Fixing a 79 bed
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
Fixing a 79 bed
I removed the rails bolted on the top of the bed on my 79 F350. Now I have holes where the bolts used to go through.
How can I fill this? It is pretty thin. Around 22 gauge, I assume. The holes are about 9/16. I'd like to avoid Bondo.
I also have a small rust hole on the front of the bed opposite of the cab. It's on the bottom, where the bed floor and the front panel meet. It is about 4 inches from left to right.
I'd really like to fix this, because the bed is pretty rust free expect said above. Just has a few dents.
Thanks
How can I fill this? It is pretty thin. Around 22 gauge, I assume. The holes are about 9/16. I'd like to avoid Bondo.
I also have a small rust hole on the front of the bed opposite of the cab. It's on the bottom, where the bed floor and the front panel meet. It is about 4 inches from left to right.
I'd really like to fix this, because the bed is pretty rust free expect said above. Just has a few dents.
Thanks
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 18
From: Northern California
Fixing a 79 bed
>I removed the rails bolted on the top of the bed on my 79
>F350. Now I have holes where the bolts used to go through.
>
>How can I fill this? It is pretty thin. Around 22 gauge, I
>assume. The holes are about 9/16. I'd like to avoid Bondo.
You can get a sheet of metal about 3x2 or so and use 3M structural adhiesive and clean the back side and apply it to the underside. that will leave a small depression on the top which could be filled without worry of it cracking or falling out.
Keep in mind that for anything to look good, it's going to require some filler, it's really an issue of how well the filler holds up. 9/16" is a bit big for straight filler so that's why I say to put a panel behind it. the 3M stuff can be bought at any pro body shop supplier for about $20.
You can weld in a pre-cut piece of metal, but that's still going to require grinding and filling.
I prefer the Evercoat Rage light weight stuff rather than the Bondo brand. Evercoat also makes a metal filler but no real advantage for most uses.
>I also have a small rust hole on the front of the bed
>opposite of the cab. It's on the bottom, where the bed floor
>and the front panel meet. It is about 4 inches from left to
>right.
the best way is to sand blast and use a rust treatment like Por15, Zero Rust, then fill in with fiberglass mat and filler. Fiberglass holds up much better to water than regular filler.
You could fab up a replacement sheet of metal and weld it in, this is probably the best way but requires a welder.
Epoxy primer is best for metal, you can sandblast then epoxy primer over that for excellent protection. You can even apply filler over the epoxy primer with just a 40 grit scuffing.
Filler isn't always a bad thing, if applied correctly it can look and hold up great. Just don't make it too thick, < 1/4" is best.
>
>I'd really like to fix this, because the bed is pretty rust
>free expect said above. Just has a few dents.
>
>Thanks
>F350. Now I have holes where the bolts used to go through.
>
>How can I fill this? It is pretty thin. Around 22 gauge, I
>assume. The holes are about 9/16. I'd like to avoid Bondo.
You can get a sheet of metal about 3x2 or so and use 3M structural adhiesive and clean the back side and apply it to the underside. that will leave a small depression on the top which could be filled without worry of it cracking or falling out.
Keep in mind that for anything to look good, it's going to require some filler, it's really an issue of how well the filler holds up. 9/16" is a bit big for straight filler so that's why I say to put a panel behind it. the 3M stuff can be bought at any pro body shop supplier for about $20.
You can weld in a pre-cut piece of metal, but that's still going to require grinding and filling.
I prefer the Evercoat Rage light weight stuff rather than the Bondo brand. Evercoat also makes a metal filler but no real advantage for most uses.
>I also have a small rust hole on the front of the bed
>opposite of the cab. It's on the bottom, where the bed floor
>and the front panel meet. It is about 4 inches from left to
>right.
the best way is to sand blast and use a rust treatment like Por15, Zero Rust, then fill in with fiberglass mat and filler. Fiberglass holds up much better to water than regular filler.
You could fab up a replacement sheet of metal and weld it in, this is probably the best way but requires a welder.
Epoxy primer is best for metal, you can sandblast then epoxy primer over that for excellent protection. You can even apply filler over the epoxy primer with just a 40 grit scuffing.
Filler isn't always a bad thing, if applied correctly it can look and hold up great. Just don't make it too thick, < 1/4" is best.
>
>I'd really like to fix this, because the bed is pretty rust
>free expect said above. Just has a few dents.
>
>Thanks
