1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

bed not square

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 05-21-2003 | 07:41 AM
ddurant's Avatar
ddurant
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
Angry bed not square

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
 
  #2  
Old 05-21-2003 | 08:18 AM
ferguson777's Avatar
ferguson777
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 1
bed not square

Dale,

How much out of square are we talking here?

 
  #3  
Old 05-21-2003 | 08:24 AM
ddurant's Avatar
ddurant
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
bed not square

about 3/8 " in the 9 " wide outside boards
 
  #4  
Old 05-21-2003 | 08:57 AM
ferguson777's Avatar
ferguson777
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 1
bed not square

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,

 
  #5  
Old 05-21-2003 | 09:03 AM
ddurant's Avatar
ddurant
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
bed not square

thanks

i will give it a try
 
  #6  
Old 05-21-2003 | 12:07 PM
Kenny's Avatar
Kenny
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,484
Likes: 4
From: New Egypt, New Jersey
bed not square

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.
 

Last edited by Kenny; 05-21-2003 at 12:10 PM.
  #7  
Old 05-21-2003 | 12:10 PM
ddurant's Avatar
ddurant
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
bed not square

Kenny

no i have not checked with square. will try that tonight
 
  #8  
Old 05-21-2003 | 12:59 PM
jniolon's Avatar
jniolon
old and in the way
Joined: Jul 1997
Posts: 5,759
Likes: 796
From: Beautiful Hueytown Alabam
Club FTE Gold Member
bed not square

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
 
  #9  
Old 05-21-2003 | 02:34 PM
ddurant's Avatar
ddurant
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
bed not square

John

what about the finder bolts, they are attached to the running boards right?
 
  #10  
Old 05-21-2003 | 04:05 PM
jniolon's Avatar
jniolon
old and in the way
Joined: Jul 1997
Posts: 5,759
Likes: 796
From: Beautiful Hueytown Alabam
Club FTE Gold Member
bed not square

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
 
  #11  
Old 05-21-2003 | 05:38 PM
fatfenders's Avatar
fatfenders
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 123
From: Iowa
bed not square

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.
 
  #12  
Old 05-21-2003 | 07:32 PM
ddurant's Avatar
ddurant
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
bed not square

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.
 
  #13  
Old 05-21-2003 | 09:25 PM
fatfenders's Avatar
fatfenders
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 123
From: Iowa
bed not square

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?
 
  #14  
Old 05-22-2003 | 05:36 AM
Jim VA.'s Avatar
Jim VA.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Western Shore of Virginia
bed not square

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.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
medicBC
General NON-Automotive Conversation
4
03-15-2023 04:58 PM
joegeds
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
12-17-2013 12:55 PM
KoolAidMan888
1999 to 2016 Super Duty
16
03-08-2011 07:40 AM
learpilot
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
01-03-2006 10:53 AM



Quick Reply: bed not square



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:48 PM.