72 custom SUPER ROTTEN bed panel

[72customF]

[72customF]

[72customF]

[70_F100]

What size tires are you running?

That's the same wheels I want for mine, and when I buy tires, I want to make sure I get the biggest I can use without interference.

[72customF]

Yeah they're 91 f-150 rims with bronco centercaps. I had 31 inch tires on there when I baught he truck... looked awesome and had no interference.

[72customF]

The tires on there in the pic are 235 75 r15

[sargentrs]

I run 265/75-15's with no interference issues either. Great looking truck, 72CustomF!

[70passdownford]

Just a quick question for those who might still be on this thread. What is that what holding, rust collecting groove that runs down the bed actually for. I have stripped mine as best I can with a wire wheel, and am going to heavily apply some rust inhibitor, but was wondering why it is there. Once I attack it from the inside and out, can I just bondo it closed and will that stop the problem (and I say problem meaning a 42 year old truck that has lived it's entire life outside has surface rust there).

[72BahamaBlue]

That gap was closed with a bead of some sort of caulk (butyl rubber?), shrinks over time and allows moisture to collect in there. I'd guess after assembly, the factory didn't do a very thorough job of priming inside the gap.
I ended up cleaning-chipping-scraping-wire brushing with a variety of tools both hand and power, and many treatments of phosphoric acid, followed by priming with a small paintbrush and spray cans. 3 years out in the elements here in rainy Seattle, the unfilled gap still has zero rust. It took many applications of primer to completely cover inside there!
As far as filling with body filler, I think covering that gap may lead to dead air space, and a chance for condensation to develop and collect. I'll be filling mine with butyl caulk. The bed does flex and twist, I'd think filling it with body filler might crack later on.

[67mann]

Just a quick question for those who might still be on this thread. What is that what holding, rust collecting groove that runs down the bed actually for.

Other than it being the seam where the upper and lower bed panels are welded maybe the design team wanted it for the look

As far as filling with body filler, I think covering that gap may lead to dead air space, and a chance for condensation to develop and collect. I'll be filling mine with butyl caulk. The bed does flex and twist, I'd think filling it with body filler might crack later on.

x2....if you want it gone then do a search(or look in "projects") on welding bed seam.....many members have done this.....I'm still on the fence ....I might be with the design team on the "Look"