Getting ready to tackle running all new brake lines on my 70 F100. Since I'm working on my driveway, I thought it would be easier to just go ahead and remove the bed now rather than crawl under it repeatedly on rough aspalt. I'll take the opportunity to clean up the frame back there and check out the rear end, which is leaking, and evaluate my tank options (no plans to do a Mustang tank since I don't want to fill from the bed).

I know there are six bolts that go through the bed, plus two that are at the very back that you have to access from underneath. Any other fasteners I'm missing?

It appears the wiring is inside the frame to the rear left corner, then attaches to a separate harness on the bed itself at this point (which I've already disconnected):




Other than that, I have the license plate lighting detached from the bumper, and my aftermarket trailer wiring harness tired back to the other bed wiring so it can come off with it. Am I correct in thinking that is the only point I need to detach wires, and that the wiring at the back is only attached to the bed (or at least was from the factory)?

Am I correct in thinking the emergency brake lines are not attached to the bed at all, but just to the truck frame?

Anything else I'm missing? I do not have any auxiliary tanks, just the in cab (and not even it at the moment!).

I've got the bolts soaked in penetrating fluid, and a cut off tool ready for bolts that won't budge (probably all of them!).

Since I don't have extra labor available, I'm planning to erect a frame from scrap lumber, back the truck under the frame, hoist the bed up, then drive the truck out from under the bed. I'll then lower the bed onto a frame where it can sit for how ever long it needs to.

Thanks for any tips!

 

There aren't any tips. You've got it all done. Pull it off.

 

Thanks Tater!

I got five bolts out intact with minimal blood so far. The middle passenger side one broke loose with help of a seven foot long cheater pipe on a breaker bar... What a pain to get to the middle ones! Haven't messed with the middle one on the driver's side yet, but it looks about as bad, but at least no exhaust in the way on that side!

Surprisingly, the bolts aren't very rusty... In fact, Ole Blue's bones aren't bad at all. Even though he's lived outdoors for probably 40 of his 49 years, he's seen very little road salt (most of his miles were back in the 70's when we lived in FL). He's rusty on the surface, but solid underneath.

The exception is up front in the bed. Front bolts I guess I'll have to cut off since there's nothing holding the heads in place any more:





If I had a welder, I'd just weld something to the heads so there'd be something to grip. I tried to get a big vise grip pliers to hold onto the head of one while I used a breaker with a cheater bar underneath, but the vise grip wouldn't stay in place. Decided to call it a night and pull out the cutting tools tomorrow when there's day light.

 

If you can't get the cutting wheel under the bolt head (without cutting the bed), you might be able to cut the edges of the bolt heat off, then punch the bolt shaft down through the frame. Try cutting an "X" into the head. Then increase the thickness of the "X" lines a little. Then try the punch and hammer.

 

It's off! I know that's no big deal for most of you who've been at this a long time, but this was a first for me.




I slid a steel frame under it, leveled the frame, and lowered the bed down into it. The frame is long enough that the two center crossmembers of the bed are sitting on it.



I'm gonna spend some time cleaning and polishing the back of the bed so I can see what Harbor Blue looked like before 49 years of fading.

It's too hot outside. I need a shop!!

Found this on the bed:


110 on outside of front of bed

As far as I know, this is the first time the bed has been off since the truck rolled off the line, so I'm assuming that 110 was written on it at the factory. Curious if it was just a sequence number, the number of the inspector, or what.

 

Nice job on the rig to raise the bed. Do your self a favor before re-installing the bed and solder the trailer wires to the harness. Those scotch locks usually loose their continuity after a while.