I chose cherry wood for my bed. Pictures #1-2-3 After rabbiting my wood for the un-drilled stainless strips, I decided I didn't like the open ends, so I welded them up to get a more finished look. Pic #4 Ends done and wood trimmed to size.
YEP!!!........Looks like its ready for a nice load of firewood or compost!! Should hold up real well......... 6sally6
Pics # 7-8-9-10 I used 6061 1 1/2" angle to support the wood and give a place to bolt the strips. I did another trial. fit before final trim and finish.
Pics #11-12-13 After the trial fit I decided to rabbit the edges that go under the bed sides. I figured it would help to keep the metal nice and flat after I bolt it up.
Looks good. I did the same for my '53 Chevy pickup and '59 Elky. Used iron wood on the '53 (super durable and weather proof and looks like dark walnut) and tiger wood for the Elky. Bot are common deck wood and really weatherproof and pretty to boot.
Thanx. The 'drawer pulls' were on the basket case car when we bought it and were funky enuf to keep on the rebuild. Don't know who made them but definitely made for this purpose.
This is the last wood bed that I did in the '66 daily driver. Yep, still used it as intended so it was a little understated for ease of touching up if needed.
Blake, This looks great, nice work! Where di you get the through wood fitting for the fuel filler? I need something like that for my 55 chevy 3600
I've seen this RPU several times at LARS, is this the original build or did you have to redo the bed for some reason? Bob
I used a kitchen stainless sink drain, with Rock Valley filler neck and cap, https://www.rockvalleyantiqueautoparts.com/products.htm. I added a drain tube in the cup (gas spills ETC).
Bob, the last time I re-finished the wood was in 2006 after I rabbited the edges to fit under the bed sides.
Thanks! We've never met but I know were your LARS parking space is, you do own my favorite 26-27 T Roadster Pick Up. Bob
This was recommended by a PPG paint rep. It's held up really well, 9 years exposed to direct sun, and 6 more after I built my bed cover.
After rereading my last post I realized it was wrong! I refinished the wood in 2006, but my first drive wasn't until Jan. 2012. So in the 9 years of driving (26,000 miles) only 6 were exposed to direct sun.
looks like it's about time for me to find my can of black paint, and a brush, and get to work....sigh....30 years is hard on it.
SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!! I never woulda thought of that!!!!!!! Beyond slick!! Maybe........all those years of 'do'in-the-dishes' paid off?!!!!!!! WOW! 6sally6
I finished the '53 pickup Ipe wood with high end penetrating oil. Gets the finished look without the shine or urethane plastic coating that can scratch. As shown in my post, I also used catalyzed clear urethane on the Elky bed since it will never haul anything and we wanted the tiger wood to shine. I did get a couple of weather checks in a couple board ends which turned gray after a couple years out in the weather. We sold the car before I did a repair but I am sure a stint with some 150 - 320 sand paper and touch up with a dab of urethane would bring it back to pristine.
The Jalopy Journal
