Thread: 37 chev pickup box sides?

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box sides on these old trucks are flat, (without the fenders on them). i got a shop to break new sides out of 16 gauge steel, after spot welding the new steak pockets on, steel pipe along the top to simulate the factory roll, and bolting on fiberglass fenders (much frustration) the side are no longer straight. I am not a body guy, i am a mechanic by trade, lol. I am wondering how flat or straight these side actualy end up on most trucks? It s so hard to work with a flat surface! After sliding 4 foot level across them i see waves up to a 1/4 inch. Is this normal? lol. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks

Originally Posted by 37chev

box sides on these old trucks are flat, (without the fenders on them). i got a shop to break new sides out of 16 gauge steel, after spot welding the new steak pockets on, steel pipe along the top to simulate the factory roll, and bolting on fiberglass fenders (much frustration) the side are no longer straight. I am not a body guy, i am a mechanic by trade, lol. I am wondering how flat or straight these side actualy end up on most trucks? It s so hard to work with a flat surface! After sliding 4 foot level across them i see waves up to a 1/4 inch. Is this normal? lol. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks

Stop by the shop this weekend, I'll put ya together some new ones out of 16 ga.!!!!!

Just built a set last week for a guy's 50's F-100, worked great!!!

See there 37chev, all it takes is knowing a Master Fabricator like Dave....

lol well Dave i would love to but i live in northern canada! Don't think i could be there by this weekend. Any tips? thanks

Originally Posted by 37chev

lol well Dave i would love to but i live in northern canada! Don't think i could be there by this weekend. Any tips? thanks

Well, ya better leave early so ya get here before all the donuts are gone!!!!! We usually have a full house on Saturday mornings!!!!!!!!!

Take some blankets and sleep in the truck on the way down.....

It's probably going to be difficult to get those straight now. I have never made bedsides but I think you need to clamp a lot of good heavy straight edges on, full length, then weld real slow checking it often

Originally Posted by 37chev

box sides on these old trucks are flat, (without the fenders on them). i got a shop to break new sides out of 16 gauge steel, after spot welding the new steak pockets on, steel pipe along the top to simulate the factory roll, and bolting on fiberglass fenders (much frustration) the side are no longer straight. I am not a body guy, i am a mechanic by trade, lol. I am wondering how flat or straight these side actualy end up on most trucks? It s so hard to work with a flat surface! After sliding 4 foot level across them i see waves up to a 1/4 inch. Is this normal? lol. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks

My 36 bed panels are in fairly good shape...and yep....there are some waves at the welds. The shop your talking about using....do they have a bead roller? That may help you out some. I've noticed a lot these old trucks have a pattern bead rolled into the area just forward of the fenders and to the rear as well. Were the panels flat to start with before they put them on the brake? Did the brake put the waves in or did it happen while spotting in the rolls? I know it stinks......but you may be better off starting over....reusing only the stake pockets. Did you buy factory stake pockets (not necessary but nice) or are you using some square material? If so the first thing I'd do is cut some new flats.....locate wheel opening.....using the area inside the fender area put in some bead rolls (mine has them)......tack weld some square tubing inside the bed area the full length of the panel (like willowbilly suggested) allowing room for brake.....then brake tops.......carefully start tack welding rolls allowing penty of time to cool between welds.....tack weld stake pockets. I'd leave the sqare tubing (2"?) on the inside of bed until all is complete.

I wish I'd noticed you needed a bed. A guy on Ebay (upper New England states) just sold a bed....two tops....two forward cab assembly's.....rear fenders all for $150. I tried to let Denny know but I dont think he ever saw my post. I'll keep my eye open for a bed for you. The fronts are cheap enough to buy. But the bed sides are pricey!

Dave G

thanks for the input Dave G. The shop i used didn't have a bead roller but i might try finding a shop that does, because that would sure help keep things straight! I think most of my problems started when i cut the large wheel openings (Truck is going to be tubbed). But your right i think its best to start over. Thanks for the tips.

You should have gone to a real sheet m,etal shop and you wouldn't have had to weld the round edges on. These are a set of 34 Dodge bed side that I built last week.

Hmmm. how do they do that? the roll and the imprint on the side, don't have a metal shop in town that does that. Have to look into it for sure, those look great!

I thought you might like to see the bed now that it's finished.