47 WC 1/2 ton bed boards

[dgrinnan]

Does anyone have a diagram or the dimensions of the bed boards for a 1947 1/2 ton.  My 47 had no bed boards, just a sheet of plywood.  I want to replace the boards and was not sure what widths they were.  I also have a 54 Chevy 1/2 ton and was able to find this for the Chevy.  I am looking for something similar for the Dodge.

 

[billrigsby]

 

 

This may help a bit;

  Bruce Horkey's Wood and Parts

 

Mar-K (No Dimensions) Maybe call

 

 

[Young Ed]

I found a chart but I'm not sure if it was here or the 39-47 group. You can kind of back into it if you have your bed steel and the strips. Keep in mind with the strips they aren't all created equal and you need to adjust accordingly 

[PT Moe]

Being a retired carpenter by trade I did my own. The bolts and screws are 8" apart starting center. I bought 1x10 white oak and ripped it to 7 1/2" to give a little gap between the bolts and the boards. (1x8 being only 7 1/4" is not enough). I got my bed strips from Vic's (now closed) cause they claimed to be like the original type with the combo of square and countersunk holes. Square for carriage type bolt between cross members with washer below and countersunk for screw into cross members. I'm thinking of putting a screw or two from under the cross members up into the boards to help keep the centers down tight to the cross members. The remains of my rotted front bed panel show a carriage type bolt centered in each board and through the bottom flange of the panel. 

The bed strips are 1 1/2" wide so I dadoed  the edge of each board with my table saw 7/16" wide by just over an 1/8" deep. 7/16 plus the 1/2" gap between boards gives about an 1 5/8" space for the strips so there's a little room for movement and expansion. I did not do the extra little kerf where the edge of the strips run but the strips I got are pretty flat across but I'm thinking I might just do it so the edges of the strips don't rub the finish off the wood. The 2 outer boards that go under the bed flanges on the side panels are only dadoed on one edge. You want the full 3/4" thickness there on top of the 2" high cross members.

After doing some research and not wanting to use an exotic imported species for the floor boards I decided on white oak. Although it is similar in appearance to red oak it is much more stable and resistant to decay, not that that makes a big difference on a truck that will not be sitting out in the weather. White Oak is also slightly double the cost of Red Oak around here so I hope it was the right move. 6- 7ft 1x10 boards cost me a little over $500.00. 

Pictures are a dry run before I take them back off to seal and finish. Thinking of stain with a clear sealer over that. I found a gel stain at Home Depot that is exterior rated and can also be top coated with a water borne or oil base clear finish.    

[Los_Control]

Thats nice work, you are really going to be happy with that. Sure you will pick the correct color stain for you .... finding a quality exterior oil based finish is getting harder & harder because of EPA regulations.

When I was working, I loved Sikkens with cetol D. In the New Mexico sun, it would last for years. Very simple to wipe some more on when it started to dry out.

Now that brand is not even available in the USA.

 

Now I live in West Texas, been trying Penofin. It really wont last a year here in Texas .... Easy to wipe on another coat, but you have to stay on top of it or you end up with gray weathered wood.

 

I have heard of others talk about marine grade spar varnish? I have never used it before .... I wonder if it is still same quality today as it was in the past.

 

As a carpenter myself retired early on disability from a back injury. And the way I plan to use my truck as a daily driver eventually.

It will be parked outside under the carport but often in the driveway with no cover. ...... I just cant see my way to build a nice wood bed. I can not take care of it.

I'm going with a 4'x8' sheet of treated 3/4" plywood. I will leave it in one piece, while cutting in the dado for the shovel strips. Bolt it down as if individual boards.

Then will paint the wood with the same oil base paint the truck has. ..... I believe factory they painted the wood?

Again I expect to haul a tile saw, table saw, lumber , mortar ... tools, garden supplies, cow manure .... some people should not have nice things.

[Young Ed]

I stained mine with ebony to mimic the paint look/ the old days when people oiled their floors. Got a thread on here for my 47