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I am getting ready to reinstall my 53 bed. I need to see pictures of the crossmember placement especially the front one. How do I mount them so the bolts are hidden on the crossmembers to the frame. Pictures please
Just bolt up with the head of bolt on top...the bed wood will cover all of that ..... sorry my bed mounting strips shows with temp bolts while I was squaring the bed... heads on top... threads and nuts on the bottom
You modify the front "Z" crossmember like this: Remove these pieces on each side, if you have them.
Either weld or install a nut by hand.
The middle crossmembers have a flat plate spot welded to the bottoms. Either remove the plates and weld a nut on the top sides (of the plates) then re-install the plates, or just install nuts with washers by hand with a boxed end wrench. (That's what I did)
These modifications are easy if you assemble the bed on the truck but make the bed a little more difficult to remove, install from underneath. Personally, I don't mind the extra work. I don't plan to remove the bed any time soon.
Won't the bolt heads cause the wood to sit to high?
no... where the bed boards cross the mounting strips, the carriage bolt that holds the steel strips passes through the crossmember... here's another pic that might help with the front
Is there anywhere I can find instructions how to install new bed crossmembers and wood be i need to see where the mounting pads go. The kit came with some thicker pads
You modify the front "Z" crossmember like this: Remove these pieces on each side, if you have them.
Either weld or install a nut by hand.
The middle crossmembers have a flat plate spot welded to the bottoms. Either remove the plates and weld a nut on the top sides (of the plates) then re-install the plates, or just install nuts with washers by hand with a boxed end wrench. (That's what I did)
These modifications are easy if you assemble the bed on the truck but make the bed a little more difficult to remove, install from underneath. Personally, I don't mind the extra work. I don't plan to remove the bed any time soon.
I don't have a welder and never done any welding. Is there any other way to hide the bolts?
Just bolt up with the head of bolt on top...the bed wood will cover all of that ..... sorry my bed mounting strips shows with temp bolts while I was squaring the bed... heads on top... threads and nuts on the bottom
Pappy this will work like John said.
j
Originally Posted by Pappys53
I don't have a welder and never done any welding. Is there any other way to hide the bolts?
I have done limited weldin. So I feel your plan.
Pappy 53, How i spent my day today. Gonna finish up tomorrow. I have a rear mounted gas so it was "challenging" and time consuming trying to get those 10 carriage bolts in the center installed. Going to finish tomorrow after church. Let me know if i can help you.
I don't have a welder and never done any welding. Is there any other way to hide the bolts?
You don't have to weld a nut onto the flat plate under the cross member. You can just run a bolt up from underneath and hold the nut with a boxed-end wrench that has been ground thin on one side.
You can't see the washer under the nut, but it's there.
You don't have to weld a nut onto the flat plate under the cross member. You can just run a bolt up from underneath and hold the nut with a boxed-end wrench that has been ground thin on one side.
You can't see the washer under the nut, but it's there.
OK can you tell me which pads go where? The kit came with different thickness ones.
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