Steel Bed Floor?
 

Has anyone ever put a truck together with a bed and used a steel floor? How did you or would you build the floor? I was thinking about doing this and using a 73-87 bed floor.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

Mine has a steel floor... but its not out of another truck... its just two sheets of steel.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

I used diamond plate aluminum for mine, although there have been times I wished I'd used steel diamond plate instead just to increase the weight on the back half of the truck.

To build the floor I used a piece of 3/4" marine plywood the same width as the floor, then split it down the middle so I could slip it under the angle rails on the sides, leaving a joint down the middle. Before installation I coated the wood on all sides with fiberglass resin (no cloth just resin) to completely seal the wood. I then rested 48" wide diamond plate on top and bolted it in place. I didn't have any way to get it under the angle rails, so it's centered and just touching the edges of the rails.

For 10 years I had a Gaylord bed cover installed so nobody could see it anyway. It's certainly not show worthy, but for a working truck it's easy and looks nice. The only pictures I have are very poor quality but show how it looks.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8237/bedfloor002.jpg
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/8566/bedfloor001.jpg

I've crawled under and looked at it and other than having 10 years of road dirt on it, the wood looks good as new with no deterioration.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

You can use the floor out of later trucks. I do remember that they can be used their is a little problem but they do work. I will try and remember

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

I guess I should have mentioned that I'll be doing it in a lwb fleet side. That diamond plate bed looks awesome, but the reason I was thinking of doing a steel floor was to be able to have it rhino lined and use it for some light work duties.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

With some checking and measuring that I've done, the steel floors from the '67-'72's would be a nearly perfect fit into a '63-'66 bed. I have yet to do one but this is what I would suggest.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

Someone put this in years ago (before i was even born):

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...k/53096a77.jpg

I'm getting ready to cut it out. I want to go to wood.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

i have done one and they are a nearly bolt in deal.

there are some goofy things that go on when the 2 are put together but i did it with free parts that were in so so shape to start with.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

TX:

Here are a few photos of a '64 GMC lwb fleetside truck with a steel diamond plate bed, done by the previous owner. It is not show-quality, but super durable.

I like your idea of a factory steel bed floor, as a donor. I think, if done correctly, would look nice.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

I used a 70 lwb fleetside bed floor in my 66 the only thing I found was a spacer about 3/4 inch is needed at the front panel/ or you could move the lip up to accomidate. I will try to post some pics tonight.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

Yes pics would be good! This is what i've been wanting to do.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

put the wood in it! Rhyno line the sides, front and tailgate. then when you need to haul something, roll out your trusty bed mat. this is what I do, the bed mat doesnt stay in the bed, I like my wood and this has kept it nice for years.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

If you're looking into spray in liners go with Line-X. It may cost a little more than Rhino, but I promise you it's worth it.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...k/DSCF1942.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...k/DSCF1941.jpg
this one shows the body lines after the steel floor
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...k/DSCF1845.jpg

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

From the pic the body lines look good, did you have to ajust the bed to get them right?

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

That floor looks like it was made to go in there. I need to find one for mine.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

surprisingly no it lined up fine. I did however have to slightly drill out the holes in the frame. But that may be due to the hitch I welded in the frame.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

Cool! I've been looking for awhile but had no luck finding one, yet.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

I got mine off craigslist and then just hoped it was going to fit. I had a lead on a 73-87 bed but thought the 67-722 would line up better due to the frames being almost identical. .

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

Awesome info guys thanks for the input.

ob1monkey: Can yopu take some close ups of the spacer to show where and how itwas installed?

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

I also have a 67-72 Long Fleet Floor that is going in my '66 Long Fleet Bed. I will take pictures when we are assembling it.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

I did not install it, but if I remember correctly the PO said it was out a 73-87 truck, looks like it lined up perfectly. I would get better pics but my truck is back at the parents while I'm at school.

http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/p...x/DSCN0685.jpg

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

I am interested in putting in a steel floor in my shortbed stepside.... figured I would have to get a bed floor and cut it down. Just found a listing on Craiglsist for a "70's 80's stepside bed for sale or trade" for $85. Is it possible to just switch the fenders and run that bed? (it will have metal floors, right?) I won't buy it just for the floor; poor college kid.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

Yes and No

Yes... you can swap out the fenders but you also need to swap out the correct steps also as they match the fender style,

No.... I think all step-sides in the era you mention had wood floors.

My '65 had a '67-72 bed when I bought it and it had a wood floor. I put 58-66 fenders and steps on it.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

It goes under the steel floor between the lip on the front panel and floor pics would be very dificult to see from underneth. it's to make up for were the wood should be.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

I just ran across this thread, I am looking to do steel in my 78 stepside, i called my local steel recycler and they will custom cut a piece of floor plate steel for $84.95. In 1/8" thick weights 167lbs. This is the diamond plate design. Anyone know if this will be thick enough? The guy said 1/4" would be 305lbs and way more then needed but he said to check around? This seemed to be the easiest way to get it made to fit perfect.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

Heres one I found a while back.........I'm seriously thinking about going to a steel bed like this, even though I already have a new wood bed kit.


http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...00_tmp_org.jpg

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

OB1Monkey
Is that steel bed floor from a 73-87? or a 67-72?

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

Think that bump in the bedside is for a fuel door, so I think it's a 73-87 floor.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

Tubs are 73-87 so floor prob is as well.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

What about the bedside holes where they bolt to the floor? I haven't measured mine yet but maybe you could save me the trouble of having to do so..... Did you have to drill any new holes in the floor to bolt the bedsides or front panel together or are the mounting holes for the 60-66 sheetmetal similar to the 67-72?

I have a floor that I was repairing for my 68 beater that's now sitting in storage (I was going to sell it). I had planned on re-using my wood floor in the 64 but found it's in worse shape vs. what I thought. Like many others.... funds are tight so instead of buying a new wood floor kit, that steel floor is looking to be a really good option.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

I just bought a '70 LWB that has a steel floor in it. I'm thinking of pulling the steel and putting in wood. It looks like I can just unbolt the floor sections and put the wood in. Or am I just making something hard look easy? It also means I'd have the floor panels as surplus if anyone wanted them.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

i have a sheet of diamond plate just sitting in the back of my truck not bolted down but i had the bed and the sheet sprayed with liner and it looks great i just need to figure out how im going to hook it up for good but i like the way it looks.no pics but ill post some tomarrow

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

The front bed panel is different between the steel floors and the wood floors. The one for the wood floors is taller to accomodate the thickness of the wood. That steel floor is one large piece, not sections.....unless someone has cut it up in the past.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

I finished mine awhile back. Got a 72 lwb floor and cut it down. It wasnt too bad to do, always wanted a steel floor now i have one. here are a few pics.
In the first pic i had to trim this section a little, so the back of the bed would fit. I also had to redrill holes in the frame for the bed to bolt down. The last mod was to get the front bed panel rebent to bolt up to the steel floor. Thats all the modifications i had to do.



http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/v...p/DSCN1698.jpg

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/v...p/DSCN1661.jpg


http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/v...p/DSCN1697.jpg

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/v...p/DSCN1702.jpg

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/v...703800x600.jpg

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

I'm going with a steel bed also, just havent had the time to do it yet, it looks pretty simple.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

Here's my contribution... It's not steel, just wood and aluminum

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c7...16299_3111.jpg

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

LMAO!!! Love it Sixxer!!! I dred to ask how many drunken nights u spent acquiring all of those road signs. We used to wake up with road cones in our house after been out drinkin.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

:haha: Sixxer; glad your not it Ca with that, CHP would have a field day with you. Very ingenius though, I'll give you points for that.

Re: Steel Bed Floor?
 

Haha thanks for the comments guys. Don't worry though, I have them under legit circumstances. They are all old and were removed because of either vandalism or other damage by a local public works dept.