10/16-More Pictures--Paint prep and more drama...

[Cal_Gary]

Well I finished my fording exhaust mount repair, then have moved to the end of my bed. My intention was to use filler panels to replace the crusty bed rear bottom. As the pictures will attest, that's not going to happen, and I'm making arrangements with John Bizal for an entire rear panel....

Always something, huh?
Gary

[T. Highway]

Gary,

Who put all of that stuff inside of there? You know that's why it rusted out.

Bert

[WarrenD]

The deeper you dig, the more you find. Paint it with a broom and you're done!

[Cal_Gary]

Hey that's the good side! I can only figure that the bed was stored so everything flowed to the back when it rained or snowed with the trash accumulating and cancering out the internals. Got my money order off to John today.

Anyway, with that section on hold I moved over to the driver's side hole by the cargo box door. It was the size of a quarter until I started chipping-ended up with a 1 inch by 3 and 1/2 inch patch panel to spot-weld into place. I'll add those pictures later this week.
Gary

[Cal_Gary]

More pictures:

[T. Highway]

Gary,

Looks like you are making some good progress.

Bert

[Cal_Gary]

Thanks Bert,
Dirty work but you gotta love the progress, huh? I'm still scrambling-snow is still falling in the upper elevations, and this year I WANT TO GET OUT IN IT!!!
Gary

[Sal]

Gary. At least your side "L" brackets appear to be in good shape. Mine were totally shot and I had to fabricate new ones.
Looks like your making good progress..

Sal

[Cal_Gary]

The left is worse than the right, but nothing like the old ones in my old bed (that I replaced with THIS one-tell you how bad the old one was....)
Gary

[Cal_Gary]

Today I put a solid 4 hours on the truck, specifically on the bed end-primered it, let it dry, then installed it. Learned a few tricks along the way, too. By leaving the right-side bracket in place, removing the left bracket, setting it loosely in the left end of the panel, then loosening up the front bed mounting bolts (haven't installed the middle ones yet), then jacked up the left end of the bed. This allowed me slide the panel onto the right side, (clearing the end of the frame), flex out the left side panel just enough to coax the left bed end inside and up, into its proper place, then bolted it up, except the 6 phillips-head 5/16 bolts that attached the floor to the end panel. Even my Fastenal store doesn't have replacements so if anybody has spares or knows a source, please let me know. I'll post pictures in a day or two.
Gary

[T. Highway]

You should of bought the bolts from John when you ordered the other part. That's were I bought mine.

Page 12 @ $.45 each plus shipping.

Bert

[k8icu]

I think John and Midwest was selling the phillips head bed bolts. Check with him and see if he still has any.

[Cal_Gary]

Some photos....