!977 K10 Bedsides

[Rubber Truck]

Just wondering how easy it is to replace the bedsides?

 

[45tt]

It can be done, but it is time consuming. A buddy of mine did it on both sides of his 84 longbed square. He had to drill out all the spot welds to get them off and then spot weld the new sides back on at the same mount points.

 

[Termite_Delight]

The bedsides are bolted on with one weld at the back of the deck, easy to replace.

 

[DanMcG]

Bedsides (inner and outer panel) are easy as mentioned, but if you're talking just the skins, it's like 44tt said, it's major surgery.

 

[Rubber Truck]

Bedsides (inner and outer panel) are easy as mentioned, but if you're talking just the skins, it's like 44tt said, it's major surgery.

The bedsides are bolted on with one weld at the back of the deck, easy to replace.

I am doing the whole bedside. Do they have anything where the bed floor meets the bedside?

 

[Termite_Delight]

Yes, there are lots of bolts under the bed floor, some are hard to get at.

 

[bucket]

The sealer at the wheel tubs can be a bit tough to get separated. But a rubber mallet should break it free.

 

[DanMcG]

Everything is bolted except for a couple welds at the tailgate post like Termite-Delight mentioned.
Here are the welds on mine.

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[Bennyt]

The rearmost 2-4 bolts are a bit more difficult to get to.
There are usually 2 spot welds on the horizontal as shown in the picture above and two vertical. A long reach die grinder/ cut off wheel helps.

There is a little shield in the rear that needs to come off first as well as the support rods.

I would suggest doing one side at a time and making sure your gaps at the tailgate are perfect before tacking them back together. I've seen a lot of repaired beds that are crooked. I've seen a few trucks where they didn't even bother tacking them together and the owners say it holds up fine. Personally, I would tack them though.

Overall, a fairly easy job. You'll spend more time cutting off the tack welds than anything else.

 

[Gordyg]

Take your time and set box on a proper platform to retain level, soak bolts with nut cracker first and yes the welds are critical to t/gate opening strength and alignment. Never change just the outer. Rule of thumb, buy the most expensive complete panel and you’ll be a lot happier with the outcome.

 

[hoagster]

Purchased new from Auto Metal Direct, and if you have to patient not every bolt hole lines up and just for the front panel there are 20 bolts. Is it hard no just time consuming and frustrating getting it lined up and square.

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