Flareside Bed to Frame Bolts / Mounts

[TechnoViking]

Looking for the mounting points for a flareside bed. My 82 is missing all but the front 2 corner bolts and the bed floor was replaced with sheet metal. Hoping someone can share photos from a build or at least a service manual diagram that details the mount locations between the bed and frame. I've seen references to wood block kits but don't have a good reference for how & where they are installed. Hopefully this is something I can solve with materials from the local hardware store.

[Gary Lewis]

We have some info that might help:

Documentation/Exterior/BEDS, TAILGATES, & COMPONENTS: Show factory illustrations, bed bolt part numbers and dimensions, etc

Documentation/Suspension & Steering/BODY MOUNTS: Has similar info but also has a table for where we've measured the holes in the frame to be.

Hope that helps.

[mat in tn]

the flareside should be held on with 6 bolts. the fronts are easy to find the rear are easy to find yet the center two are above the axle (slightly behind) in the position nearest the brake line anchor point and the equivalent on the passenger side. if the ribs are still in place, then it should be easily accessible from underneath. however, if holes need to be drilled then it might be a challenge from the frame area.

[Rembrant]

mat in tn wrote

the flareside should be held on with 6 bolts.

The 80's Flareside beds had 8 mounting bolts. The 1992-1996 Flareside had 6 bolts (I think?).

Here's what the factory bed crossmembers look like. The front two bolts go through the front sill to the frame, and the rear two sets of bolts go through the rear sill into the frame. The two sets in the center go through two of the three middle crossmembers. There are 5 pairs of wooden blocks, and all 5 pairs are different.



Here's what it looks like with the washers in place, before I put the bolts in:



I used all new crossmembers and sills on the bed from Mar-K in Oklahoma.

After this truck, I built a second Flareside bed, but this one almost complete from scratch. For the three middle crossmembers, I used 1/8" channel steel...2" wide, with 1" sides, cut to fit. I then cut the wood blocks at home, and sized them all to fit. I drilled 5/8" holes through them with a spade bit so that the 1/2" bed to frame bolts would fit with clearance. For this bed, I used stainless 1/2" carriage bolts.



I can answer most questions about these beds...and I have lots of pics, but not every single detail unfortunately.

[Ford F834]

The OEM style bolts with the large Phillips head are available as reproductions in zinc and polished stainless.

https://bedwood.com/products/1976-1987-ford-short-flareside-bolt-kits?variant=32846458880054¤cy=USD&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu4bO-dyphQMVoDnUAR3COACHEA0YASABEgJXs_D_BwE



They are not inexpensive, but they exist. Hardware store carriage bolts can also work, but you have to get creative to hold them while tightening the nut. I’ve seen people grind a slot in them so they can be stayed with a large flat screw driver. But then they need painting to prevent rust…

[mat in tn]

mines a 93 so that's where I get that. but no wood floor. but that blue truck is beautiful.