Talk me into or out of saving these...

[Rust Buster]

I've finally got my *** in gear to clean out my shop so I have room to work on my '48 and '67 Power Wagons. My '48 has the dual PTO and rear belt pulley. I've been collecting parts for years now but am trying to thin the herd so I'm only keeping what is good enough to use. I have the bedsides attached that in my opinion are most likely too far gone. There's rot through everywhere, and it's all very wavy. The pics actually make them out to be a lot better than they are. Is there any use keeping these, even if they are not salvageable?

[Rust Buster]

More pics.

More...

[53Crusher]

Bed sides

I just had the same problem. Purchased reproduction sides for my truck and held onto a similar set of OEM sides for a couple years. Finally decided that I would never fix them and with reproductions available I didn't think anybody else would want them. Mine ended up as salvage......

[Rust Buster]

Thank you! I just needed validation and to hear it from someone else.

I just had the same problem. Purchased reproduction sides for my truck and held onto a similar set of OEM sides for a couple years. Finally decided that I would never fix them and with reproductions available I didn't think anybody else would want them. Mine ended up as salvage......

[bobyepsr]

There are some of us who would be happy to have that to start from. I'd work at salvaging those sides. Here in Ohio that would be a good find. I'm planning to rebuild a second series bed in that condition. I have a shorter two wheel drive bed to cut some of the stamped sections from for patches. It won't be real pretty but I'm going for the survivor look so it should blend in. Jim

[Rust Buster]

I admire your courage, but there isn't any metal that is salvageable here. You can't even pick it up without it folding in on itself. What metal is there is paper thin, if it isn't rotted through. The only reason I thought about keeping them was to use as a model/template for building some from scratch.

There are some of us who would be happy to have that to start from. I'd work at salvaging those sides. Here in Ohio that would be a good find. I'm planning to rebuild a second series bed in that condition. I have a shorter two wheel drive bed to cut some of the stamped sections from for patches. It won't be real pretty but I'm going for the survivor look so it should blend in. Jim

[wayneh]

If you are looking to part with that rear belt pulley I know of a truck looking for one!!

Wayne

443.534.3591

[Rust Buster]

Haha, I don't think I'll be parting with that, but if you happen to find a mechanical governor...

If you are looking to part with that rear belt pulley I know of a truck looking for one!!

Wayne

443.534.3591

[Greg Coffin]

Someone may want those sides, even just for parts or a template. Offer them for free or scrap value and see if anyone takes them. You might be surprised. I've given away and sold things that I was sure no one would want, and I've picked up a few treasures that others thought were worthless.

[Matthew Welcher PWA]

In my own world I would pull the hardware and the stake pockets and ditch the rest sadly enough. But give someone a chance to be there new caretaker first.