Steel bed floors???????? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

72dually · 03-01-2005, 01:55 AM

Why isnt anyone repopping these, I dont get it
I cant be the only one that prefers the steel floor?

super72bb · 03-01-2005, 02:17 AM

I agree, nothing spells quality like a super straight bed floor. In most cases you can tell how the truck has been treated and what sort of life it has had if you look at the steel floor.

SLS · 03-01-2005, 09:08 AM

I discussed this very situation with a man who used to manufacture transmissions from scratch (Doug Nash), and he reasoned that no one is reproducing them because the costs of the tool and die work to make the stamper would be very large...and the the actual machine to stamp such a big piece (along with its die) would be HUGE. I'll take his opinion to heart, as he had a huge building here filled with all kinds of machines for manufacturing transmission pieces and parts...so he would have a pretty good idea about the costs of such machinery and the manufacturing of parts.

I was hoping he would want to get into reproducing them (long story), and a few other things that are not currently being repoped...........but the costs of tooling up and purchasing a stamper to handle such a large unit was astronomical...at least to a modest guy like me.

Considering the number of units we would have had to have sold to recoup...against the 'guesstimated' volume of demand (coupled with the price of what we would have had to sell the unit for, advertising, marketing, building space, ect, ect, ect....) it was out of the question.

JMHO on the subject.

silvertonguedevil · 03-01-2005, 10:37 AM

super72bb--is that the bed for your truck?

lngbed71 · 03-01-2005, 11:34 AM

We know how many bolts hold that bed on! Now, if only I could find a couple of goons to help carry the thing, I wouldn't worry about repops

That is an awesome bed!!

Peregrine · 03-01-2005, 11:53 AM

LMC sells full floors for 73-80-something trucks and 12 inch by 24 inch patch panels for 67-72. I know we all hate LMC, but they do have them in the catalog.....

silvertonguedevil · 03-01-2005, 12:09 PM

I wonder why they would sell full floors for the 73-87 trucks but not the 67-72's?

SLS · 03-01-2005, 02:39 PM

" wonder why they would sell full floors for the 73-87 trucks but not the 67-72's?"

The number of units on the road. Consider how many more 73-87's are still pounding the pavement compared to 67-72's. Around my area there is no comparison...the 73-87's outnumber the earlier trucks in HUGE numbers.

Supply and demand.

silvertonguedevil · 03-01-2005, 02:48 PM

True enough I guess....but how many 73-87's are being fully restored versus the 67-72's? That's the angle I was going with.

pat · 03-01-2005, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72dually

Why isnt anyone repopping these, I dont get it
I cant be the only one that prefers the steel floor?

I would definitely rather have a steel bed. I have an almost perfect shortwide wood bed, but would trade it in an instant for a good short wide steel bed.
Id just rather have it to line-x it and not scratch it up so much. Plus, I havent seen much on easy ways to go from wood to metal.

**Ironhorse** · 03-01-2005, 06:51 PM

To bad your so far from the flatlands of Kansas. I have a steel floor for a 8' LWB complete with wheel wells that is really nice. Surface rust only,leaning up against an out building. Was going to use it on my '71 4x4 and decided not to. Line-x'd the existing bed and am pleased with it. Would like to sell but for a local pickup only. Shipping would be astronomical on such an item.

Dano69c10 · 03-01-2005, 06:59 PM

You know what is wrong with the repro market is that no one in it gives a damn about classic cars and trucks. It's all about money! Some (not all) 67-72 repro parts vendors are just in it for the cash also! When I drive by my local parts vendors, I don't even see a 67-72 Chevy truck in the employee lot. The salespeople for the most part aren't even as knowledgeable most guys on this board.

The prices for repro parts are outrageous, just price a 69 grille! Damn I thought chevy went to an aluminum grille to save money over steel grilles. Think about it, is that sheet of aluminum really worth the price they're asking? Why do some vendors charge $500+ for a grill and other vendors charge $250+ for the same grille, tell me it's not to make a greedy profit. I know there's labor and machinery, but give me a break. The only stuff that's affordable is the small stuff made in Asia.

You can't tell me that making steel beds for 67-72 p'ups would not be profitable. It's just that manufacturing execs do not understand the market and do not own a classic car/truck.

For example no one wants to repro LWB fleetside bedsides. Where I live LWBs outnumber SWBs by at least 4:1. Hell, I go days without seeing a SWB. Everyday I see at least 4 LWB's. Somewhere some manufacturing exec got it in his head that no one would want to restore a LWB, and so be it!
Let's be logical: If everyone is carrying wood bed kits, moulding kits, etc. for LWBs then doesn't it seem like there's a market of LWB owners? I think there are more LWBs than SWBs, but that doesn't stop them from making SWB bedsides. Every vendor carries LWB stepside beds, I've seen two original LWB stepsides in my life, that doesn't stop them from making those bedsides. I think that there are more LWB fleetsides than stepsides.

Here's an idea get the machinery and material and send it to Asia or Mexico. Pay some guys over there 25 cents a day and manufacture LWB bedsides and steel bed floors. It's not like they would be taking jobs away from Americans because no one here is doing that job!

Hell someone get me the phone, some LWB fleetside bedsides, and a steel floor to use as prototypes and I'll start my own manufacturing business!

Done ranting...feels good!
I may be wrong....but I may also be right!
Just my $0.02
Dano

SCOTI · 03-01-2005, 07:47 PM

It would seem more profitable, therefore realistic, if a generic steel floor was made in the 8ft length, which could then be cut down for swb trucks. Add enough material to the sides to allow 'trim to fit' for various year models. One die could cover alot of applications, so your investment would have a greater return potential.

Heck I considered a 3-pc flat floor @ one time: 1 center 4X8 sheet of steel/aluminum + 2 side pieces notched for the wheeltubs. You could use wood floor strips to cover up the 3 seams. It was just an idea that came to mind while lying in bed one night wondering what to do about the rotted wood floor in my beater.

71Rat · 03-01-2005, 08:02 PM

a company called "rolling steal" used to make bed floors in 2 pieces a left and a right, they just had to be fit and welded together. that was the best i was able to find when i was looking for a floor for my truck. last i heard was it would take them close to 3 months to get me a floor and then ship it out... at the same time i found a guy who had a long bed taken apart and was going to cut it for his blazer but he sold his blazer. so i never followed up on the rolling steal company.

hope this helps someone
Rat

72dually · 03-01-2005, 08:19 PM

A buddy and I are going to cut a long bed floor, just to see how it will come out, he's a welder by trade, there's still primo examples of longbed floors out here in the boneyards, but I'd still pay good money for a new one for a shorty if they were available

woodchip · 03-01-2005, 08:55 PM

You can get steel bed floor panels for longbed &short bed for $75.00 each Lh &Rh.Cut for short bed at Classic Muscle restoration parts Mordern Chevrolet in Winston Salem N.C. I don't know what the shiping would be . WWW.oldmusclecars.com

The part#for left side is 401-74L for the right side 501-74R

the price on the web was $84.95

chipflyer · 03-01-2005, 09:14 PM

Hey ironhorse, what are you asking for that steel floor. I may be interested.

Jeff

**Ironhorse** · 03-01-2005, 10:55 PM

chipflyer, needing $200 firm on the bed floor. If interested I can do digital pics to your email or post on the board.

**passthebuck** · 03-01-2005, 11:12 PM

I looked bigtime for a good bedfloor near me & I had zero luck. I live where rust goes on vacation & so I've been welding two ok floors plus some square tubing into a floor I can be proud of. It'll be insanely strong! I love that floor in the above pic too though. I'm going to have a working truck that will be line-x'ed so it'll solid but not too straight.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=138385

72dually · 03-01-2005, 11:35 PM

woodchip......... Thanks for the tip, Im on it, waiting for a shipping quote

687980chevy · 03-06-2005, 02:15 AM

Here you go. Tabco has em $91.56 each L and R half . And best of all made in the USA!!!

http://www.tabcobodyparts.com/html/t...f_contents.htm

chipflyer · 03-06-2005, 09:37 AM

I think that the pieces from Tabco will not have the 90 degree bend at the tailgate end like the originals did, its just a big flat piece. It would be perfect if you were just going to patch a floor and didn't need the back 3 inches, but it is useless to me, as I need the lip end to make it right.
Just something to think about.

03-01-2005, 01:55 AM	#1
72dually Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 687	Steel bed floors???????? Why isnt anyone repopping these, I dont get it I cant be the only one that prefers the steel floor?

03-01-2005, 02:17 AM	#2
super72bb Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: calgary,Alberta,Canada Posts: 387	I agree, nothing spells quality like a super straight bed floor. In most cases you can tell how the truck has been treated and what sort of life it has had if you look at the steel floor. Attached Images __________________ 1972 CHEYENNE SUPER SWB BLACK. 402 BB, TH400, AIR, TILT, TACH, BUCKETS, CRUISE, AM/FM, 8 TRACK. My build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post7120181

03-01-2005, 09:08 AM	#3
SLS Finish the'71..or bust! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Nashville, TN. Posts: 441	I discussed this very situation with a man who used to manufacture transmissions from scratch (Doug Nash), and he reasoned that no one is reproducing them because the costs of the tool and die work to make the stamper would be very large...and the the actual machine to stamp such a big piece (along with its die) would be HUGE. I'll take his opinion to heart, as he had a huge building here filled with all kinds of machines for manufacturing transmission pieces and parts...so he would have a pretty good idea about the costs of such machinery and the manufacturing of parts. I was hoping he would want to get into reproducing them (long story), and a few other things that are not currently being repoped...........but the costs of tooling up and purchasing a stamper to handle such a large unit was astronomical...at least to a modest guy like me. Considering the number of units we would have had to have sold to recoup...against the 'guesstimated' volume of demand (coupled with the price of what we would have had to sell the unit for, advertising, marketing, building space, ect, ect, ect....) it was out of the question. JMHO on the subject. Last edited by SLS; 03-01-2005 at 09:22 AM.

03-01-2005, 10:37 AM	#4
silvertonguedevil Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Seaside, Oregon Posts: 1,789	super72bb--is that the bed for your truck? __________________ -Greg My Chevy trucks, past and present: 1962 C10 SB Fleetside 1964 C10 LB Fleetside BBW 1966 C10 SB Fleetside 1966 C10 SB Fleetside BBW 1968 C10 SB Fleetside 1971 C10 LB Fleetside 1971 C10 SB Fleetside 1972 C10 SB Fleetside Cheyenne 1972 C10 SB Fleetside Cheyenne Super 1972 C10 LB Fleetside Cheyenne Super 1974 C20 Cheyenne 1979 K5 Blazer Cheyenne 1982 K10 SB Fleetside Custom Deluxe 1982 K10 SB Fleetside Scottsdale 1986 C10 SB Fleetside Silverado 2008 Silverado 1500 4x4

03-01-2005, 11:34 AM	#5
lngbed71 Nothing fits but the oil Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gaston, Indiana Posts: 424	We know how many bolts hold that bed on! Now, if only I could find a couple of goons to help carry the thing, I wouldn't worry about repops That is an awesome bed!! __________________ Land of the free Because of the brave

03-01-2005, 11:53 AM	#6
Peregrine Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, Ky Posts: 329	LMC sells full floors for 73-80-something trucks and 12 inch by 24 inch patch panels for 67-72. I know we all hate LMC, but they do have them in the catalog..... __________________ Brian 72 C10 longbed 350/th400 Let the world change you and you will change the world.

03-01-2005, 12:09 PM	#7
silvertonguedevil Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Seaside, Oregon Posts: 1,789	I wonder why they would sell full floors for the 73-87 trucks but not the 67-72's? __________________ -Greg My Chevy trucks, past and present: 1962 C10 SB Fleetside 1964 C10 LB Fleetside BBW 1966 C10 SB Fleetside 1966 C10 SB Fleetside BBW 1968 C10 SB Fleetside 1971 C10 LB Fleetside 1971 C10 SB Fleetside 1972 C10 SB Fleetside Cheyenne 1972 C10 SB Fleetside Cheyenne Super 1972 C10 LB Fleetside Cheyenne Super 1974 C20 Cheyenne 1979 K5 Blazer Cheyenne 1982 K10 SB Fleetside Custom Deluxe 1982 K10 SB Fleetside Scottsdale 1986 C10 SB Fleetside Silverado 2008 Silverado 1500 4x4

03-01-2005, 02:39 PM	#8
SLS Finish the'71..or bust! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Nashville, TN. Posts: 441	*" wonder why they would sell full floors for the 73-87 trucks but not the 67-72's?"* The number of units on the road. Consider how many more 73-87's are still pounding the pavement compared to 67-72's. Around my area there is no comparison...the 73-87's outnumber the earlier trucks in HUGE numbers. Supply and demand.

03-01-2005, 02:48 PM	#9
silvertonguedevil Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Seaside, Oregon Posts: 1,789	True enough I guess....but how many 73-87's are being fully restored versus the 67-72's? That's the angle I was going with. __________________ -Greg My Chevy trucks, past and present: 1962 C10 SB Fleetside 1964 C10 LB Fleetside BBW 1966 C10 SB Fleetside 1966 C10 SB Fleetside BBW 1968 C10 SB Fleetside 1971 C10 LB Fleetside 1971 C10 SB Fleetside 1972 C10 SB Fleetside Cheyenne 1972 C10 SB Fleetside Cheyenne Super 1972 C10 LB Fleetside Cheyenne Super 1974 C20 Cheyenne 1979 K5 Blazer Cheyenne 1982 K10 SB Fleetside Custom Deluxe 1982 K10 SB Fleetside Scottsdale 1986 C10 SB Fleetside Silverado 2008 Silverado 1500 4x4

03-01-2005, 06:51 PM	#11
Ironhorse Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Wellington, Ks Posts: 10,118	To bad your so far from the flatlands of Kansas. I have a steel floor for a 8' LWB complete with wheel wells that is really nice. Surface rust only,leaning up against an out building. Was going to use it on my '71 4x4 and decided not to. Line-x'd the existing bed and am pleased with it. Would like to sell but for a local pickup only. Shipping would be astronomical on such an item. __________________ 1971 Chevy 1/2T 4x4 LWB 350 V-8 Was sm465-now 350TH/np205 Tilt, Tach, Towhooks Original Truck AM/FM Wellington, Ks

03-01-2005, 06:59 PM	#12
Dano69c10 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Kali Posts: 2,427	I want to rant for 5-10 minutes, BEWARE! You know what is wrong with the repro market is that no one in it gives a damn about classic cars and trucks. It's all about money! Some (not all) 67-72 repro parts vendors are just in it for the cash also! When I drive by my local parts vendors, I don't even see a 67-72 Chevy truck in the employee lot. The salespeople for the most part aren't even as knowledgeable most guys on this board. The prices for repro parts are outrageous, just price a 69 grille! Damn I thought chevy went to an aluminum grille to save money over steel grilles. Think about it, is that sheet of aluminum really worth the price they're asking? Why do some vendors charge $500+ for a grill and other vendors charge $250+ for the same grille, tell me it's not to make a greedy profit. I know there's labor and machinery, but give me a break. The only stuff that's affordable is the small stuff made in Asia. You can't tell me that making steel beds for 67-72 p'ups would not be profitable. It's just that manufacturing execs do not understand the market and do not own a classic car/truck. For example no one wants to repro LWB fleetside bedsides. Where I live LWBs outnumber SWBs by at least 4:1. Hell, I go days without seeing a SWB. Everyday I see at least 4 LWB's. Somewhere some manufacturing exec got it in his head that no one would want to restore a LWB, and so be it! Let's be logical: If everyone is carrying wood bed kits, moulding kits, etc. for LWBs then doesn't it seem like there's a market of LWB owners? I think there are more LWBs than SWBs, but that doesn't stop them from making SWB bedsides. Every vendor carries LWB stepside beds, I've seen two original LWB stepsides in my life, that doesn't stop them from making those bedsides. I think that there are more LWB fleetsides than stepsides. Here's an idea get the machinery and material and send it to Asia or Mexico. Pay some guys over there 25 cents a day and manufacture LWB bedsides and steel bed floors. It's not like they would be taking jobs away from Americans because no one here is doing that job! Hell someone get me the phone, some LWB fleetside bedsides, and a steel floor to use as prototypes and I'll start my own manufacturing business! Done ranting...feels good! I may be wrong....but I may also be right! Just my $0.02 Dano __________________ '69 Fleet It ain't yours, if you didn't build it!

03-01-2005, 07:47 PM	#13
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 21,931	It would seem more profitable, therefore realistic, if a generic steel floor was made in the 8ft length, which could then be cut down for swb trucks. Add enough material to the sides to allow 'trim to fit' for various year models. One die could cover alot of applications, so your investment would have a greater return potential. Heck I considered a 3-pc flat floor @ one time: 1 center 4X8 sheet of steel/aluminum + 2 side pieces notched for the wheeltubs. You could use wood floor strips to cover up the 3 seams. It was just an idea that came to mind while lying in bed one night wondering what to do about the rotted wood floor in my beater. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

03-01-2005, 08:02 PM	#14
71Rat ran out of money Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: northern, NJ Posts: 925	a company called "rolling steal" used to make bed floors in 2 pieces a left and a right, they just had to be fit and welded together. that was the best i was able to find when i was looking for a floor for my truck. last i heard was it would take them close to 3 months to get me a floor and then ship it out... at the same time i found a guy who had a long bed taken apart and was going to cut it for his blazer but he sold his blazer. so i never followed up on the rolling steal company. hope this helps someone Rat __________________ Modify everything, leave nothing alone!~

03-01-2005, 08:19 PM	#15
72dually Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 687	A buddy and I are going to cut a long bed floor, just to see how it will come out, he's a welder by trade, there's still primo examples of longbed floors out here in the boneyards, but I'd still pay good money for a new one for a shorty if they were available

03-01-2005, 08:55 PM	#16
woodchip Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lexington N.C. Posts: 160	You can get steel bed floor panels for longbed &short bed for $75.00 each Lh &Rh.Cut for short bed at Classic Muscle restoration parts Mordern Chevrolet in Winston Salem N.C. I don't know what the shiping would be . WWW.oldmusclecars.com The part#for left side is 401-74L for the right side 501-74R the price on the web was $84.95 Last edited by woodchip; 03-01-2005 at 09:02 PM.



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03-01-2005, 09:14 PM	#17
chipflyer Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Topeka, Ks Posts: 2,293	Hey ironhorse, what are you asking for that steel floor. I may be interested. Jeff __________________ I'm not a pessimist, I'm just optimistic that bad things are going to happen. 1971 Cheyenne Super K10 - tilt, cruise, air, am/fm, tow hooks, factory buckets! 1986 Jeep J10 pickup, - 5.3L Vortec with 4L60e and NP241.

03-01-2005, 10:55 PM	#18
Ironhorse Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Wellington, Ks Posts: 10,118	chipflyer, needing $200 firm on the bed floor. If interested I can do digital pics to your email or post on the board. __________________ 1971 Chevy 1/2T 4x4 LWB 350 V-8 Was sm465-now 350TH/np205 Tilt, Tach, Towhooks Original Truck AM/FM Wellington, Ks

03-01-2005, 11:12 PM	#19
passthebuck Sisyphus was my mentor! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA Posts: 984	I looked bigtime for a good bedfloor near me & I had zero luck. I live where rust goes on vacation & so I've been welding two ok floors plus some square tubing into a floor I can be proud of. It'll be insanely strong! I love that floor in the above pic too though. I'm going to have a working truck that will be line-x'ed so it'll solid but not too straight. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=138385 __________________ passthebuck #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car

03-01-2005, 11:35 PM	#20
72dually Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 687	woodchip......... Thanks for the tip, Im on it, waiting for a shipping quote

03-06-2005, 02:15 AM	#21
687980chevy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hilly Southern Indiana! Posts: 201	TABCO bed floor halves Here you go. Tabco has em $91.56 each L and R half . And best of all made in the USA!!! http://www.tabcobodyparts.com/html/t...f_contents.htm Attached Images __________________ 68 K-10,79 K-10,80 C-30 57 chevy convertible 79 Z28

03-06-2005, 09:37 AM	#22
chipflyer Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Topeka, Ks Posts: 2,293	I think that the pieces from Tabco will not have the 90 degree bend at the tailgate end like the originals did, its just a big flat piece. It would be perfect if you were just going to patch a floor and didn't need the back 3 inches, but it is useless to me, as I need the lip end to make it right. Just something to think about. __________________ I'm not a pessimist, I'm just optimistic that bad things are going to happen. 1971 Cheyenne Super K10 - tilt, cruise, air, am/fm, tow hooks, factory buckets! 1986 Jeep J10 pickup, - 5.3L Vortec with 4L60e and NP241.

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