removable panels in lpb bed floor

[seapotato]

I just picked up the free 45 box from up island, and it has a removeable panel in each front corner in the floor of the box.

the bed on my truck is much older and doesn't have these, what're they for? ( I can get a pic later if anyone wants.)

they look factory, thinking they'd make good battery box hatches, just curious what the original purpose was.

cheers,
ryan

 

[65swb45]

My 64lwb has the removable panels as well.........and I don't know why. But I do know that the space under the bed right there looks very under-utilized. And I plan to do something about that. Stay tuned.

 

[seapotato]

interesting your 64 has them and the bed I have doesn't, mind you, I have no idea what year it's from, only that it's a 3 hinge tailgate.

the bed with the panels is probably a 77 or 78.

and yeah, looks like a good spot to stash a bit of junk to me....

 

[Landpimp]

the 3 hinge tailgate would be much earlier than 77, my guess is it ended in the late 60s early 70's. My 66LPB doesnt have the panels.....at least that I recall

like to see pics of the panels.

 

[friel01]

lets see em

I woudl like to see pics too. On my 3-hinge box the front sections in front of the wheel wells have big phillips screws in the panels, securing them tot he crosmember, like at hte very back of the bed as well, but the panels sure arent removable. That would be kind of neat.

 

[bull]

here is my 66-67 bed with rivets holding that panel down.

 

[friel01]

mine too

Thats what mine looks like as well, only I think they are philips head screws/bolts with nuts ont he backside. But even if you remove them, the panel wont come off, as it is spot welded to the front rail, and the front panel is spot welded to it. At least it is on mine!

I think they used the bolts there because the fender wells, and the floor panel and the cross memeber all come together there, so maybe too thick to spot weld???

 

[friel01]

correction

the front panel is NOT welded to it, but it IS welded to the crossmember, and also the side panel of the bed is welded to the lip on the side of it. Its a LONG way from removable.

 

[bull]

Maybe it was a patch panel for a goof at the metal stampers? As in they stamped the steel too short north of the wheel well and used that panel as a cost effective fix.

Another reason might be that they shipped from the manufacture broken down in pieces and for some reason it didn't ship correctly with that piece attached?

I will get som underside shots too

 

[65swb45]

That's what I meant to say They LOOK removable because of the screws and the separation at the front of the bed.

 

[seapotato]

the 3 hinge tailgate would be much earlier than 77, my guess is it ended in the late 60s early 70's. My 66LPB doesnt have the panels.....at least that I recall

like to see pics of the panels.

3 hinge tailgate is much older of unknown vintage. it's the 78 one that has the panels, and they're different than those ones pictured.

that pic above is just like the old 3 hinge box I have. ( which is the one actually on my truck)

on the newer rusty one, the panels are actually flanged with round corners and are clearly meant to be removeable...

I'll grab a flashlight and a pic.

 

[Landpimp]

ya know, I always like the 70s vintage Ford trucks with the storage in the bed side.......but the best was the Fall Guys Chevy....he had the most badass bed storage

 

[seapotato]

here ya go. one of the panels, and a pic from top and bottom of the hole.

proof they're removeable...cuz they're like....removed.

beds a rusty sob, but has some redeeming qualities, the bed floor is actually pretty good at the back, a lot better than my other one. and it has chains.....

 

[friel01]

coolness

I like those!!!! They should ALL have those.

 

[dr_claw]

interesting. I too have never seen those.