i just made an "uh-oh"

[41/53dodges]

we went and pulled the whole bed apart last year and too no pics, no i have no idea how the crossmembers go back. mine are rotted anyways, so im looking at using 4x4's for crossmembers. its strong, cheap, easy, and i dont need skid strips that way. what lengths should i make them?

[HanksB3B]

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=21925

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/showthread.php?t=21778

Hope this helps,

Hank

Edited June 2, 2010 by HanksB3B

[Dave72dt]

Stock crossmembers are 48 5/8" long x 2" high x 1 7/16 wide on my '52 B3B

[41/53dodges]

whats with the short crossmember at the back? does it have to be that way? and yes, i will be using 4x4's for crossmembers. it just simplifies everything, and 2x4's suck for this task. i just need to know how exactly to make this. BTW-the deck boards are 2x8's. because overbuilding things amuses me.

[41/53dodges]

what is the length of the bed boards for a 108" wheelbase anyways? i read the thing on the pilothouse site, but i dont know which it is for.

[lugnut123]

If you use 4x4 's cross pieces the fenders will be 2 inchs to high to bolt to the running boards. The bed bolts together like a big puzzle and every thing has it's place.

[41/53dodges]

my running boards are long gone. im on a excruciatingly tight budget, so those are now 2x4's. they do the job, they're cheap, and they can be set under the door to not see them. how long should i make the bed boards?

[Dave72dt]

I'd guess they're as long as the bed sides. May be only as long the bedside bottom angle strip. I don't know if there's a board cap on the tailgate end or not as I don't have the back connecting piece or tailgate here with me. Somebody with a completed bed should be able to tell you that. 2 x 8 bed boards may cause some interference with the tailgate closing.

Bed side length = 79 1/4"

Bedside bottom angle strip =78"

[41/53dodges]

well, i can honestly say that this bed does not flex at all when i step on it. left the boards long to chop to size later. i have the cap, but no idea how it goes on!

[NiftyFifty]

Does anyone have rials that run inside the frame? I have 2 that are mounted and looks stock to the inside of the frame, but the very rear one is bent very high so it probably come a good 2" over the frame rains and the next one twords the cab is bent too...is this right or is it bent from the past owner?

I wanted to be sure before I start my coating as it sucks to have to take them off and clean that stuff off if you have to heat them up and straighten.

Thanks

[41/53dodges]

do you mean actually inside the "C" of the frame? thats different. the supports should be straight on top of the frame.

[Dave72dt]

Are you talking about the frame crossmembers or something else. Now would be an excellent time for a picture.

[NiftyFifty]

I hope these show what I'm talking about...maybe they are just rear supports? But should they be bent?

.....just looked at my post....man is my shop dirty...sorry guys

Edited June 6, 2010 by 4mula-dlx
dirty shop :P

[HanksB3B]

My truck is a 1951 B3B half ton.

Are your two bent pieces someone welded to accomodate a trailer hitch?

Not sure if this helps,

Hank

Edited June 6, 2010 by HanksB3B

[pflaming]

The need to be straight. WOW, wonder how they got that way? I think I would be more concerned about the squareness of the frame. 2" x 2" angle irons will replace the crossmembers but are the outside frame sides square and vertical and are they parallel to each other. Measure, measure, measure !!!!

[Dave72dt]

My frame rails look the same as pflamings and don't have any angle irons across the back. My rails measure 9 3/4" from the back of the frame crossmember to the rear of the rails. The rear frame crossmember is attached at the same location on the rails as the rear spring hanger mounts. I don't think those angle irons were factory. I'd get them out of there, check for rail squareness and straighten as necessary. They aren't strong enough for tow hitches either.

Edited June 6, 2010 by Dave72dt
phrasing

[Merle Coggins]

They look like someone's add ons to me. Unless they are to attach some other option I believe you can remove them.

[NiftyFifty]

Ya they look a 100% factor attached to me, cast mounting for the bolts and everything. Their in no way strong enough for a hitch or anything, but just couldn't figure out why they were there...unless it's because I have a 9' box?

I looked at the back of the box today and all the rails that cover the wood are also bent at the back, wonder if someone tried to jack the truck up there and bent it all?? if they did it's been awhile seeing as all the rails are bent in uniformity...must have been when there was still wood?

[pflaming]

When I was a boy in W. NE one year everyone had a bumper crop so that the grain elevators and railroad cars could not keep up. I remember farmers jacking up the tail end of the trucks to relieve the springs when they had to sit over night. With a 9' bed they may have had to jack that truck up and used the bed instead of the frame channels!

It would be a very interesting trip to go cross country, stop a KOA's etc and write down the stories that would come to my truck. Voiced the idea to my wife and got a FIRM, not interested! Guess I would have to take along a dog named "Mopar"! Anyone what to join in a year or so??

[Dave72dt]

Ya they look a 100% factor attached to me, cast mounting for the bolts and everything. Their in no way strong enough for a hitch or anything, but just couldn't figure out why they were there...unless it's because I have a 9' box?

I looked at the back of the box today and all the rails that cover the wood are also bent at the back, wonder if someone tried to jack the truck up there and bent it all?? if they did it's been awhile seeing as all the rails are bent in uniformity...must have been when there was still wood?

AHhh...There's there's the missing piece! Long box, so you have the 116" wheelbase instead of the 108" you referenced above. The layout diagrams for the C-116 clearly show those 2 pieces installed directly over the spare tire carrier and has the rear spring hangers with them. They'll be straight or at least no higher than the other bed crossrails.

[NiftyFifty]

AHhh...There's there's the missing piece! Long box, so you have the 116" wheelbase instead of the 108" you referenced above. The layout diagrams for the C-116 clearly show those 2 pieces installed directly over the spare tire carrier and has the rear spring hangers with them. They'll be straight or at least no higher than the other bed crossrails.

mine's actually a 126", but that would still answer the question....guess I'll get the sledge out Or cut them right out...either way

Finished my diff swap tonight, so at least it's sitting on the tires now so it's not so unstable to start getting rough with it.