To all: Thanks for the input. I have been able to verify that he wood bed in these mid-fifties F-100s were painted the same as the body. It's taken me a while to get used to, I guess only because it had not occurred to me before this. It all makes the wood species issue not very important. Whether its red oak, white oak or ash, if I'm really going to to make the truck look stock, then it's going to get painted anyway...I guess my next questions about his should be addressed to some kind of house painters' forum...to find out what process and materials will give me the most durable paint finish.