What is the best way to remove these rivets and spot welds on the stake pocket?

 

For the rivets, i would drill them out. Start small and work up till you know what size bit to use. Or take a grinder carefully to the head them punch them out. For spot welds, I used a spot weld removing drill bit.

 

Spent the last few days working on replace a stake pocket, rear cross piece and tailgate. It was pretty difficult at times working by myself and the fact that the truck was hit in the rear at some point which did some damage to the bed sides. I bought two side beds over the winter. The one side wasn't much better than the one currently on the truck but I was able to use the stake pocket and put it on the truck. I decided to bolt it on. Still need to do some work on it but pretty happy that it is back together and functioning how it should. With my limited knowledge, tools and skills I am pretty happy how it turned out.

Unless people think it is an absolutely terrible idea, I am going to use pressure-treated 2x4s to replace the interior cross pieces. I saw a video where someone else did it, and also that Canadian Fords, after the war, used wood for their bed supports.

Thanks for everyone's help over the past few months.

Bryan

 

I've heard that raw or exposed PT lumber can cause steel to rust due to the chemicals in the lumber leeching out. But after how many years and how much contact will you have.

 

I agree with Abe.
Don’t use pressure treated.
The new copper chemical they are using is highly corrosive on steel. That’s why all exterior screws have some type of corrosion resistant coating, which doesn’t work all that well.
I would recommend hardwood lumber, completely dried and waterproofed.

 

Ok I will get see what the lumber yard has tmw. thanks