46 ford bed question?
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 874
Likes: 0
From: Ashland, KY
46 ford bed question?
Went to take the bed off my truck today. And when you look under the truck you can see the old rotted wood, and I expected that. But on top of the wood there is a thin piece of steel, so thin you can see where the metal strips imprinted in it. Is this something that it came with or what. There is a very good example on ebay motors right now of what I'm talking about. Look under 1947 ford truck to see it. I don't think this metal is supposed to be there. But when I seen this truck the same way, well I'm second quessing myself now. Can anyone help me with this?
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,643
Likes: 35
From: Orange County, CA
Sounds like the bed floor. These trucks had the bed floor that consisted of a hardwood sub floor, which is visible from under the bed, and a stamped sheetmetal covering that had the skid strips stamped right into it that was placed over it. Most guys will usually use one of those bed kits and leave just a nice hardwood floor and not replace the sheetmetal covering. The sheetmetal tends to rust out, and it's a big job to replace the part.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,765
Likes: 547
From: Kalispell, MT
You can buy the sheetmetal bed floor from several sources including Mack Products of Moberly, MO. They run approx $325 plus shpg. That's the biggest reason I left the wood show when I rebuilt my '48 - plus I love the look of natural wood.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 874
Likes: 0
From: Ashland, KY
I think I'll go with the wood floor to. I like that look better. So I quess all you do is cut the steel floor out and grind the edge off the bottom of the bed side. Or do you guys have a better idea how to seperate the steel floor from the bed. I'm up for any ideas. Thanks again for the info to. I didn't know the beds were made like that. I figured the bed floor was like my 48 is. Just wood, or should I say "rotten wood".
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,765
Likes: 547
From: Kalispell, MT
I just took an air chisel and slid the cutting tip along the bedsides. The spot welds popped pretty easy. The route you're suggesting would work too but might show when you're finished.
The 42 thru mid-50 all had the metal floor. In mid-50 they went back to wood. If you have a 48 it had sheetmetal originally.
The 42 thru mid-50 all had the metal floor. In mid-50 they went back to wood. If you have a 48 it had sheetmetal originally.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,688
Likes: 4
From: Southern Oregon
Restoring, if you don't have an air chisel get one or borrow one as suggested by mtflat. I just recently cut out the floor with a 4 1/2 inch X 1/16 inch grinder. Then for the remaining side strips tried a cold chisel and hammer. It was distorting the outside panel, so went back to the 4 1/2 inch grinder and carefully ground all of the many spot welds just short of breakthrough. Then with hammer and sharp wood chisel finished cutting the welds. It was long and tedious, and of coarse ruined the chisel.
Last edited by 46yblock; Jan 21, 2005 at 09:38 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 874
Likes: 0
From: Ashland, KY
I learn somthing new evertime I get on here. I didn't know they came with a metal floor over wood. But this is my first time redoing a old truck. I've always had cars. I think I'll go ahead and cut the floor out with a grinder as close as I can to the bed sides and then use a air chisel for the rest of it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
1950FordF1
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Sep 19, 2014 10:00 AM
Herbiehusker
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
20
Oct 21, 2009 10:22 AM
