i am getting ready to but oak and srtips in my bed, the truck had plywood in the bed when i got it. i started laying out the boards and found the sides are not square to the head panel. since it looks like the back finders are attached to the running boards which are attached to the front finders, it looks like a lot of work to try and square up the bed. everything on my truck lines up and works, i would be afraid to start screwing around with the bed just to mess somthing else up. my truck is painted which makes it more of a problem if i try and shift things around. it seems to me that i just need to cut the boards at a angle to fix the problem. if anyone knows a easy way to square the bed it would be great info

 

Dale,

How much out of square are we talking here?

 

about 3/8 " in the 9 " wide outside boards

 

Dale,

So with all the boards layed in place, you have about 3/8" difference in the wideth on the last board put in place. 1/8" would probably be un-noticeable but 3/8" is definitely too much. Yah, it's going to be lots of work but you have to fix it.

Without loosening off any of the panels (like the running boards, etc) can you not loosen up the mounting bolts which bolt the bed to the frame? Loosen them all up and then get your biggest buddy to lean against the offending corner of the bed to put it back into correct diagonal alingment (sp?). Then tighten the bed mounting bolts back down.

(Whatever finish you're putting on those bed boards - put the same finish {same number of coats as well} on the sides of them and on the bottom of them).

Later,

 

thanks

i will give it a try

 

Hi,

I might be way off base here, but I just had a thought...........

You said the body currently lines up.
Did you actually check the bed with a square, or are you just going by the boards being layed out?

The reason I ask.......... Sometimes even milled lumber could be "off" from one end to the other.

1/16" on each board would not be noticeable to the eye, but over 7 boards it does add up to 3/8".
It was just a thought. I'd hate to see you go through all that, and afterwards find out it wasn't the body.

 

Kenny

no i have not checked with square. will try that tonight

 

good call Kenny...

that was going to be my suggestion before I read your reply...

if it is out... I'd loosen all the bed mounting bolts and using a ratchet type binder (nylon webbing with a hook on each end..) hook each end in the diagonal stake pocket holes and tweek it into place (in lieu of a big ole buddy) that way you can sneek up on it and hold it easily... when you have square, tighten the bed frame bolts.... BTW check it both ways

later

john

 

John

what about the finder bolts, they are attached to the running boards right?

 

I'd loosen them... heck...take them out ! but, if you only have 3/8" over the length of the bed, you aren't going to be moving the whole bed very much.. if I remember, there is a rubber grommet between running board and fender... it should take the movement (if it's there) I would think at the most you're only going to pull from 3/16 to 3/8 inch...I don't see much movement at the point that the fenders attach to the r.b. I.M.O. of course...

my running boards are on top of my paint cabinet and my fenders are in the attic !!! we should ask 'fenders... he'll know

john

 

The running boards bolt solid to the rear fenders and use a rubber bushing at the front. I would loosen the board to fender bolts and stuff a piece of cardboard in to prevent paint chips. Then loosen the bed bolts. After making sure the bed is crooked in the first place of course.

Don't take offense but this falls squarely under the "don't be lazy now" rule. You spend all this time and money on your truck. Don't do something tacky now. Leave it crooked and suddenly the tailgate isn't right either. Should be an easy fix. 3/8 is nothing. Good luck.

 

thanks for all the great info guys. the pass. side is square, but the driver side is out quite a bit. i checked it with my framing square. i don't understand how one side can be square and the other side be so far off, wouldn't the cross members keep both sides equal.

 

Dale

Can you take some inside measurements of bed width and length. Take them every foot or so. It almost sounds like the front bed panel or rear crossmember is tweaked a little if I understand what you are saying. If you are square on one side, and the front and rear panels are equal length, something about has to be bent. This is also assuming you frame isn't a bit out of square.

Also, are you saying it would require a 3/8 cut on BOTH outer bed boards to straighten it, or just one corner? Were the bed panels ever disassembled during resto?

 

Dale; If both sides are of equal legenth and both ends are of equal width,measure on a diagonal from one corner to the other corner.note the differance and then divide the differance by 1/2 ,tweek the longer legenth to equal the 1/2 # and your rectangle will be square. remember you will not have to move one side 3/8" only 1/2 the distance 3/16". Jim VA.