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08-13-2022, 12:11 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Posts: 34
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Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
I am a bit confounded, so I'd appreciate your help. The bed wood rails are held on by 3/8"bolts with square nuts. The nuts are, of course, inside the bed frame rails, underneath, which means a crescent or box end wrench will not reach. That leaves me with sockets.
A 9/16" socket (6 or 12 point) is too big to gain purchase on the square but. A 1/2" socket (6 or 12 point) is too small. I can't find square nut sockets. I need some guidance from my fellow truck owners, please. |
08-13-2022, 12:32 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Burbank CA
Posts: 3,055
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
I seem to remember finding a socket that fit. it's been awhile, so right now I can't tell you what size, whether six or twelve point, SAE or metric, but one of them fits well enough to get it done. Also, vice grips or a crescent wrench can work if you grab the nut end-wise. You'll probably find most of the bed bolts are going to snap off anyway, so getting a little brutal with them is ok.
Be patient. This particular job is a chore, but the new deck will be worth it. Good luck! |
08-13-2022, 12:51 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: TN.
Posts: 8,415
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
When I go to yard sales and flea markets,
I keep an eye out for those 8 point sockets. They are available but kinda High price for no more than they are used. I cannot remember which size is needed for the bed bolts. Here's a link to some. Link: https://www.amazon.com/Urrea-7424S-2...01&sr=8-2&th=1
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08-13-2022, 02:23 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Lexington, SC
Posts: 324
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
If you're just trying to remove them, there's always a chisel and hammer method.
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08-13-2022, 03:41 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Burbank CA
Posts: 3,055
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
I just checked. 12 point, 13mm is your size.
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08-13-2022, 03:49 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: ON, Canada
Posts: 2,176
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
I removed all mine with a sawzall.
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08-15-2022, 05:48 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Posts: 34
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
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08-15-2022, 09:51 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 3,124
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
If they're rusty tighten the nuts and shear the bolts off. Way less pain than loosening them.
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08-15-2022, 09:54 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: central California
Posts: 2,776
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
If you're not going to keep the wood, you just cut/smash/break it out of there and the bolts are easy to get at with the tool of your choice.
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08-15-2022, 10:46 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Posts: 34
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
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08-16-2022, 01:48 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: ON, Canada
Posts: 2,176
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
This is exactly what I did. My uninstall tools were 3lb sledge, impact driver to tighten/break bolts, and the sawzall. Nothing was reused. New wood/strips/hardware.
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08-24-2022, 09:54 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 26
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
Try ebay for 8 point sockets. Craftsman used to make an 8 point set. I picked a new set last year for about $40. There are also people selling the individual sockets if you know the size.
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08-24-2022, 09:56 PM | #13 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Posts: 34
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
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08-25-2022, 07:51 PM | #14 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Posts: 34
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
Well, jayoldschool was right, it turns out. The bolts either snapped or just turned and turned as a unit. I've decided to attack then from the top of the bed with a hammer and a reciprocating saw.
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08-26-2022, 10:32 AM | #15 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: ON, Canada
Posts: 2,176
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
Here was my "before"
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08-26-2022, 10:39 AM | #16 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Posts: 34
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
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08-26-2022, 02:34 PM | #17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Posts: 34
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
What does your bed look like "after"?
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08-27-2022, 11:38 AM | #18 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: ON, Canada
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
Finished pics around post 34
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=583030 |
08-27-2022, 11:45 AM | #19 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Posts: 34
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
That's really great looking.
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08-28-2022, 11:40 AM | #20 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: ON, Canada
Posts: 2,176
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
Best decision I made with the truck. Still looks the same a few years later. And I never have to worry about scratching it!
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08-28-2022, 05:55 PM | #21 |
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Calgary Alberta
Posts: 1,170
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
I just changed a board because it had started to rot out. The rest still look OK but I'll be masking the steel strips and pouring the paint to them. They don't last if not protected when the truck sits outside all year.
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08-28-2022, 06:18 PM | #22 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Posts: 34
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
I just completed the old bed removal. I was hoping to reuse the steel strips but some are rusted through. Guess I'll buy new ones soon.
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08-28-2022, 08:24 PM | #23 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: ON, Canada
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
I used unpolished stainless. You could do the same, and paint black if you want the stock look.
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08-28-2022, 08:44 PM | #24 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arvada, Colorado
Posts: 34
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
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08-28-2022, 08:53 PM | #25 |
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Re: Bed wood, square nuts, need your help
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