Just a thought on your bed floor. I was impressed when I saw on this site a rebuild
"Belle" 1952 F-1 build thread. This is an impressive build and they show very good taste. They used a Behr transparent stain color, Spruce. This is a deck stain and is a very good product. The color is good for a meadow green paint job. The stain may look good longer than paint and not show scuffs as bad as paint. You get to see the wood grain too. Upon seeing this on his build thread, when I get to the bed on Austin's truck I am going to buy a small sample size to check it out first hand. As for your project, work safely and best wishes.

 

I say paint 'em if that's what you want.........I did the shiny varnish thing on mine, pretty, but useless if you want to haul anything.
Looking forward to your rebuild!

 

It was in the 60's today in Central PA. I got a lot of work done on my bed and bench seat.

Bed Before:


Bed after the boards and cross members were removed:


Then I went to the body shop to deliver new door latches. Here are some pics of Old Betsy:









He is making progress!

 

While I was at the body shop I took the seat out and brought it home. I tore off the old vinyl cover which was in pretty good shape. I had that put on in June 1977 by Gibble Auto-Upholstery in Manheim, PA.

Here is the seat before:









You know how guys have found all sorts of interesting things when they tear apart their seats? Well since I have owned this truck since 1977 I knew I would not find any neat surprises. Well I was surprised when I removed the vinyl. Look who made it.



My last name is Stauffer. And I have been sitting on my own name for nearly 40 years! No relation though. Look at this sign I have hanging in my garage:

And down to the bare springs:



Next step is to the sand blaster!

 

What is the odds of that! Looks like you are making progress. Are you going with an aftermarket cover?

 

No I bought NOS original stock woven vinyl in the herringbone pattern which was used in 1954 with red vinyl for the sides.

 

The seat springs look pretty tired.

 

The springs on the passenger side looks like a wide and curvy bum size depression and the drivers side look more like skinny or more narrow bum depression.

 

The passenger side is where my girlfriends sat!

Actually the passenger side is in good shape. The drivers side has several broken Zig zag springs that I knew about,but I found out the steel stock in the front edge is broken and that may have put more pressure on the other springs causing them to break.

 

I am following your thread. Very interesting as I "intend" to start on my 1954 F100 this year. It has been sitting for about 20 years.
Elmo

 

Thanks, Elmo.

I just got my seat and seat brackets and tracks from the sandblaster nicely primed. No pics since it is raining cats and dogs here. I bought 3 feet of new Zig zag springs from a local furniture store that does their own re- upholstery. So next I have to rebuild the seat and then paint and then take it to the local Amish man that does upholstery.

Was at the body shop today too. He was painting my bed. So things are moving along. I have to sand down my boards and prime them and then get green exterior paint from the paint store and get them painted sonwe can put the bed together.

 

Wow, it's moving very quickly. That's awesome!
Now, get to taking pictures!!!!!

 

Yep. We need pics or it didn't happen...

 

OK, boys here are the pics of the seat after the sandblasting and priming. I also spent most of the day fixing the broken springs. I am pleased with my work but its a good thing I don't do this for a living. I am kinda slow! Here are the pics:
Here is the repair stock I got from a local upholsterer:


Here is the seat back that needed two springs repaired:


Here is the seat that needed a lot of repairs on the drivers side.


Here is the from edge of the seat that had a broken wire stock.


This shows two support stock under the springs that were snapped. The second row needed some work too.


Here is my fix on the broken front edge:


Here is a closeup of some of the repairs towards the rear of the drivers side seat. The zig zag springs I got from a wrecked 56 in my local junk yard came in handy here.They were really rusted but the blasting cleaned them up nicely.


This is a picture showing you the passenger side end support. This is what is totally gone in the driver's side. it is all one piece. I cut a length of my repair stock but I now have questions as to how to bend the spring wire without breaking it or losing the strength of the support. I held the wire in vice and bent it with a hammer. This is tempered steel. And I dont want to get the wrong shape for the bend... Any ideas?

 

Nice work Abe!