hardware dimensions

[Jcris]

All the bed hardware on our 86' was so rusted it had to be cut out. I'm trying to figure out if I can replace it more affordably rather than buying one of the kits from MAR-K or similar venders. Where can I find a list that details the specifics?
Thanks,
Jcris

[reamer]

Flareside? Styleside?
Bed mounting bolts have special heads, unlike anything in a hardware store. Flareside has a HUGE Phillips-style head, where Styleside has a button top, but an oval shaped carriage under it.

[FuzzFace2]

Yes it would be nice to know what bed you need the hard ware for and where that hard ware goes.

I know some if not all the hard ware for my flare side is metric.
Now if it is a nut/bolt then you can use what ever you can come up with but the top bolt holes on the front panel, the tail light bracket holes and the tail gate hinge bolt holes are metric.
The rest of the front panel (don't know of the bottom holes?) as are all the side panels to bed floor are nut/bolt.

When I get a little closer to putting my flare side bed together I will get a count of what I need and most likely go thru https://www.mcmaster.com/#
Don't know if I will get Stainless Steel or just the normal nut/bolt yet.
Dave ----

[reamer]

Would Stainless have enough "shear strength" in case of a collision?
I found the correct Bed-mounting bolts for the flareside online at Mac's in New York.
Grainger, Fastenall did not have them....

[Gary Lewis]

Tell me which ones you are needing and I'll try to find out what they are.

[PetesPonies]

Good stainless is typically grade 5.

[Dyn Blin]

Didn't Ford go metric after '78?

[85lebaront2]

Stainless (CRES) has a number of different alloys and strengths (I retired from a defense contractor's laboratory where we tested this stuff) If you can find what is called 304 or 316 condition B it is a hardened material that is plenty strong enough. I replaced all the fasteners on my Dee Zee running boards with that material actually purchased from my local Fastenal store. One caution, use a good anti-seize on the nuts if you ever want to remove them and they have been know to gall during assembly.

[Jcris]

Good tip on mcmaster, I'd forgotten about those folks.
And yes it's a flareside.
Hey Gary, sure appreciate the offer but I'm looking to replace all the bolts that anchor the bed to the frame as well as those that hold the plywood to the sills, cross supports and entire perimeter of bed. Don't worry about those dimensions I'll figure them out. Not looking for exact stuff, just hardware that will work.
Thanks again,
Jcris

[PetesPonies]

Ford was a mixture of metric and standard, all through the 80s and into the 90s. And as I said, unless you buy China stainless junk, stainless fasteners are plenty strong enough.

[FuzzFace2]

reamer wrote

Would Stainless have enough "shear strength" in case of a collision?
I found the correct Bed-mounting bolts for the flareside online at Mac's in New York.
Grainger, Fastenall did not have them....

If you have to worry about that I think you are worrying about the wrong thing as you may be totaled not just the truck.

Any clue what grade the stock hardware was?
Heck once the wood is rotten the hardwaer would not hold it in place anyway!
Just my .02
Dave ----

[FuzzFace2]

Dyn Blin wrote

Didn't Ford go metric after '78?

As I posted the threaded holes on the front panel at the top and at the rear of the side panels are metric.
All the rest is nut/bolt so as long as they match you can use what ever you can get your hands on.
Dave ----

[FuzzFace2]

Jcris wrote

Good tip on mcmaster, I'd forgotten about those folks.
And yes it's a flareside.
Hey Gary, sure appreciate the offer but I'm looking to replace all the bolts that anchor the bed to the frame as well as those that hold the plywood to the sills, cross supports and entire perimeter of bed. Don't worry about those dimensions I'll figure them out. Not looking for exact stuff, just hardware that will work.
Thanks again,
Jcris

See my post(s) on the threaded holes as they are metric but the rest you can use what ever you want.
Let us know what you come up with.
Dave ----

[FuzzFace2]

Gary Lewis wrote

Tell me which ones you are needing and I'll try to find out what they are.

little high jack Gary, what is the full part numbers for the fender braches 16340.
Would they be the same for all 4?
If I can find 3 cheap I may get them over making 4 that match.
Thanks
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

[FuzzFace2]

Just like Ford..........4 different braches!
Thanks
Dave ----

[Gary Lewis]

I think I remember seeing this in one of their commercials where they touted it as A Better Idea.  

[reamer]

These are the correct flareside bed-to-frame bolts.
Notice the "phillips" style head
You will also need the correct "dimpled" washers (available from MAC's)