In the truck world, it's possible that the bed is the most important part of a pickup. Yet oftentimes this area gets overlooked when it comes time for the final fit and finish of a project. Part of that might be due to the fact that this is the area that also receives the most abuse and neglect over the years as it served as workhorse first and foremost and fashion statement a distant second.
But like everything else in the truck world these days, there are a handful of parts suppliers with the necessary replacement parts at the ready to fix every square inch of that hacked-up bed, or to simply replace it completely.
We recently visited Charles Franklin at Vintage V8 Hot Rod and Restoration in Orange, California, as he put the finishing touches on an early F-1 bed. The stake pockets and header panel had seen better days but the bedsides and tailgate were in pretty good shape so Charles opted to repair the offending area and keep as much of the original Ford sheetmetal as possible intact. It's a pretty easy process for the homebuilder with a drill, welder, and a bit of patience, and adds to the pride one feels repairing a 60-plus-year-old truck. And that's why we do what we do isn't it?!
Here's the original F-1 header...
Here's the original F-1 header panel. As you can see, the bottom two inches need to be replaced due to rust and the upper corners are pretty beat as well. A day's worth of hammer and dolly work wouldn't come close to making the panel nice and straight either.
Removed from the stock bed...
Removed from the stock bed by drilling out the spot welds, the damage to the bed stake pockets is also obvious. The '48-50 Ford beds typically suffer more so than the later models due in large part to the closed design at the bottom of the stake pocket, trapping moisture and debris inside that eventually rusts out the lower portion. The bottom portion of the stake pocket on the right was already cut out, most likely because of this problem.
Here's a brand-new stake pocket...
Here's a brand-new stake pocket for'48-50 Ford beds from National Parts Depot (NPD).
Compared to the original header...
Compared to the original header panel on the F-1, the new panel from NPD is a work of stamped sheetmetal art. Notice the stock beads for support and the detail in the corners, identical to the original Ford piece.
Before the new stake pockets...
Before the new stake pockets are installed, Charles spends a few minutes massaging the bedsides where the new components attach to since this area will be much harder to access later.
The stock stake pockets had...
The stock stake pockets had a flange stamped in the top to clear the rolled section of the bedside rail so it's necessary to make a few cuts using a bandsaw to work the flat panel into a flange.