squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

[squirrel]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

Mid 60s there were a few. Here's the kind I need...but in better shape? problem is they sell for good money if they're in good shape.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150532028229

[milner351]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

I've thought a lot about the slide in thing - but most people tell me they are a compromise at best. Hopefully you can find one cheap that "works" with this truck.

Absolutely positively must have BIG sway bars front and rear - and GOOD Load Range E tires (10 ply as you know).

You've already played with springs - so if you have to adjust the leafs - you're good to go. Lots of guys run air bags in the rear with those campers too.... another great option.

I love this truck - and I'm a ford guy.... 454's in everything - got to love that rule - are you going to put an over drive in it so it's more practical for longer hauls?

and 4400lb in a half ton! :o

[squirrel]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

With the tall tires and 3.73 gears it should be pretty comfy around 65 mph or maybe 70, which is fine with me.

(the scrap trip in the half ton....I had 4400 lbs in my tandem axle trailer, behind the truck)

[squirrel]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

This bed is fun....I am making progress. The problem is to figure out how much to do to it. I'm leaning towards replacing the boards and bolts, and leaving everything else as is for now, because it's so much work to make things look nice.

[milner351]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

If you've not already got the stuff on hand, have you given any thought to using composite decking for the bed?

It's not cheap, and it's not light, but - it should be pretty much maintenance free.

or maybe some weathered treated 5/4 decking boards? that grey would almost match the primer color...

[Darren N.]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

Man, the truck is looking gooooood.

This bed is fun....I am making progress. The problem is to figure out how much to do to it. I'm leaning towards replacing the boards and bolts, and leaving everything else as is for now, because it's so much work to make things look nice.

Getting a wood bed done up all pretty would be a lot work plus I think it would clash with the workhorse vibe of your truck. Getting some weathered but-still-solid planks would make it seem like the bed has aged with the rest of the truck.

Nice work so far!

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

I say get a couple pieces of steel and cut them to fit.

Leave the inner bed patina no matter what you do!

[squirrel]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

The wood in this one is too far gone. My extended cab 59 has the original bed wood, it's mostly still solid. I'll use it when I need the full patina effect, but I'll leave the paint inside this bed alone.

I really don't like metal stuck into old pickup truck beds, I've had my share of trucks with it, and there's nothing about it that makes we want to go that route.

I priced cheezy "whitewood" it's about $80 or so for enough to do the bed. They also have some nice select pine at HD that would run considerably more, probably over two bills. I'll do the cheap stuff. That's how I did the bed in my orange truck 20 years ago, it's had some weather exposure over the years and it's still holding up ok. I painted it black (like Chevy did).

[milner351]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

"cheezy whitewood"

is that Arizonian for poplar?

[squirrel]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

No, it's just low grade pine? Poplar around here is green....

Anyways, I spent $75 on some wood and $45 on some bolts/nuts/washers. damn.

I had to figure out the profile, there was one piece of old wood that was still in decent shape, so I copied it. One horizontal cut, two vertical cuts, after cutting each piece to size (5" and 7" wide).



Then I made a bunch of sawdust....12 boards, 7 cuts on each.



My table saw died earlier this year, but my kind neighbor had bought one recently (with a really nice rip fence) at auction, and let me come over and use it.

[milner351]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

NICE!
That's going to look really good!

Sikkens (sp?) is the shiznit for outdoor wood protection... hopefully it's sold near you.

[squirrel]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

how about black rustoleum? I have a couple cans....

[milner351]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

yea - you wrote about that earlier - I suppose that's fine too.... usually when I do stuff with wood I want to see the grain, but in this case - black's good! ;D

[BigBlockMopar]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

Then I made a bunch of sawdust....12 boards, 7 cuts on each.

Mix it up with a gallon of gear oil and sell it with good gear-howl silencing properties...

[squirrel]

Re: squirrel's 57 Chevy one ton

maybe mix in some banana peels?