Pipe is 1 1/8" od, 13/16" id. Bed roll led fits nicely for added brake and turn signals.


Regards, Mark.

 

Unfortunately, most of the automotive magazines and tv shows are only promoting someone's product. From scratch fabrications are rare.

 

Fabricated my front and rear seal plates tonight. Front is 2x2 rear is 2x4. I also replaced the 1x2 front header piece with a 1x3. I think it looks much better. I mounted everything to the truck to see how it's all lining up so far. Then I went ahead and cut out the stake pockets. Next weekend I'm going to fab up the lower extension panels and start welding things up. It's definitely starting to look like a bed.

 

That looks like a metal bed floor. What gauge metal did you use and do anything to reinforce it? Aluminum or steel?

 

Today I started welding the bed frame and sides together. No more c-clamps lol. Then I fabled up my front lower extension pieces out of some 16ga. It's amazing what you can make with a block of wood, a couple c-clamps and a hammer. They seem to be fitting nicely so far. I still have to cut down my front stake pockets.

 

Started building the tailgate for the bed today. 1st I cut 2 lengths of 1 1/4 tubing 49" wide. Then 2 pieces of 1x2 for the upright pieces. I used 16ga to skin the back and more 16ga to make the slanted pieces for the front. Next will be making hinges and a latch for the tailgate.

 

So I am reading this with great interest. Thinking of doing this myself. I see you have a bunch of tack welds holding things together right now. Do you make a continues weld later or is the seam filled in some other way?
Sorry I am just learning how to do this hot rod building thing and also learning how to weld.


Marten

 

I will use a series of spother welds and small beads to finish welding everything up.then grind all the welds down smooth

 

do you have the dimensions for the bends?
great build so far .

 

really turning out nice. some really nice fabrication...

mike

 

I just found this thread and would like to know if anyone has drawings, sketches or measurements they could share.

 

Marty:
The Mid-Fifty catalog has bed dimensions for long & short beds. Pg. 138 for the 9' bed and Pg. 142 for the short bed.
Regards, Mark

 

Thank you. I will check it out.


Marty

 

After a long delay I'm finally back to work on my 54. I got a few hours in tonight on the bed. Tacked welded some of the center braces..Got a few more spot welds on the front and rear corners of the box and finished welding up the tailgate. I still have a lot of welding to go and a lot of grinding in my near future. Lol.

I'm just happy to be able to get back to work on the truck.

 

Started welding up the tubing to simulate the bed roll. I would clamp the tubing down about every 4 to 6 inches to work all the slack out of the metal.