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My 74 has been a long time work truck. It's had an 87 bed since 87. The original split in the rear and the bed sides folded over.
Managed to find another bed that someone aborted wheel arch replacement on. It needs lots of work but most of it is workable.
The part that concerns me the most is strengthening that rear structure so it doesn't split again. I'm not seeing a lot of replacement panels for the that area (the inner structure around and below the tailgate). Am I going to have to custom make what I need, or is some of this structure available?
Here's the workhorse. Been in the family since 1979. Yes it's getting new fenders too.
I bought my '77 in 1986, a friend had a Dent that did something similar and soon I decided to take steps. Besides plating my floor, etc, I used a piece of 1/4" thick, 4" wide, and as long as the area behind the lower edge of the tail gate, there is a recess there. I bolted this piece across hidden by the tailgate, then I added uprights with bracing that bolt to that piece and to the rear inner bed corners, almost to the top. It's a solid set up. I hope the diagram helps explain it.
You could just run the long piece across and add "prerunner" style braces to it from up near the top, but I'd keep the middle 4 feet open for like plywood, etc.
If you make these small enough, and with some gussets they will not stick past the area between the fenderwells. So that 4' piece of plywood will still load laying flat.
Tie down points, if they would of just carried the flat bar down tothe bed floor.
I had some good pics, might try tomorrow. I do like those braces in 77&79F250's with the holes above .... .... what I drew was best I had tonight. A 4 x 8 plywood sheet was / is a good example, station wagons would handle them too.
Thanks for the input so far gentlemen. This is giving me some good ideas to work with.
The bed floor is pretty sound in this unit. It may have had a camper shell on it at one point. Just that rear flat structure below the tailgate is soft. I planned to see if I can get a 80/97 part in there which I can nab from a junkyard if needed.
I see AMD also has the tailgate posts. I was previously unable to find that item and it's just what this bed needs. Thanks again for that link.
I never thought that this truck would be something I would fix up. But it's been a dedicated worker for a long time and I guess it deserves some effort on my part.
A picture I took this AM, but that 4" x 1/4" long piece is hidden behind the tail gate in that recess, but you can see the dusty top edge and see how that recess accommodates it I think.
Last edited by tbear853; Oct 2, 2025 at 12:21 PM.
Reason: added words
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.... what I drew was best I had tonight. A 4 x 8 plywood sheet was / is a good example, station wagons would handle them too.
