1960 styleside
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Nashville
1960 styleside
Hello all,
After crawling around and under my truck, I've dicovered that the original bed that I thought was replaced by the 1/4 thick plate steel still exists.
It's hard to tell what type of shape it's in with the steel plate in the bed. I have not been able to locate bed components for the styleside. Has anyone had any luck replacing the steel bed? Do other years fit or could they be made to fit? Maybe it's better left alone? The other downside is it makes pulling the bed off pretty difficult! As you can imagine this adds quite a bit of weight to the back end, not necessarily all bad, just have to keep an eye on the springs and shocks I guess.
any opinions will be appreciated.
thanks
Brian
After crawling around and under my truck, I've dicovered that the original bed that I thought was replaced by the 1/4 thick plate steel still exists.
It's hard to tell what type of shape it's in with the steel plate in the bed. I have not been able to locate bed components for the styleside. Has anyone had any luck replacing the steel bed? Do other years fit or could they be made to fit? Maybe it's better left alone? The other downside is it makes pulling the bed off pretty difficult! As you can imagine this adds quite a bit of weight to the back end, not necessarily all bad, just have to keep an eye on the springs and shocks I guess.
any opinions will be appreciated.
thanks
Brian
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver Island
1960 styleside
I'd guess the original be would be in pretty bad shape. Even if it was OK before the plate was added, any water and dirt trapped between the plate and the original bed would encourage rust. You should be able to get a good idea of the condition by climbing under the truck with a trouble light. Maybe the bed is in great shape, having been protected by the 1/4" plate all it's life.
If you aren't committed to restoring it to original, how about a sheet of diamond-plate aluminum? That would save some weight, and polish up nice. Or a sheet of good 3/4" plywood with a heavy coat of varnish, and maybe bed strips.
If you aren't committed to restoring it to original, how about a sheet of diamond-plate aluminum? That would save some weight, and polish up nice. Or a sheet of good 3/4" plywood with a heavy coat of varnish, and maybe bed strips.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 910
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
1960 styleside
Some one has done the same to my 57 when I bought in 1988 it looked great.nice heavy duty made it rode good. But like the last entry just said it would encourage rust.And man did it ever all along the sides of the out side of the bed it blisters through some thing terrible.I have tryed to fix it several times, it ruined it.Since the bed is ruined. Any way I like the idea of having a wood bed I think for the last time I will cut both floors out sandblast the sheet metal and put a wooden floor in.Good luck with yours hope yours don't follow the same fate If you drilled holes underneath near the bed sides to let the water and dirt out it may last longer.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Granite Bay USA
1960 styleside
I would guess that if you carefully cut out just the floor of the original bed you could weld in the floor from any other truck and only you and your welder would know for sure that its been replaced. I wonder if any of those after market metal places might had the material??
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,484
Likes: 7
From: New Egypt, New Jersey
1960 styleside
I remember seeing replacement material somewhere, just can't remember where. I've been searching frantically (catalog probably got tossed). I'll definately post it if I can find it. 
Freshman User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
1960 styleside
Hello again, Brian!
I have a '59 Styleside that, when I bought it, had a piece of plywood as the bed floorboard! I was unable to locate anyone who makes an OEM replacement of any kind. So, I had a metal fabricator (aka, "welder") weld in some heavy duty diamond plate with frame cross-members underneath for clearance and strength. I did NOT get the pretty chrome diamond plate: (1) because its too wimpy and I want to use my truck like a truck!; and (2) because the gauge is thicker and stronger. All I did after it was welded in was lay down some water-proof sealant (comes in tubes like caulking) then I put on the Rhino lining for durability and looks. Came out pretty good! :-)
Good luck!
Daryl
I have a '59 Styleside that, when I bought it, had a piece of plywood as the bed floorboard! I was unable to locate anyone who makes an OEM replacement of any kind. So, I had a metal fabricator (aka, "welder") weld in some heavy duty diamond plate with frame cross-members underneath for clearance and strength. I did NOT get the pretty chrome diamond plate: (1) because its too wimpy and I want to use my truck like a truck!; and (2) because the gauge is thicker and stronger. All I did after it was welded in was lay down some water-proof sealant (comes in tubes like caulking) then I put on the Rhino lining for durability and looks. Came out pretty good! :-)
Good luck!
Daryl
