Donny
Well-Known Member
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- Aug 28, 2009
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- Location
- North East San Antonio TX
Here's the deal; a customer has hired me to Media Blast his 65 Chevy Truck, but he could not finish taking it apart due to lack of tools. So, I took the bed, cab and engine off/out of the vehicle. Already blasted the frame, got a few areas on the frame that will need repairing. He hired me also to do the metal work after the blasting.
Here's the issue as I see it, and would like some feedback from you experts out there -- perhaps you have heard of what I'm attempting, or, know someone who has done this?
The 6 ft bed is the stock one, meaning his. However, when I ripped the wooden floor up, every support beam is rotted, the bed side inner wall is also rotted as is the removable wheelwells. It so happens my landlord has a 65 bed that is a TX vehicle he will sell for cheap, but, it's 8 ft long! I measured the front to rear distance from the wheelwell and each side is not the same as any part of the 8 ft bed. :angryfire:
However, all parts on the 8 ft are pristine, a little blasting and they are good to go!
I'm just wondering which way is the best way to go? Pull as much salvageable metal off the 8 ft bed, or, make the 8 ft bed a 6 ft bed? Each method has pros and cons. If I replace all the bad pieces, then, getting it all 'aligned' after is the challenge. If I make the 8 ft bed a 6 ft bed there is minimal parts removal (and the bed integrity remains) but the big thing will be cutting it fore and aft perfectly, then welding it up perfectly after, dressing the welds etc.
I'm inclined to pull the good parts off and replace onto the bad bed, and spend my time (and not make money) building a 'jig' dolly device specific to the bed whereas it remains solid as I work on it. The only draw-back is I won't make any $$ during the time I take to fabricate up something -- but, I don't care, as long as the customer has some time to take I will get it right for him. I also think this way will result in a few less hours of billable time to him if I do it this way.
If this thread generates any interest and good comments and suggestions, I will post pics up here of this bed and the bed in question.
Thanks!
Here's the issue as I see it, and would like some feedback from you experts out there -- perhaps you have heard of what I'm attempting, or, know someone who has done this?
The 6 ft bed is the stock one, meaning his. However, when I ripped the wooden floor up, every support beam is rotted, the bed side inner wall is also rotted as is the removable wheelwells. It so happens my landlord has a 65 bed that is a TX vehicle he will sell for cheap, but, it's 8 ft long! I measured the front to rear distance from the wheelwell and each side is not the same as any part of the 8 ft bed. :angryfire:
However, all parts on the 8 ft are pristine, a little blasting and they are good to go!
I'm just wondering which way is the best way to go? Pull as much salvageable metal off the 8 ft bed, or, make the 8 ft bed a 6 ft bed? Each method has pros and cons. If I replace all the bad pieces, then, getting it all 'aligned' after is the challenge. If I make the 8 ft bed a 6 ft bed there is minimal parts removal (and the bed integrity remains) but the big thing will be cutting it fore and aft perfectly, then welding it up perfectly after, dressing the welds etc.
I'm inclined to pull the good parts off and replace onto the bad bed, and spend my time (and not make money) building a 'jig' dolly device specific to the bed whereas it remains solid as I work on it. The only draw-back is I won't make any $$ during the time I take to fabricate up something -- but, I don't care, as long as the customer has some time to take I will get it right for him. I also think this way will result in a few less hours of billable time to him if I do it this way.
If this thread generates any interest and good comments and suggestions, I will post pics up here of this bed and the bed in question.
Thanks!
