Front panel spot welded to bedside?

[Mack B]

Has anyone ever ran into this? I’ve got other bedsides here that wasn’t and I’ve never heard it mentioned here.

I’m attempting to remove the bedside.

I’ve 100% positive I have every bolt loose. I can move the entire bedside other than the front. I can even wiggle the very top of said front corner. As well as I can see into that gap I can see about 5 divots that are possibly spot welds? Between the second and third bolt. I can’t see any marks on the inside of the bed to make drilling easier.

I really wanted to disassemble rather than pull the bed whole because of space issues. Any ideas for something I could use to break the spotwelds. (Im picturing a really long putty knife) or perhaps I could swing the bedsides around from the back and see if they break? Open to any idears.

[LT1 Burb]

Those spot welds are for tieing the inner and outer skins together. The only weld is a tack at the lower bottom of the rear cross sill.

[Mack B]

Originally Posted by LT1 Burb

Those spot welds are for tieing the inner and outer skins together. The only weld is a tack at the lower bottom of the rear cross sill.

Well crap. There was a healthy dose of sealant used on the wheel tubs, I guess there is a good chance the last person that did this used it here as well.

Thanks for the help!

[faribran]

What part of LOWER alabama are you located?

[Mack B]

Originally Posted by faribran

What part of LOWER alabama are you located?

I’m just north of Mobile county, close to the casina. What part you from?

[Mack B]

Originally Posted by Mack B

.....healthy dose of sealant used......here as well......

Sho was. Although it practically jumped off with a slight tug tonight.

Anyone know if these spline bolts in the bed strips are fac-tree or a po’s idea?

I had known this from being under the truck but thought I’d share. Someone used reclaimed pine paneling for the bed. The picture is of the underside, an example of the top is visible right below it. It was completely unprotected, no idea if it wore away or never was finished. I’ve had the truck 8 years and it hasn’t changed any, so it’s probably going to stay this way a while longer.

[LT1 Burb]

Originally Posted by Mack B

Sho was. Although it practically jumped off with a slight tug tonight.

Anyone know if these spline bolts in the bed strips are fac-tree or a po’s idea?

I had known this from being under the truck but thought I’d share. Someone used reclaimed pine paneling for the bed. The picture is of the underside, an example of the top is visible right below it. It was completely unprotected, no idea if it wore away or never was finished. I thought I would share, I’ve had the truck 8 years and it hasn’t changed any, so it’s probably going to stay this way a while longer.

Definitely not factory , but a great ideal to stop them from spinning.

[Mack B]

Originally Posted by LT1 Burb

Definitely not factory , but a great ideal to stop them from spinning.

Thank you for the help! I hope your truck does/did well at auction. It's definitely beautiful.

[Captainfab]

I thought that the splined shank bolts were factory original. Every original truck I have tore apart has had them.

[LT1 Burb]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I thought that the splined shank bolts were factory original. Every original truck I have tore apart has had them.

Really, you might be right , come to think about it I have had to use a cut off wheel to remove all the ones I have parted out.

[oem4me]

Indeed, the splined bolts are factory. Save as many as you can upon disassembly. the fact that they are pressed into the strips makes reassembly a lot easier, as the bolt stays put.