown above. The plot thickens!
EDIT: Actually, what I have in "N803020" is a reference, not the part #. If I could find the proper place in the master parts catalog I'll bet it shows the 80 - 84's use 1/2-13's and the 85's and later use 7/16-14. And then at some point they became metric.
I'm pretty sure the bolts have been superceded to metric in the supply chain.
My truck being '87 was a transition year for the new body style (new assembly line)
I don't know why they are the pitch they are, but I have checked them against both tap and die when I pulled the bed last week to change both senders.
One was rotten like yours.
I used a 1/2 -13 x 3 stainless carriage bolt and flange nut, then filed the bed floor until it fit.
Still WAY less expensive than OEM.
Holy crap, Jim's alive. Haven't seen you on here in quite a long time.
The front right bed bolt on mine isn't fully tightened down. And that bed has never been off by the looks of the bolts and nuts. However the bolt just spins in the bed hole, looks like it would be the bolt with the round shoulder? Also seems the factory cross threaded that nut on. It was a Friday truck after all.
Gary, here is my invoice with the part #'s from 2006. I hope this helps. Pat
Originally Posted by Gary Lewis
Interesting. The first drawing does show that in '85 Ford went to 6 bolts - the N803020, 22, and 23. In other words, they did away with the 21, which might explain why no one has them.
However, they show those bolts as being the same ones as for the 80 - 84 beds, and all the bolts I have are 1/2-13. And yet the # cross references to the metric bolts shown above. The plot thickens!
EDIT: Actually, what I have in "N803020" is a reference, not the part #. If I could find the proper place in the master parts catalog I'll bet it shows the 80 - 84's use 1/2-13's and the 85's and later use 7/16-14. And then at some point they became metric.
Pat - Thanks! That may well help those wanting to do this in future. But, a couple of questions:
Metric: Did you check to see what size the bolts were? 1/2-13? 7/16-14? M12?
Coating: I notice that the nuts were S437 and the others were S40. Could you tell the difference? I ask because I wonder if it would work to mix and match finishes on the bolts. Or, if there was enough difference to suggest they should all be the same.
Pat - Thanks! That may well help those wanting to do this in future. But, a couple of questions:
Metric: Did you check to see what size the bolts were? 1/2-13? 7/16-14? M12?
Coating: I notice that the nuts were S437 and the others were S40. Could you tell the difference? I ask because I wonder if it would work to mix and match finishes on the bolts. Or, if there was enough difference to suggest they should all be the same.
1. No, I did not but I have pieces of the old ones. I can measure them, along with the new ones as soon as it stops raining ( truck is in a puddle.)
2. This is going from memory in 2007. I think the nuts were shiny like chrome compared to the bolts. I can take pictures of them once the rain stops. The nuts will be weathered. But just in case their still shiny.
I know this is long dead but damn those bolts are expensive and I need 3 The 2 long ones next to the cab and the one that has a clip on the drivers side just behind the wheel well. Funny thing is I put an 86 bed on an 80 truck and the ones that are supposed to be hard to find are extra as they don't have a home on my truck unless modify the bed
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