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I am replacing my left bed side panel with one from a 1980 f!00 stepside. Can this panel be replaced with the bed still on the truck and the bed bolts not having to be loosened or removed.
I believe it can be as the bed side of the FLARE SIDE bolt down on top of the wood and IIRC the wood is bolted to the frame.
You have a bunch of bolts on the bed side to front panel & front sill.
Running board is bolted to the fender and pretty sure to the bed side.
The fuel hose will need to be undone from the fender.
I would remove the fender from the bed side.
Rear light & bracket will need to be removed.
Tail gate needs to come off as the left hinge is bolted to the bed side rear post.
You have think it is 4 bolts on the bed side to rear sill.
Then all the bolds on the bed side to the wood floor.
Now I would not scrap the old bed side as you can not get them unless you find a good used one and that is like finding unicorns.
So I then have to ask why is it you want / need to replace the flare side bed panel?
If it has a little rust on the lip where it bolts to the wood floor or the lower front & rear panels they can be fixed pretty easy.
A little flat stock and a MIG welder and it is done I can even tell you how to drill the square holes for the bed side bolts.
Before I bolted the sides down to the custom metal floor I made
Dave ----
I am replacing my left bed side panel with one from a 1980 f!00 stepside. Can this panel be replaced with the bed still on the truck and the bed bolts not having to be loosened or removed.
If you can get all of the bolts out of it OK, I don't see why you couldn't swap the side panel like that. There's about 25 bolts holding the side panel on, so if you can get all of them out without too much trouble, it should be a pretty straight forward swap. As Dave said, you'll have to remove the fender, side step, tail light and wiring, tailgate, etc...but it's all straight forward stuff.
Might take a little patience to reassemble it trying to get all of those holes all lined up, but it should work.
