Bootin the bad box
New User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: USA
Bootin the bad box
Hey, Hi,
First off, I'd like to say great site here, I'm kinda new and this would be my first post. OK,, here's what I got, I bought this 79 f-250 and I'm swappin the bed out with a 74 f-250 2wd I got for $300. Anyone have any suggestion, or things that I'm gonna wish I woulda done or looked for while I had the box off? I know what a pain it was to get the old box off, and I would hate to have to do that again. Anything anyone has to say would be a great help to me as I am totally new at the 4x4 thing,,,, and one more question, that 4x4 thing,, is that a misprint for $x$ ? Things are costin alot and I haven't even started driven and breakin things yet.
B.B.
Truck Off
79 F-250 4X4 w/460
First off, I'd like to say great site here, I'm kinda new and this would be my first post. OK,, here's what I got, I bought this 79 f-250 and I'm swappin the bed out with a 74 f-250 2wd I got for $300. Anyone have any suggestion, or things that I'm gonna wish I woulda done or looked for while I had the box off? I know what a pain it was to get the old box off, and I would hate to have to do that again. Anything anyone has to say would be a great help to me as I am totally new at the 4x4 thing,,,, and one more question, that 4x4 thing,, is that a misprint for $x$ ? Things are costin alot and I haven't even started driven and breakin things yet.
B.B.
Truck Off
79 F-250 4X4 w/460
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 18
From: Northern California
Bootin the bad box
Welcome to the board!
I know what you mean when you talk about costing big $$! Oh well, it's only money, right???
As for what to look for in replacing the bed, I think you might be drilling new mounting holes because your frame might be set at a different width. IF you need to drill new holes, the old ones should have a pipe in them that goes around the bolt for extra support inside the cross support beams under the flat part of the bed. I'd try to re-use or replace them just for the extra support.
I'd clean the underside and treat any rust.
They should have 4 support bars running from the edges of the wheel wells to the bottom of the bed, I'd make sure they are in place.
It's a good time to check the wiring, they tend to get brittle over the years, I constructed a replacement for about $20 out of a trailer wiring set.
The under supports tend to get filled up with dirt, good time to pressure wash and inspect as they tend to get rusty in there. As well as the fender areas.
I noticed more rust on the front area between the two bed sides up where the posts would go. With the bed off, you should be able to reach up there and do some inspecting.
I know what you mean when you talk about costing big $$! Oh well, it's only money, right???
As for what to look for in replacing the bed, I think you might be drilling new mounting holes because your frame might be set at a different width. IF you need to drill new holes, the old ones should have a pipe in them that goes around the bolt for extra support inside the cross support beams under the flat part of the bed. I'd try to re-use or replace them just for the extra support.
I'd clean the underside and treat any rust.
They should have 4 support bars running from the edges of the wheel wells to the bottom of the bed, I'd make sure they are in place.
It's a good time to check the wiring, they tend to get brittle over the years, I constructed a replacement for about $20 out of a trailer wiring set.
The under supports tend to get filled up with dirt, good time to pressure wash and inspect as they tend to get rusty in there. As well as the fender areas.
I noticed more rust on the front area between the two bed sides up where the posts would go. With the bed off, you should be able to reach up there and do some inspecting.
