[SanJosesSteve]

7 years ago I replaced the original wood bed in my 59 GMC. (What was left of it.) I noticed some protected slivers of wood had black paint on them. A friend told me that when new, GMC coated the wood with "Lamp Black" to preserve them. No fancy varnishes or stain were used.

When I got my new pine bed kit, I brushed both sides of the wood with POR-15. Today the finish is a dull black with a few tiny spots where a shovel has nicked the coating off. (I haul gravel in it periodically.) Other than those little spots, it looks great. Totally zero maintenance and my truck has not seen the inside of a garage since 1992! -Steve