batmans new bed progress

[batman13]

fu(k went to the 'yard yesterday, (in the rain no less)
they had 1 green 98 dak, no more 3rd gens, and it was waay in the back
as i was walking up, it looked decent, until i saw the rust, was already through the steel right above the wheelwell, ( i have never seen it there)
then i walked around and noticed why it came with the tailgate, the corner was so crushed you couldnt get it off. and there was also rust above that wheel well, from the inside,

its much worse off than mine.
for 170

and the truck had NOTHING else i needed, bummer

so i called the place that i avoided for their high prices
they had 1 green 98 dak, he asked me to make an offer since i've seen the truck, i said $200
deal
so tomorrow i go pay them, and i'll be picking it up on wednesday, they will take the new one off and take my old one for scrap.
i can just pulll a couple dents, slap some paint on, and bolt her up

[Plymouth Express]

Originally Posted by batman13

fu(k went to the 'yard yesterday, (in the rain no less)
they had 1 green 98 dak, no more 3rd gens, and it was waay in the back
as i was walking up, it looked decent, until i saw the rust, was already through the steel right above the wheelwell, ( i have never seen it there)
then i walked around and noticed why it came with the tailgate, the corner was so crushed you couldnt get it off. and there was also rust above that wheel well, from the inside,

its much worse off than mine.
for 170

and the truck had NOTHING else i needed, bummer

so i called the place that i avoided for their high prices
they had 1 green 98 dak, he asked me to make an offer since i've seen the truck, i said $200
deal
so tomorrow i go pay them, and i'll be picking it up on wednesday, they will take the new one off and take my old one for scrap.
i can just pulll a couple dents, slap some paint on, and bolt her up

I smell a bunch of tech write ups with pics, as you rebuild the Batmodak.

[Dakota07]

wow, I thought I had some restoration to do......

[lilbrucie]

ah yeah man dont forgot the pics batman!!!!!!

[batman13]

'nuff said....

[batman13]

>>step one, empty your bed and remove gate


>>step 2, locate your 14mm bolts
8 of them

/\ #1, directly behind cab

/\#2, directly in front of rear tire

/\#3, next to spare tire (tire is removed in pic)

/\#4, at the end of bed

>>step #3
get your best friend out, if you don't have one, soak your bolts in pb blaster
(i didnt)

* hint *
{while waiting for your blaster to soak, you can skip ahead to step #5 then return to step #4}

>>step#4
remove bolts,
heres the fun part, they are SOAKED in threadlocker, my impact fought them all the way out

UNIQUE SECTION:
i have a hitch from a ram installed,

so it is in the way of the last bolt
problem solved


>>step #5
remove taillights, remove bulbs and unsnake wires,


>>step#6
remove gas filler FUNNEL, not jut the neck, see the three torx bolts?. take them

(i figured that out halfway through removing the neck)

>>step#7
remove spare tire winch bar-thing
to do so, you remove a cotter pin at the winch, then pull he bar out

i got lazy\/


>>step#8
while you're here, measure for max dump bed lift....




>>step#9
make sure you have a location/transport nearby

mine is parked right behind the truck.

then with the help of some friends
....no pic...
or a trusty sobe no fear,
roll bed back,down and onto previously mentioned transport


>>step#10
re-install taillights, using what ever you feel like




step#11
park truck in front yard for all the passers-by to galk in amazement


>>step#12
type up long, boring, tedious how-to
just to be a sport and assist the next poor sap




to be continued.....

[lilbrucie]

lol you the man batman!

[trukn2004]

good thread batman. I might've missed the thread, but what happened to you truck?? looks like you got hit.

[DRAGN94]

no wonder your impact fought it...you bought some cheap ass, parts store electric impact.

also most of the time you do not have to remove the tail light wiring...crawl under the bed and each tail light has a weather-pack connector attached to it. so you un-do these and take the tail light, bulb, and rear harness all in one. (dont have to worry about breaking a bulb)

[djwolf37]

How are your bed bolts 14mm???????? Is there that much rust eating away on them? Bed bolts should be 15mm............