Has anyone replaced bed sheet metal on their elcamino?

I need to have this done on my '69. Any pitfalls?
problem areas?
Where did you get the patch material, off another car or new from a supplier?
What kind of rails/mounts are under the sheetmetal?

Thanks-
BR

Aftermarket ones SUCK! They do not have the same conture. They're generic and made to fit over the top of the existing bed.
From under the bed, use 3/4" square tubing, cut to length, and jack it up until the floor raises slightly above where you want it. Then from inside the bed, tap the edges of the dent. Lower the jack and repeat this process.
You can put an angle iron across 2 or 3 of these 3/4" sq. tubing's to expedite your work.
It's long and involved but the results are worth the effort. The key here is to be creative http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif
BTW: The aftermarket bed panels are split, left & right from the front to the back, therefore you will not have access to the area behind the cab (smugglers box area).

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Dale
Lowered '67 Elcamino
ZZ430HP / 4L60
"Canyon Carver"
www.chevelles.com/showroom/elkydriveway1.jpeg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/elkydriveway1.jpeg)

My $400 '93 FireBird
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/D:%5cMyPhotos%5cFireBird.JPG

Thanks Cardiac!

I searched though the tech archives last night and noticed you mentioned in thread (from last year) that you had done this before- I was gonna e-mail you.

Did you end up using the aftermarket ones (from Jc Whitney i think?) or did you find a donor car and cut them out?

When you are talking about jacking up the bed are you talking about to install the new one or cut out the old one?

Maybe you could drop me an e-mail, i'd really like to find out some details of the procedure before i take my car to the bodyshop. I'm going to have them do the work, but if i can help describe what i want, they should be able to have an easier time to do it.

Thanks- Drop me a line if you can-
brambo@halcyon.com

Thanks!
BR

Hey;

We cut out the bottom bed panels, replaced them with aluminum (flat) and it looks great! Remember, are you going for stock or long lasting. By the way, whatever you decide, if you cut out the bed bottom, be sure to either beadblast, sand blast, or whatever anything you can get to!!

Good Luck!!!!!

Richard and Judy White, MAXX2
Team Members Forever.


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I had to replace the bed in my 70 as it was completely shot. I used the aftermarket panels and as Cardiac says they are not exactly like the original floor and are made from thinner metal. I used them because it was all I could find. I did cut them off to the original length and used the original front cover over the rear seat(smugglers box) area. I also had to replace the two channels that run front to back under the bed. Had a shop bend them up for me. If I were to do it again I would think about getting 3 front covers and welding them together to make up the bed. Probably wouldn't be any more work then using the aftermarket stuff and it would be correct in thickness and profile. Good luck.

I'm planning to get a sheet of .063 aluminum and bead rolling it for appearance and sturdiness. The metal is easy to cut to shape, and once it's cut the bead rolls can be done around the wheel-well cut-outs.

This is the plan. How long 'til it happens depends on alot of things. The first thing, as always, is money.

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My Elky Page (http://www.geocities.com/chadjlandry/index.html) Updated 7-21-00
"Dive in and get your hands dirty. You'll never know how to do it until you've done it."
Chad Landry
TC Member #643
'68 El Camino

[This message has been edited by cjlandry (edited 09-04-2000).]

Wow Thanks for all the replies!

I don't really care if the bed looks "stock" or not. I'm going to rhino back it as soon as its all prepped anyway. I plan to be able to use the bed when this is done.

I was contemplating havig that Diamond Pattern steel cut to fit the shape of the bed and put in. Do you think that would work better than the cheapo JC Whitney panels?

What exactly are the "rails" under the bed like? Do they run the length or the width (or both?)

Are any of the Frame to body mounts attached to the bed? Will this be one of those areas to watch for?

Thanks for the replies!
BR