Thats very nice work! So I can get a bed up to 96 and slap on my bed sides? Can I use the front bulkhead also? Everything but my outer bedsides is rotten, and I can pick up an 80's bed for next to nothing. I would have to get replacement tailgate posts though right? Do you have any tricks to lining up the bed sides perfectly?

 

The bed I did is a '76, not a newer one, but it should be the same king of work

 

Smithwoods

You are not your avereage backyard body type guy. Jeesh, look at your equipment. Some of us REALLY need spoon fed to do something like this in our garage. Yea, a bedliner will have to due for me after any bed replacement I'd attempt. LOL I guess I'll purchase that plasma cutter as soon as I pay down the tools for the rest of my hobbies

I hope that F350 guy comes through

 

I have been collecting tools for over 50 years, plus over 20 years in the Navy as an aircraft mechanic didn't hurt. And working in Plymouth/Dodge dealerships in the 60's. did I mention stock cars too? Time will give you experience and the tools to do most anything if you want it. Now the '57 Ranchero I built with a 428 SCJ and front disk brakes is another story. A good cut off wheel will serve you as will as a plasma cutter. see how the factory did it and go from there. last word, like what you do and you will do it well

 

[QUOTE=smithwoods;7923265]I have been collecting tools for over 50 years, plus over 20 years in the Navy as an aircraft mechanic didn't hurt.

My respect for you just dropped a half a notch. Your a flippin Airdale. I was a surface guy (EW). My new boss is a retired Captain from the Airdale community.

NO kidding here.. I work on submarines now. He want's us to have our tool boxes with pictures\cutouts of every tool labeled inside the tool box.. We dropped a wrench in the bilge yesterday, he about had a flippin heart attack.

Hey, I can waste 60 bucks in my civilian clothes climbing in an oily bildge hopinng to find a $4.00 wrench, or just replace it with government funds.

You Airdales see things in a different way..

PS: I KNOW why...FOD etc..I was just hijacking my own thread..and getting a jab in at the brown shoe navy

PLEASE read humer in this responce...the writen word comes across crass sometimes, this was written with a BIG smile. I mean. I did captilise (sic) airdale

Now that you know I was a twidget, you know how some of us are when it comes to fab work. How do you cut through the spot weld? Drill em out? Now one has a hole. How do you fill it? ETC. I'd crap myself if someone like you removed my bedside and walked away. No problem with the drive train, motor, brakes, electricle, etc, but the body....

 

I retired 20 years ago and trust me I still have a lot of respect for anyone who spent time in the service even black shoes like you. now as to spotwelds, try http://www.eastwood.com/metal-fabric...l-3-8-pro.html. Any hole left can be used to weld through to the new panel. sometimes I have to use my muffler gun with a spot weld cutter chisel or a flat chisel to get to the ones that are hard to reach. If you were close I would pop them off for you just to see you fill your shoes up with brown stuff. really, It's not that hard, just have the new panel on hand to see what NOT to cut off the old one.

 

"Hey, I can waste 60 bucks in my civilian clothes climbing in an oily bildge hopinng to find a $4.00 wrench, or just replace it with government funds.

You Airdales see things in a different way.."
you should read up on why the Navy tool control program started, a wrench left in the wing fold cost the life of the pilot and the lose of a plane. would you want something that on your conscious?

 

Thank you for the link!

Hey you cannot get away with this CNN (communist network) spin. By quoting a partial comment of an interview.

I did write:

PS: I KNOW why...FOD etc..

PSS My boss ejected in the ocean off of Virginia Beach. The pilot died, he, my boss, has severe back problems after several surgeries. I understand his and your point about loose tools.