Wood Bed Conversion

[Cruck]

Hey!

I am looking to convert the bed of my 77 SWB fleetside to wood. I know this was not an available option on the bed originally. I am having difficulty sourcing the strips to hold the wood in place. Mar-K offers a kit to do it, that requires replacing the front panel of the bed. My thought was just to "pinch fit" front to back without the need for the clips or whatever brackets they use on the front. Also, the bed is completely apart does anyone have the inside dimensions of the bed?

 

[Bennyt]

It was a rare factory option but longbed only. They pop up for sale occasionally. I buy the stainless strips from speedway

Not familiar with the mar k kit and couldn't find on site

 

[Cruck]

Thanks for that information. By chance do you know the bed dimensions, my bed has been taken apart.

 

[Bennyt]

Thanks for that information. By chance do you know the bed dimensions, my bed has been taken apart.

What dimensions are you looking for? I guess my real question is how are you trying to adapt the wood floor? There is going to be a lot of fabrication involved unless there is a kit that I don't know about. I know you referenced MarK but if you could provide a link.

With wood being thicker than sheet metal, you essentially have to raise the bed floor up the thickness of the wood for clearance. Also d/t the thickness, it complicates any C-notch or drop shackles if you plan on lowering the truck.

 

[Bennyt]

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[Cruck]

That looks great! Ok, this is new information to me. I am learning this on the fly, I have never done this or anything remotely close to it. When I purchase the strips to hold down the wood, I need proper length. I also need to the quantity and width of wood boards needed. Could you please provide me with how you completed this? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Your bed looks great!

 

[Bennyt]

What you are looking at doing is a serious amount of fabrication. None of my measurements would be the same since mine is a factory wood floor and uses different front and rear panel and has the flanges. Also different cross rails/ supports

If I were to convert a steel floor to wood, I think I'd cut out the entire sheetmetal floor(don't touch/ remove the cross rails/supports) leaving a 3/4" lip all the way around that wood can be placed down on as a start.

I spent close to $5k on the bed not including bodywork/ paint and that is with a complete wood bed to start off with. It is an expensive process. $750 in fabrication/ rust repair of the flanges and to cut the 4 flanges down from long to short. The stainless strips were $400. Those bolts are special serrated bolts that are $5 each. The factory bed uses 100 roughly. Less with the bed strips with hidden fasteners. The actual wood was the cheapest part at $300 plus another $100 in stain. 11 pine boards and 7 unique profiles.

3 factors greatly increased the costs and work; shortening, C-notch, rear gas tank. Additionally the factory assembled the entire bed and then painted it all together right over the wood. I had to build a temporary plywood floor to hold it all together and square and than swap out a little at a time with the stained pine once on the truck. I definitely would do things differently a second time and plan to make some changes in a couple years.

The truck is in Phoenix and you are welcome to come see/ measure anything you like. I'll gladly share any measurements with you but I don't think they will be relevant as it is entirely different.