Best Way to Repair Bed and Floor Damage?

[65grendel]

Hey guys, one of my new to me M1165A1's has significant damage to the bed and floor under where the driver seat would be. What's the best way to repair this damage?

 

[NDT]

Ugh. 3 ways. Replace floor by removing 1000 rivets. Swap body with someone “parting out” a truck. Plate over it with aluminum plate or the GMV WB3 floor material. (RWH might have this on a salvage truck)

 

[TOBASH]

Go under the truck and tamp it out. You can Aluminum TIG or MIG… Or use thin strips of Aluminum sheet on the underside to repair, using auto body epoxy from the underside with self tapping screws to hold in place. Then grind off the screws and Rhino line it.

Alternatively, go to Tractor Supply and purchase a thick sheet of horse rubber and cut to size to cover the area. Then forget about it.

 

[EVANSWASTEOFMONEY]

I used a sheet of plywood covered in bedliner.

 

[65grendel]

I used a sheet of plywood covered in bedliner.

Honestly, I kind of really like that as a temporary solution, would give me a chance to practice spraying bedliner too.

 

[65grendel]

Go under the truck and tamp it out. You can Aluminum TIG or MIG… Or use thin strips of Aluminum sheet on the underside to repair, using auto body epoxy from the underside with self tapping screws to hold in place. Then grind off the screws and Rhino line it.

Alternatively, go to Tractor Supply and purchase a thick sheet of horse rubber and cut to size to cover the area. Then forget about it.

Does the Rhino lining do a decent job hiding any imperfections or would I need to really grind and fair everything perfect first?

 

[TOBASH]

This is the flatbed in a truck and a used truck at that. I’m giving you instructions on how to get your truck up and running. If you are trying to make it look beautiful then you will need to drill out all the rivets and insert a new bed.

If you want, I’m certain you could do limited bodywork in the area, however the first time you throw something heavy on it the bodywork will crack

 

[EVANSWASTEOFMONEY]

Does the Rhino lining do a decent job hiding any imperfections or would I need to really grind and fair everything perfect first?

I got this texture on my first attempt. Monstaliner. I think the move is to split it up into smaller sections. You can mix it in smaller batches. Rushing through the whole truck is gonna look like a mess unless your spraying and did a 10 out of 10 on the masking.

 

[biscuitwhistler37]

With damage like that, I would get under the truck and push/pound/bend/pry the bent metal upwards, cut the pieces off, sand/grind the holes smooth, then lay a piece of 3/16 steel sheet down and self tap the squawk out of it, using shorties so as not to hit anything below the floor.

If you want it done easier and cheaper, that nice horse rubber mentioned above works wonders.

Had a Ford van with a big piece of floor missing, laid a sheet of 3/16 down and covered it with the rubber, never had an issue.

 

[TOBASH]

With damage like that, I would get under the truck and push/pound/bend/pry the bent metal upwards, cut the pieces off, sand/grind the holes smooth, then lay a piece of 3/16 steel sheet down and self tap the squawk out of it, using shorties so as not to hit anything below the floor.

If you want it done easier and cheaper, that nice horse rubber mentioned above works wonders.

Had a Ford van with a big piece of floor missing, laid a sheet of 3/16 down and covered it with the rubber, never had an issue.

Respectfully, I think you mean aluminum sheet because in your Ford the bed was probably made out of steel and you would not get a galvanic effect using steel, but in these vehicles, the floor is aluminum and as such, you will get a galvanic effect unless you use aluminum sheet

 

[biscuitwhistler37]

Respectfully, I think you mean aluminum sheet because in your Ford the bed was probably made out of steel and you would not get a galvanic effect using steel, but in these vehicles, the floor is aluminum and as such, you will get a galvanic effect unless you use aluminum sheet

Even better, probably cheaper and definitely lighter! Thank you for the correction.

 

[65grendel]

I got this texture on my first attempt. Monstaliner. I think the move is to split it up into smaller sections. You can mix it in smaller batches. Rushing through the whole truck is gonna look like a mess unless your spraying and did a 10 out of 10 on the masking.

you didn’t spray that? What did you use, a roller? It looks great

 

[NDT]

Y'all may not believe me but that aluminum alloy is un-straighten-able.