Disassembling the Bed

[GeorgeLeonard]

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[DransportGarage]

On TF trucks the rear cross piece just bolts in. Someone with an AD truck needs to respond here. Of course it's always possible that a PO owned a welder!

[GeorgeLeonard]

@DransportGarage How do you know it just bolts together on TF. Did you ever try to separate original parts? Repro parts would probably just be bolted together but these are original factory parts. Regardless, even if the po owned a welder, how do I get them apart? I believe they are just welded at the edge of the seam. I dont know how you could weld together two sheets of metal any other way. (except at the seams)

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by GeorgeLeonard

...Regardless, even if the po owned a welder, how do I get them apart? ...

Okay, I've re-read all your posts and re-looked at all your photos.

It really doesn't matter WHO welded the parts together, they're welded. The way to get welded parts apart is to cut them. It ain't soldering, your can't melt the joint! NOT trying to be a smart@ss, just recapping the obvious (to me).

You may indeed end up ruining one of the four pieces. If it were mine, and I didn't think I could cut it without ruining a part, I'd ruin the least expensive to replace part. Typically, that is the rear cross piece.

Here's a sampling of the costs to replace the rear cross piece:

https://www.tuckersparts.com/Bed-Cro...-BCS-4731.html

http://www.mcssl.com/SecureCart/View...249b8ed&bhcp=1

[GeorgeLeonard]

Well, if there is a chance of ruining it, I wont cut it. Ill just let it rust off by itself, if it ever does. Im 65 years old so Ill let the next guy worry about it.

I just wanted to know if it could be separated without ruining anything. If it cant, then so be it. I just wanted to know from everyone if I was overlooking something. I cant believe that I am the first person to have ever run into this problem. Most people Ive talked to say that disassembling the bed is a piece of cake- no problem- just take it apart and stand it in the corner. Dont believe everything you hear.

Now back to more pressing issues.

[DransportGarage]

Originally Posted by GeorgeLeonard

@DransportGarage How do you know it just bolts together on TF. Did you ever try to separate original parts? Repro parts would probably just be bolted together but these are original factory parts. Regardless, even if the po owned a welder, how do I get them apart? I believe they are just welded at the edge of the seam. I dont know how you could weld together two sheets of metal any other way. (except at the seams)

I hope I'm remembering correctly, but last year I took the bolts out of mine and took the rear cross piece out. I've kept the bed sides and replaced the rear cross piece. The bed sides don't show any welding. I wish I had a picture before disassembly but I don't. Maybe someone can verify my sanity (or not).

Here's the "after" picture, and I used the original bolt holes in the bed to bolt the new cross piece in.

[GeorgeLeonard]

It seems to me that there are plenty enough bolts to hold the assembly together without welding it. The welds I am dealing with are pretty puny but just enough to be a pain in my butt and keep me from separating the parts. Im not going to be driving this truck in the winter or even in the rain and Ill probably keep it covered most of the time. Chances are, it will never cause me a problem.

Thanks for trying to help.

[Dan in Pasadena]

George,
NOTHING on a 50-60 year old vehicle is necessarily what it originally was. Too many owners and too many shade tree "fixes" over the years. Your welded parts are just the tip of the iceberg on some of these trucks.

[dcbrewer61]

George,
Have you ever used an Air Chisel? You might be able to work it loose with that type of tool assuming you could get it into position. If you choose not to try to break the weld. Get some Naval Jelly at Lowes.. read the instructions, use gloves and eye protection and seal the rust and paint over it. I have had to cut bolt heads out before with a dremel and slowly use a cutting wheel to free a parts. It just took some time and my Bristol Racing pillow.