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Good morning all. While putting the tailgate on yesterday I noticed that the right side hinge has two different size bolts that hold it on. Top one goes all the way through the bed pocket. The lower one, which is smaller, goes into a tacked on threaded nut inside the bed pocket. Does anyone know what size this lower bolt is and if it is fine or coarse threads?. I cannot see the threads very well and do not want to cross thread them with the wrong size. I assume this was designed this way to make it easier to remove the tailgate. Thanks, Dave
Figured it out. 1/4" fine threads😊 Now I have another question. There is another 1/4" hole above the hinges. Any ideas what these are for? I probably say dah!!! after they are identified😆
My reproduction bed has the same hole. I'm not sure of the purpose. I'm gonna put a bolt in it I think. And it's just the left side. My body man put the right side tail light up too high. I fixed that this spring.
My reproduction bed has the same hole. I'm not sure of the purpose. I'm gonna put a bolt in it I think. And it's just the left side. My body man put the right side tail light up too high. I fixed that this spring.
Really? I stumped the Chump? LOL I see two holes in your stake pockets on both sides Abe. Right side has a bolt, left side does not. Aren't your tail light mounting holes consistent on both sides? What holes did your body guy use?
Upper 2 holes are for tail light bracket aren't they ?
I think your right side was correct Abe , the left side should have been moved up .
Now I'm confused. I just looked at the MidFifty catalog. It says what you said, Seaves. Use the top two holes for the tail light bracket. But if I did that the license plate would not fit......
Really? I stumped the Chump? LOL I see two holes in your stake pockets on both sides Abe. Right side has a bolt, left side does not. Aren't your tail light mounting holes consistent on both sides? What holes did your body guy use?
So I could drive it home my body guy put the right side bracket on using the top two holes. On the left side he used the bottom two holes. I had to take the bed off to put the bed wood on. Here is a shot of my bed before the wood was in place.
Really? I stumped the Chump? LOL I see two holes in your stake pockets on both sides Abe. Right side has a bolt, left side does not. Aren't your tail light mounting holes consistent on both sides? What holes did your body guy use?
So I could drive it home my body guy put the right side bracket on using the top two holes. On the left side he used the bottom two holes. I had to take the bed off to put the bed wood on. Here is a shot of my bed before the wood was in place.
Now I'm confused. I just looked at the MidFifty catalog. It says what you said, Seaves. Use the top two holes for the tail light bracket. But if I did that the license plate would not fit......
That is confusing! I cannot compare to yours though. I'm sure a F100 is different than a F350? Mine has its own holes that are tapped for the tail lights. the hinges have their own holes. I will get pictures tomorrow.. Oh, I just remembered, I have these from before I tore it apart. Notice how they just torched off the one end of the licence plate bracket to make room for the rear bumper! LOL
Glad you figured out, Dave, that the bolts are 1/4”-28 tpi. As I was trying to find your answer I checked the below two diagrams from the Chassis Catalogs. The first is from the 1953 catalog and shows the numbers to be 24325 for the upper (1/4”-28 tpi x 5/8”) and the lower 24385 (14” - 28 tpi x 1”). These numbers and descriptions are contained in a numerical order common parts section of the 1953 catalog.
Then I checked the diagram in the 1964 reprint catalog which covers through 1956. It has different numbers for these bolts in the same diagram. Number 24324 is shown to be 1/4” - 20 tpi x 5/8”. There is no listing found for 20385. So I think the latter book has misprints on both part numbers.
What I don’t understand is the 1” length of the lower bolt with the nut and lock washer on its outer end. How is a 1” long bolt going to reach all the way through to the other side of the pocket? I don’t get it. The hole you have higher up is not shown. Stu
Wow Stu, thank you for taking the time to research this. I do see the discrepancy between the drawings and with my bed. You have to remember my side rails are original with no modifications. With that said, The left hing has two bolts that go all the way through the stake pocket. The right side has a long one on the top that goes all the way through. The one on the bottom is the 1/4" bolt that is tapped on the inside of the stake pocket. The only reasoning I see for this is for easier removal of the tailgate. A person would be able to remove the small lower bolt, loosen the upper one allowing the hinge to swing down, releasing the tailgate. Just my theory. As far as those tapped holes above the hinge the mystery continues. LOL
Originally Posted by truckdog62563
Glad you figured out, Dave, that the bolts are 1/4”-28 tpi. As I was trying to find your answer I checked the below two diagrams from the Chassis Catalogs. The first is from the 1953 catalog and shows the numbers to be 24325 for the upper (1/4”-28 tpi x 5/8”) and the lower 24385 (14” - 28 tpi x 1”). These numbers and descriptions are contained in a numerical order common parts section of the 1953 catalog.
Then I checked the diagram in the 1964 reprint catalog which covers through 1956. It has different numbers for these bolts in the same diagram. Number 24324 is shown to be 1/4” - 20 tpi x 5/8”. There is no listing found for 20385. So I think the latter book has misprints on both part numbers.
What I don’t understand is the 1” length of the lower bolt with the nut and lock washer on its outer end. How is a 1” long bolt going to reach all the way through to the other side of the pocket? I don’t get it. The hole you have higher up is not shown. Stu
Do the holes have threads or a nut attached from the back like the Midfifty catalog picture shows? I had to reach up the stake pocket and hold a lock washer and nut in place.
Do the holes have threads or a nut attached from the back like the Midfifty catalog picture shows? I had to reach up the stake pocket and hold a lock washer and nut in place.
BTW, Dave, did you get your bed wood in?
Yes they do Abe. How they survived all those years is amazing. You must have small hands! LOL Yes on the bed wood. 3/4" red oak.
