Pickup bed wood floor

[buckeye]

I bought a 58 narrow bed out of Texas for my 62 Champ last fall and now just getting to work on it. Much to my surprise (I'm naive)the floor looked very nice but has lots of bondo covering several holes. I am thinking of 2 options; replacing the floor with CE repo's or going with a wood floor. The Champ is not completly stock so a wood floor is not out of the question. Does anyone have any experience with a wood floor? Where would I find the metal rails that go between the boards? How do you keep it water tight or is that not necessary? If anyone has any suggestions answer here or e-mail me. Thanks

[jimmijim8]

Do a search on LMC truck parts. They have wood flooring and have both steel and stainless steel slide rails. These are for chevy but I am sure they are adaptable. Jimmijim

[N8N]

I did a wood floor for my dad's '73 Chevy, only a couple gotchas:

1) use a good hardwood. Going cheap on the wood is not a good idea.

2) when drilling the mounting holes through the bed floor to the frame, the washers were offset to keep them from rotating in their holes while tightening them down. (they were recessed a little in the bed floor, I made the recesses with a hole saw and chisel, but if you have Forstner bits large enough that would be neater)

3) a previous poster is correct, ISTR the bed strips coming without holes drilled in them which annoyed me at the time but is probably a good thing if you want to use them on another application- not sure where they came from but they are available.

Also, it's a good idea to test fit everything and then disassemble again before finishing the wood and also painting the metal...

good luck,

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
62 Daytona hardtop

http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

[garyash]

For truck bed wood and metal parts, try these two places:
Mar-K

http://www.mar-k.com

Bruce Horkey

http://www.horkeyswoodandparts.com/

Gary Ash
Dartmouth, MA
'48 M5
'65 Wagonaire Commander
'63 Wagonaire Standard

https://www.studegarage.com

[stude freak]

A couple years ago at a car show a red 56 f**d pickup parked next to me.It had a bed made of tongue n groove red cedar in it .I talk ed to the owner n he did all the wood work .It was really stunning.The side of the bed and the front n tail gate was mirrored plexiglass panels. He said he had 10 coats of clear varnish on the wood .Needless to say he got best of show in the truck class. The rest of the truck was immaculte as well.

[rockne10]

Spend some time looking at restored wood beds. Strips come in stainless or galvanized. Carraige bolts are used for assembly, so hole in strips should be square. Carriage bolts on round holes will not sit flush and larger holes will allow them to turn with the nut.

Look also at how the boards are routed to accept the steel strips. When assembled, the "runners" on the strips should be a fraction above the wood, so solid items ride on the steel, rather than scratching or gouging the wood.

Looking, testing and dry-fitting are recommended.

You don't want it water tight. Moisture retention promotes wood rot no matter how well you seal the wood; and you do want the wood well sealed. Moisture should drain through any and all seams.

[DEEPNHOCK]

OK, wood R&R is easy... (read the replies)...
But there are a couple of Stude vendors that make the replacement Stude steel floors. Ever consider that?
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by buckeye

I bought a 58 narrow bed out of Texas for my 62 Champ last fall and now just getting to work on it. Much to my surprise (I'm naive)the floor looked very nice but has lots of bondo covering several holes. I am thinking of 2 options; replacing the floor with CE repo's or going with a wood floor. The Champ is not completly stock so a wood floor is not out of the question. Does anyone have any experience with a wood floor? Where would I find the metal rails that go between the boards? How do you keep it water tight or is that not necessary? If anyone has any suggestions answer here or e-mail me. Thanks

[buckeye]

Thanks for all the info. I have checked out some of the information and there is material and technical advice available to do the wood floor. Thanks again.