1982 F250 Bed repair??

[FXDawg]

Hi guys,

I need some advise. I have my dads 1982 F250 I would like to fix up and use around town. It was his first and only brand new truck and he shared it with me as a teenager and I'd really like to start using it again.

The biggest problem is that the bed tub is horribly rotted. He was a mason and spilled some acid in the back...well not really spilled. the container sprung a leak and it seeped all over the bed before he noticed and, in pretty short order, it began to decay.

The fenders are perfect but the bed is so bad I don't think it could be saved with patches. Can anyone her give any suggestions as to a repair. I bought an 85 F250 for parts but the fenders are not in nearly as good a shape as the 82 and the tub is pretty dented up. I was wondering if there might be a way to build something. Trying to find a bed has proven very difficult. Thats why I ended up with the 85. If I could find another solution I might be able to get the 85 up and running and sell that.

Any and all advise or comments are appreciated

 

[CARS]

If the whole bed floor is shot, but the inner box sides are good your only real option is to have a floor made.

You could go as simple as heavy sheet like diamond plate, or find a metal shop with a 10' press brake to reproduce the whole floor as original.

Cheap? Doubt it, but that is one of the only parts not being reproduced for the 80-86 F series.

Good luck!

(btw: if you find a good used one that is closer to me than you are, let me know. Some dumb *** ruined the bed on my '80 F-250 2wd.)

 

[Britt]

LMC Truck Parts...they offer replacement panels for them.

http://www.lmctruck.com/ford

 

[CARS]

LMC Truck Parts...they offer replacement panels for them.

http://www.lmctruck.com/ford

They only offer a 16" x 48" patch panel.

 

[BigAl62]

You could look for a used bed, but that old of a truck you may not find one. If you are going to look, try in the southwest - less rust and a lot more older vehicles around still.

 

[MP&C]

NOS bed floor?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1980-1989-Ford-Pickup-Truck-8Ft-Bed-Floor-F150-/110803314792?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19cc646868&vxp=mtr

 

[eljefino]

Does it have to be "that bed"? What if you could repaint the whole truck?

If it were newer you could find a perfect bed someone took off for a utility body or something. I saw a photo somewhere (sorry, forget) of a gas company that had hundreds of brand new beds stacked out back.

I'd look up the bolt patterns (bed to frame), I think that body style sort of held on until 1996 so you should find "something" not totally shot. You could (maybe) move your tail lights for that period look. Some small detail like the trim or the creases down the side will probably change year to year... will that bug you?

 

[jkm4874ford]

There are companies theat make a wood floor retro-fit system to fit most any truck. don't remember who they are but have seen are shows.

 

[Ign]

My '95 F250 was a plow truck and had a sand or salt hopper in the bed. As a result the bed floor is badly rusted. They (the municipality that owned it) just plated the bed with what I'm guessing is 1/8" but I've never measured it. It's awesome, I can weld D-rings or anything else right to it.

 

[geologist]

I would go with the NOS bed floor. If not an unthinkable repair.

 

[CARS]

$800.00 plus the labor to cut the sides off and re-weld them. Then fix any problems the sides have and paint the whole thing.................

1/8" plate looks good.

Someone mentioned a wood kit. Didn't google it but if it is a wood bed for a truck, Bruce Horkey is the guy. (about an hour away from me too!)
http://www.horkeyswoodandparts.com/

 

[FXDawg]

Well, Unfortunately, the rust started to take the wheel wells too...

That floor panel looks good. I could buy most of the parts for the bed from LNC...it does start to get expensive though.

I really want to keep the original look of it. As I said the rear fenders are in perfect shape. It is all in the tub. Maybe I should snap a pic of it...

I guess I could have a fabricator make a tub for me. There is a guy I use for my boat stuff that does amazing work. Then again I could buy all the parts off LNC and one of those floor panels for a similar cost probably.

 

[CARS]

Given the the wheel wells are rusty too, which is part of the inner box side, the only thing you are going to be saving is crossmemebers, outer skins, and maybe the front panel (if block/bricks haven't rolled forward and taken it out). An awful lot of work to save 2 outer panels.

I change my opinion to a rust free southern box with maybe a few dings in it. You are going to have so much labor in restoring this box. The price for the whole thing is probably close to the NOS floor (still can't believe those things are floating around ). Shipping can't be that bad. Get with those guys who underbid eachother on the show Shipping Wars.

 

[FXDawg]

Yea...the problem is finding one. I mean where do you even begin to look...ebay I know but...nothing really there either...

 

[CARS]

Yea...the problem is finding one. I mean where do you even begin to look...ebay I know but...nothing really there either...

Google my friend: http://southern-truck.com/fordlongboxes.html

That was the first place I clicked. Might be one closer to you?

 

[FXDawg]

You know, that other bed ain't looking so bad anymore...I should pull both of them off and see what I can do. I think the tub is kind of beat up on the 85 but I could either fix the fenders/side-panels and throw a plastic bed-liner in there to cover up all the dents. This was my plan when I bought the 85. I just thought it was a little too beat up in the tub but, screw it. By the time I find a reasonable one and get it shipped I'd be at $1000 easy. I should just put that money into what I already have and get on with it. I guess I could just coat it real good with something and do the bed liner.

I appreciate the comments. It sometimes helps to straighten out your ideas with feedback from people with experience.

I'll clean up the 85 and post some pics of both for better feedback

 

[rsieracki]

not sure if it been mentioned...

Call a place that sells dumptruck bodies they usually have a few standard beds they pulled off a truck laying around. i had a 80 f250 that was all rotted years ago, we got a truck from a early 90's ford and it fit fine, the fender flares are flared vs. inverted like you currently have but it looked fine

 

[NUTTSGT]

Considering it's a 30 year old truck,I thinkI would pull the bed off, welding in patch panels where they are needed. Have the bottom of the bed sand blasted and put a couple coats of POR15 on the bottom side. Once that is dry, flip it over and coat the inside of the bed with a few coats of Herculiner.

 

[ford.crazy]

Try www.collistruckpartsonline.com I have dealt with them for years. They have a lot of older truck in great shape there. They could ship it to you. Might not save you any money to order one but it will save you a lot of time and aggravation.

 

[buildmyown]

Post up a pick when you can. What about finding a newer bed and using just the inside parts to fix yours. Should be a lot eaiser to find a newer bed with crushed sides but a good solid inside box. Might still need to do some fab work to make everything fit right. My first tought was to replace it with a wood floor doesnt even have to be a kit. Another option would be to ditch your bed and go with a flat bed. I know you said you wanted to keep it original but just a thought.

 

[dtt454]

^^ what he said, i was gonna say why not put a flat bed on it? thats the route im likely gonna take when i get started on my next one.

 

[ElectroLight]

The bed is interchangeable between 80 to 96 the later beds have a slightly different flair at the wheel opening but not really too noticeable IMO. Head on over to FTE (www.fordtrucks.com) lots of good guys there, really helped me with my 85 F150 and 86 F250.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

Grab another bed from the junk yard $250 tops

 

[FXDawg]

Grab another bed from the junk yard $250 tops

Yea, I looked around locally and could not find one. This is what prompted me to buy the 85 with a banged up bed. I figured between the nice panels on the 82 and the complete tub on the 85 i could cobble together a decent bed. Now, however I'm trying to save time and labor which is why I'm second guessing Plan 'A'.

I'll call the local bone-yards again and see what I can come up with while moving forward with plan 'A'

The bed is interchangeable between 80 to 96 the later beds have a slightly different flair at the wheel opening but not really too noticeable IMO. Head on over to FTE (www.fordtrucks.com) lots of good guys there, really helped me with my 85 F150 and 86 F250.

I'll be looking into that forum, thanks!

 

[FXDawg]

Okay, a quick update... I think I'm deciding to go with a simple aluminum flatbed. I found a guy not far from me that can do that for "the mid teens..." in hundreds. As much as I wanted to see my old man's truck as it was when he was alive, I think he would have liked the flat bed, it will look way cool, and it is far less of an A$$ ache. and that price sound very reasonable. He said that price include the headache rack and installation. No boxes or rails or anything else. But it gets me back on the road much quicker. Maybe I could spend more time looking for a good bed in the mean time, but probably be the way it will stay from now on.

So, I need to fix a gas tank leak (probably replace with a plastic one) and tires and off to the truck bed place!!! Could be driving around in this thing next month maybe!!

 

[Ign]

The bed is interchangeable between 80 to 96 the later beds have a slightly different flair at the wheel opening but not really too noticeable IMO. Head on over to FTE (www.fordtrucks.com) lots of good guys there, really helped me with my 85 F150 and 86 F250.

LMAO!!! Go over to FTE for sure. Be sure to say you're looking at parts from LMC truck. Talk about LMC a lot.

 

[chris142]

A used bed at PicAPart is $175. I see them all the time in great shape. Look like they have never hauled a thing.

I'd go this route + paint before I tried to patch one up.

 

[FXDawg]

LMAO!!! Go over to FTE for sure. Be sure to say you're looking at parts from LMC truck. Talk about LMC a lot.

I wish I could....I registered and I can log in but can't search or post or update my info...says I don't have access...

A used bed at PicAPart is $175. I see them all the time in great shape. Look like they have never hauled a thing.

I'd go this route + paint before I tried to patch one up.

how do I contact them?

 

[buildmyown]

I just notcied your in mass give Linders a call (508) 756-5125 out in Worcester ask for Jesse tell him Phil the powder coater sent you. Its a big yard and if he doesnt have something there he might know of something.

 

[FXDawg]

I just notcied your in mass give Linders a call (508) 756-5125 out in Worcester ask for Jesse tell him Phil the powder coater sent you. Its a big yard and if he doesnt have something there he might know of something.

Thanks Buildmyown! i just tried there and Jesse isn't in today. They transfered me to "Sam's" and the guy was all "we don't keep an inventory" and "it's self serve"

So, I may try and get there this weekend. I know i tried there a few years ago and they had nothing worth while but, you never know i guess.

you know I recently saw an F250 for sale on line whith a fabricated tub in it and the stock side panels. I bet that wouldn't be cheap though.

 

[Griff93]

For that truck you really just need to look a bit harder for a bed. I have an 89 F350 myself and had an 85 F250 prior. I was at our local pick and pull today getting a few misc parts for mine and there were three trucks with real nice beds, 4 or 5 that were usable, and several more that were hammered. The bad thing about a bed is it's not cheaply shipped.

 

[buildmyown]

Thanks Buildmyown! i just tried there and Jesse isn't in today. They transfered me to "Sam's" and the guy was all "we don't keep an inventory" and "it's self serve"

So, I may try and get there this weekend. I know i tried there a few years ago and they had nothing worth while but, you never know i guess.

you know I recently saw an F250 for sale on line whith a fabricated tub in it and the stock side panels. I bet that wouldn't be cheap though.

Sams is across the street and i think its the same owner but im not positive on that. I know Linders keeps a running inventory and can search for anything on the computer. Im not postive but I think Linders pulls everything for you I know they did when I needed parts for my honda.

Not sure if you know of this site or not but its great it allows you to search yards all over the country. The only draw back not all yards are in the data base. http://car-part.com/

 

[theoldwizard1]

I sure hpe you have done a lot of crawling around under that truck ! At that age some parts of the frame might be swiss cheese !

 

[FXDawg]

Okay some pics finally

this is may dad's old truck I want to fix and use.

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And this is the inside of the bed

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You can see I removed the gas tank as it was leaking and needs replaced

Here is the parts truck I bought.

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And some of the damage in the bed.

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I'm waffling again about whether to swap out the bed off the parts truck and repair what damage it has for the stock truck bed or go with the flat bed. i am leaning toward the stock bed at this point as the damage doesn't seem too bad on the 85 parts truck.

The parts truck also has 16" wheels. This was a welcomed fact as the 16.5" wheels really limit what kind of tires you can use. Having the 16s is going to save me a bunch of money not having to buy new wheels.

 

[wrenchr]

I would buy the nos panel for the floor and just fab up what you need to add to it, I'm no pro body guy but those sides are pretty flat and should be quite easy to make. Hell I bet you could even cut what you needed out of the parts truck to make up the difference.

 

[cide1]

Before you spend any money, I think you need to be honest with yourself about the condition of the rest of the truck, and what else you want to do. What condition is the interior in? Does the hood close all the way, or is there damage there. How many miles? How well does it shift? How does it run? Are you going to be spending money on fuel pumps, alternators, batteries, etc. If the bed rusted that bad from acid, you need to look carefully at the frame underneath, along with the brake lines, fuel lines, and suspension parts. Are you willing to spend another $1000 rebuilding the motor? Are you willing to spend another $1000 on the transmission? Are you thinking about a paint job for the truck to stop any further decay?

Since this was your dads truck, and judging by your list of vehicles it seems your in a place where you can spend some money on vehicles, I think I would go the aluminum flat bed route. Best case, you put some cool wheels on this, new tires, new gas tank, carb rebuild, new plugs and wires, new battery, clean it up a bit, remove the tool box, and make it reliable. You should be able to find a new chrome rear bumper for cheap. Worst case, you can always put the flatbed on your next truck or sell it for much of the money you have in it.

A second stock bed will already have a lot of years on it, and will decay like the original if not rhino-lined. Once it decays, it loses all value, and once rhino-lined, it loses all value, so either way its kind of throwing money away.

I would take your 16.5" wheels off, and replace with 16" or 17". Tires will be cheaper and much better quality. You will be able to find tires without special ordering. Do not try to put 16s on 16.5" wheels. Some shady places will try and do that, but it is dangerous. If you already have 16" wheels, you may be able to find a place that will blast and powder coat them for cheap. Some places do this on large numbers of semi truck wheels for cheap.

 

[wrenchr]

Plus the bed floor for the next body style would work to, even if there are some slight changes no one would ever know.
I bet you could get a box from say a 87 or newer and drill all of the spot welds off your dads 1/4 panels and swap them onto the good tub.

 

[wrenchr]

Not my truck but I bet the 1/4's are the only change, this is your body style truck with the newer bed on it. I would bet that tub is the same.
http://toledo.craigslist.org/cto/2816350285.html

 

[FXDawg]

I've already put some work into it and it runs, seemingly, very well. It already has a new carb, new brakes, new brake lines, new exhaust. It only has 82,000 miles on it and my dad changed the oil religiously.

The wheels on the parts truck are 16s. I would never even have thought of trying 16" tires on a 16.5 rim...

The hoods on both vehicles close fine and outside of that bed issue there is very little rust on either of them.

There really is no rot on the parts truck tub. I am going to have it painted. I 'm thinking what I was going to do was, pull the bed off the prts truck and strap it to my the 82 and drive it to the body shop. I figure, that way they can more easily repair and paint the replacement bed and then install it.

The interior is not horrible. There isn't much too them. i got one of those bench seat covers from JCW a while back and will throw that in. The floor boards look to be fine, the frame seems to be fine...

I'm surprised to hear that rhino coating kills any value...I guess cus it doesn't come off...?

I was thinking to get it repaired to stop decay and throw a bedliner in. Initially I thought I would rhino coat it and put a liner in. My fear of the liner is that they sometimes keep moisture trapped between the plastic and the metal...

Anyway, it's really more an emotional restoration. She was my dad's first brand new truck and he was pretty proud of that. He never had the money to fix the bed but, I knew he wanted to. I was still putting myself through college when he passed so, didn't have any money then. I just think it will be awesome driving around in his truck on the weekends.

 

[buildmyown]

Your original bed it shot stick a fork in it. The bed on the 85 looks totally useable how are the cross members and underside? Do both trucks have dual tanks if not block off that second filler hole with somethng so some gas jocky at a full serve doesnt use it by mistake.

As for your wheels watch for brake caliper interferance. The reason some of those era trucks came with 16.5 wheels was to celar the calipers if the truck had the heavy duty brake package. At least thats the reason on chevy trucks of that era i know ive had a few. To use a 16 inch wheel we used to grind the calipers down you dont have to take off much.