1964 C10 bed plywood plans

Just purchased a '64 Chevy C10 Long Bed Step Side that is missing the bed wood and skid strips. There is a local selling 3/4" douglas fir plywood 49" x 108." The aftermarket companies say the 3/4" wood bed is 50" x 97." After close inspection of my woodless bed, a single plywood sheet would need to be 50x97 to fit correctly. Therefore, I plan to buy two sheets of 49 x 108" and cut them to fit. How would you go about it? The frame has the cross sills and I have the reinforcement strips. How would you preserve the plywood against the elements? Keep in mind, this is going to be a daily driver work truck. Will be hauling lumber, engines, transmissions, landscaping supplies, and my Harley-Davidson Heritage Cl***ic on rare occasions. What is the best plan of approach? Thank you for your suggestions.

 

"paint" it with thin fibergl*** resin, or buy marine grade plywood or pressure treated.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. This local only wants $25 a sheet for 49 x 108"...unheard of for 3/4" douglas fir plywood. I'm budget restrained and will buy this plywood tomorrow morning. Two sheets cut properly will meet my needs and budget. Need a plan of attack to install it to last. Thanks

 

I used (2) pieces of 3/4" pressure treated plywood for the bed floor on my '65. Functionality on a budget and not beauty was the goal. The center seam is covered by a stainless bed strip and the wood is attached to the bed around the perimeter with carriage head bolts.




I used Thompsons Waterseal to seal all the plywood and painted all the bed angles and other surfaces that contact the wood.
Cut wood for the wheel tubs and fabricated supporting steel inside the wheel tubs for the wood.





I cut up a heavy rubber bed mat to cover the wood. Keep in mind the plywood is relatively soft, the bed mat keeps it from getting gouged up.



My '65 Build Thread: http://talk.cl***icparts.com/showthread.php?t=13928

 

1 sheet cut properly will give you what you need. So save another 25 bucks

cut the big sheet into squares 49x50 then that will leave you with a 8 inch peice of s****. Then turn them sideways and now you have your whole 50 inch width.

Then take one of the squares and cut another inch off the 49 inch end making it 48x50 put them together and now you got your 50x97

 

The bed on my '54 Ford is 49" x 78". I split a 4 x 8 sheet into thirds, cut to fit length wise and used two of the bed strips to cover the two 1/2" gaps. That way I only needed one sheet of plywood. If you can find a couple of extra bed strips, this might work for you.

I didn't finish off the wood very well and now ten years later it needs to be replaced. Next time I will seal the top and bottom. Good luck and it looks like a cool project!

 

Thanks Lakeroadster! The information I was looking for. I like your budget minded approach and design for function. Thompsons waterseal sounds like the best budget-minded sealer against the elements. Liking it!

 

55Nailhead- I'm against perpendicular joints in the bed... creative idea tho.

Cornormulroney- Thanks for the idea. I will definetly give you solution consideration. I think your plan will work! The more skid strips the better!

 

I took both halves to the local spray in bedliner guysand had them shoot them on the next bed they did. Cost me a couple pizzas

 

I appreciate all the ideas. I love the H.A.M.B.!