Found my bed

[57chevyman]

Just going thru what I have. I have rear sill , and three other cross sills.... Of the three cross sills, two are identical, and one is slightly different . Where do I position these sills(in what order front to back), or are the three sills supposed to all match?

Also, can someone please post a pic of how the step bracket attaches to the frame ?

[Clarance J]

Hey,57chevyman. BaldeagleSR has a picture in his build thread that might help you. Its when he was building and painting his bed. Its starts about post 53. Old Yeller my build 56 GM. Hope that's what you are looking for.

[57chevyman]

Got my new rear cross sill today ! The one that came with my bed was pretty beat up

[57chevyman]

lookin better

[futameca]

They are looking good.

Can't wait when the time comes to get ours.

[57chevyman]

Sprayed some

[eagleuh1]

Looks nice.

[57chevyman]

This sill is shaped different on the ends than the other two.... Where does this one go ? If the front one is #1, what position does the different sill go in?

[Russell Ashley]

It goes in position three which puts it near the rear end of the spring. Apparently it's made like that for clearance to keep the spring from hitting it if the truck is loaded down enough.

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

It goes in position three which puts it near the rear end of the spring. Apparently it's made like that for clearance to keep the spring from hitting it if the truck is loaded down enough.

Thank you for the info

[_Ogre]

your wife is gonna be pissed when she see's what you did to her sheets

[Speedbumpauto]

Nice color choice.

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

your wife is gonna be pissed when she see's what you did to her sheets

Haha. I picked the oldest looking one

[57chevyman]

question - i know theres square rubber mats that go between the frame and the sills.....but ive seen some people have to add wood blocks to raise the bed up? does that apply to a '57 stepside? ive seen videos of beds being installed with and without wood blocks?

also, what is the preferred method to assemble and install the bed? ive seen some people assemble the bed off the truck and then install the bed, while ive seen other people that install the sills and wood first on the truck, and then build the bed onto that?

unless anyone says otherwise, id plan to assemble the bed off the truck, with the exception of the middle wood boards. my fenders and steps are already attached to the bedsides and staying that way.

[OrrieG]

I assembled mine off the truck, allowed better access for squaring and tweaking it, I had to REALLY apply force to get it to square up. I will install the bed wood with it on the frame. Shims between the frame and cross sills will depend on how the bed lines up with the cab lines. On Fleetsides the upper horizontal crease lines up with the door crease.

[1-ton of fun]

Originally Posted by 57chevyman

This sill is shaped different on the ends than the other two.... Where does this one go ? If the front one is #1, what position does the different sill go in?

Rear most, over the leaf spring.

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by 1-ton of fun

Rear most, over the leaf spring.

Thank u

[57chevyman]

Ordered the square rubber pads today

[57chevyman]

So , I'll be assembling the bed at my mechanics shop and I want I it to go as smooth as possible. Here is the instructions I've written for myself

1. assemble the bed off the truck without the wood floor , with the rear sill.
2 bolt down the three cross sills to the frame, with the "different" one back by the leaf springs
3 with four guys, lift the bed onto the truck
4 bolt down the outermost wood boards
5 install the remaining wood boards and strips

[57chevyman]

Can someone confirm how the step hanger attaches to the front sill? Look like the hanger goes in the inside of the sill and the bolt holes in the sill are closer to the front of the truck ?

[Russell Ashley]

The step braces do bolt into the front cross sill as you suspect. This should position them so that the holes line up with the holes in the front of the step.

FYI, there is another brace for the step and fender. It is a steel rod with threads on one end and an eye for a bolt on he other end. Goes from frame to outer bolt where fender and step bolt together.

[_Ogre]

i assembled the whole bed before installing it on truck following your same basic instructions



10 minutes later; truk looked like this



here's the best pic i could find of the front cross member on truck



and another when i first took the bed off truk, open side to the rear

[57chevyman]

...

[twinsemi]

Looking good, Billy Ray. And your wheels, too.

[1project2many]

The bed looks good. I assembled the sides and end crossmembers off the truck then I finished assembly on the truck. I did it alone and after that I usually try to recommend getting help.

In this picture:


I have that same battery charger. I rescured it from an old dealership. It's one old heavy duty unit and it can provide a helluva boost when needed.

I now return you to the previous topic.