My bed front had to be removed for replacement due to rust and need some advice on what to replace them with. I'm considering polished SS allen head button head bolts but appreciate hearing what's been used by others.

 

Curt, if you're talking about the bolts that hold the bed front to the bed sides... I'd use SS button head like you mentioned. you can also rosette weld them in place. Best I remember I used 1/4" half inch long
john

 

Thanks for the confirmation John. We'll see how it looks after paint, sometime this Fall.

 

I used "hiloks", which are low profile bolts with the allen socket in the tail instead of the head. They are used in the aircraft industry but can be purchased on ebay. After being painted the heads look almost identical to rivet heads.

 

GUP - that's brilliant! Thanks for the tip.

 

I just used ¼" x ¾" bolts with nylok nuts. It made a very tight fit and really stabilized the sides.

 

I no longer use bolts/screws...I use structural adhesive and eliminate the fasteners altogether. Very clean custom look but if you plan to disassemble the bed again sometime in the future you better pack a lunch.

 

Yes, I have seen you post that before Charlie. We actually have used that in production since the early 80s at Jeep in certain places. My box was in terrible shape, I think that they hauled engine blocks in it over every back road in Wisconsin for years, I needed to pull it into shape which the bolts did a great job of accomplishing. I just wasn't brave enough to use clamps and adhesive.

 

My bed front also had a couple of spot welds in between the bolts on each side. Maybe this was unique to Louisville?

 

In situations like that I use the existing bolt holes and bolts to pull the panel together until the adhesive cures. Once cured the bolts can either be removed or just grind off the heads. This technique not only looks very clean but it adds a lot of rigidity to the bed. Once you try it you'll wonder why you waited so long.