NOS Ford bedside

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Sep 22, 2025 | 07:16 AM

0351mike

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NOS Ford bedside

To all
I could use some guidance- I recently picked up a NOS Ford bedside for a 73-79
The mounting points for the tailgate hinge (basically ball and socket set up) and upper piece where the tailgate locks into bed have the mounting pieces that adjust on the inside like a door hinge, but the holes are not threaded- are these meant to be tapped to the correct thread size?

Sep 22, 2025 | 02:43 PM

Kman-S.E.USA

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 0351mike

There should be caged nuts on the inside with threads, like the door hinges you mentioned have so they can be adjusted for fitment.

Sep 22, 2025 | 04:44 PM

77&79F250

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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county

X2 look for a caged nut on the inside of the area below the tail light. And use some anti-siez on them.

Sep 23, 2025 | 07:18 AM

0351mike

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Yep- they are all there but smooth - no threads

this is a NOS bedside, maybe the guy that was supposed to thread them went to lunch that day and forgot?

Sep 23, 2025 | 09:04 AM

tbear853

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From: The Shenandoah Valley

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0351mike

Yep- they are all there but smooth - no threads

this is a NOS bedside, maybe the guy that was supposed to thread them went to lunch that day and forgot?

Just guessing that you are referring to the inner bed side panel? Maybe the bed side panel is made like that to be threaded by a bolt that cuts it's own threads as the body shop technician or a robot runs it in the first time. I think is a 5/16-18 size.

Sep 23, 2025 | 10:25 AM

orangeford

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Can you get a measurement of the size of the non threaded hole? Maybe use drill bits to find out? Then measure size of bolt/thread pitch that is supposed to go into it. See what the pilot hole size for that tap is and compare? It makes sense that they may have planned on using a self tapping bolt.

Sep 23, 2025 | 01:55 PM

0351mike

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Thank You both
I will give that try

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Sep 24, 2025 | 12:53 PM

0351mike

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Yes all the caged nuts are on the bedside, but all without threads. I am assuming i can get the correct bolt sizes of the original and use a tap and die set