bed bolts

[snakebite8]

best place to buy the hardware to bolt the bed to the frame.  I keep finding huge bolt kits or other years beds.  

[ArdWrknTrk]

I just bought carriage bolts and built up some bead to make them oval under the head.
I'm not paying that kind of money.

Besides, I have stainless flux core wire, and the stainless bolts aren't going to rust solid or the nuts lose their shape anytime soon.

[1986F150Six]

https://www.ebay.com/i/153498482261?chn=ps

[ArdWrknTrk]

Yeah
$93 for rusty used bolts.
Ain't gonna happen for me.

[Sac79]

https://www.lmctruck.com/1980-96-ford/fd-1980-96-styleside-bed-mounting

[snakebite8]

thank u

[kramttocs]

I got mine off ebay (so hit and miss) in the original sealed Ford bags for about 60 total (6 bolts) after watching for awhile. All that to say that they are out there but depends upon how soon you need them and if you can wait for a deal on them.

Here are the numbers if you want to add them to your watchlist:
N803020-S40
N803022-S40
n803023-S40

There are a few of them available now although prices are a tad steep on some of them. Check to see if the buyers are the same on them as that will help with shipping if you go that route.

[ArdWrknTrk]

At least a Shortbed has one less crossmember to deal with!  

[kramttocs]

Haha silver lining!
Although my 86 long bed only took the 6 and looks like it changed in 85. Or does the shortbed only have 4? Never been around one.

[kramttocs]

I did wish someone offered the OE bolts but with the torx in the head

[ArdWrknTrk]

You can't turn the bolt.
What good would it do to have Torx?

[kramttocs]

Then you just need a longer extension

Yeah, I mean to hold them in order to prevent enlarging the holes in the bed and causing the OE bolts to spin. When taking mine out (even though it was a pnw truck) we welded nuts to the heads after they indicated they weren't coming out without a fight.
Enough years in the rust belt and even the torx won't likely help but wouldn't hurt.

[ArdWrknTrk]

A bigger breaker bar, or cheater pipe????
Extension so you can stand up in the bed and try to hold it?

I've simply tack welded them to the bed before.
Doesn't take two people and it doesn't ruin the bolt for reuse.

[kramttocs]

Cheater bar but was just joking about that implying that you can make anything turn with enough leverage.
On the bed bolts I removed, the threads above the nuts were gone via rust so there was no point saving them.
I was just saying that with the torx, people might have better luck in avoiding the tear out or having to weld anything. I've seen later year replacements that have either torx or allen in them.
All for naught though as no one makes them with the oe shoulders so chalk it up to just wishful thinking.

[ArdWrknTrk]

"Give me a long enough lever and a place to rest it, and I will move the Earth"


Like I said, just weld some ridges on the shanks of a regular bolt. (with or without Torx)
It works for me!

[snakebite8]

does anyone have the lengths on the bolts?  lmc is all back ordered

[kramttocs]

N803020-S40   == 76.2mm
N803022-S40   == 88.9mm
n803023-S40   == 108mm

[snakebite8]

thank u

[myrl883]

Still all available from Ford, but stupid expensive...

[snakebite8]

i'm just going to hit up lowes and local hardware store.