I think the plywood will last well, I bought all my boards individually and it cost about $350 so I know what you mean about cost!

You could even just put a coat of varnish on the wood so it looks nice until it starts getting scratched up, it will probably last fairly well with just spar varnish on top and try to keep painting the edges until it will not absorb anymore paint?

 

Take a look at the Mar-K test boards. You will be surprised at how the wood looks after just a year. Even some of the best marine stuff. The paint didn't change a bit.

I'll probably get some nice bed wood after the truck is painted but, use Abe's idea of the rubber mat to cover it most of the time.

I don't mind spending some money on some nice bed wood. Just not ready yet.

Thanks for the feedback everybody.

 

Lots of nice detailed work going on there. Trucks looking great!
Keep up the good work.

 

Thanks! It's getting there. Got the "Temporary" bed wood fitted today. It's not tightened down yet. I still have another coat or two of paint to put on.

The bed was a little tweeked and not quite square so it took some doin to get everything fitted and all those bolts to fall into place. LOTS of in and back out with all the pieces.



Everything fits!! Haven't welded the ends of the cross members up yet. If I decide to do that it will be when the truck comes apart for paint and body.

 

I didn't cut grooves in the wood for the strips as suggested since I used plywood. Just sitting on top until I get the good stuff. After paint.


Not bolted down tight yet. Only one coat of paint so far.

 

I'm happy with the look and the fit. It'll suck down tighter when I tighten the hardware. We'll see how it holds up.


I got the strips from Bruce Horkey's as well as the anti-squeak pads and the 8 bed mounting bolts. I bought bulk 5/16" stainless carriage bolts, nuts and washers for the rest of the bed cheap on line.

I have a usable Truck!!! I'll be getting loads of landscape rock on Monday. Gotta take a break from the truck and get the yard finished for Momma.

 

That looks Good Scott!

Make sure you tighten them all down evenly so you don't crush it into the wood in one place.

 

You mean I shouldn't use my 1" drive impact? Thanks! I'll be careful. Especially after all the test fitting that went on. I really don't want to start over already.

 

HAHA you could if you wanted. I put all my boards in being careful to bring the bolt for each strip up evenly, then on the last center board I tightened the back two first then the rest and when I came up topside I was horrified! I loosened them but it was too late after all that work with the Oak still looks ok in the end

 

That looks good! Oil base paint or latex?

Don't over tighten the bed strips! They will bend.

 

It's oil base Valspar Tractor and Implement Paint. Got it for my frame. Thanks for the warnings about tightening the bed strips. I'll be careful.

Too bad the replacement strips aren't as heavy duty as the originals. The originals are slightly wider too.

 

Got'r done......almost. The eBay vendor only sent me 38 of the 100 bolts I ordered so I'm short 16 bolts to finish the bed and all the extras I was SUPPOSED to have for other stuff.

 

Notice the lip at the tail gate end of the wood. The wood really needs to be 1" thick or better to sit flush.

 

Nice job on that bed! Question on the distributor modifications: Are you running full manifold vacuum for the advance, or using ported vacuum from the carb? Seems like you would need to block off the passage to the venturi port if using the stock port on the carb. Might have to block off a passage at the gasket between the main body and the throttle body if you haven't already. I don't see a battery hold-down in your pictures - unless it's just out of sight. Thanks for all the neat pictures! - Bob

 

Thanks Bob, I drilled and tapped the plug that went in the intake manifold on the rear of the intake below the carb. I can take a pic tomorrow. I plugged the port in the carb for the stock distributor.

I curved the distributor as recommended by some experts on the Ford Barn. Runs great and doesn't look like a Chevy HEI. (Even though they work great)

No battery hold down. Didn't have one when I got the truck. The #00 battery cables I made are so stiff they hold it pretty steady. Guess I better fab one to be safe.

The truck in your avatar looks bad ***.