briggzer

97 F150 XLT 4.6 V8

Does anyone know the dimensions of the truck bed bolts? i'm replacing my bed and dont really want to spend the $15 ea, from ford and am worried that I'm gonna break the old ones.

and does anyone know the easiest way to get out without cutting? It's torx on top, Air Impact?, and do I have to have someone hold the nut on bottom, or will the frame with those clips that the nuts are part of?

kinda a sweet deal, found a basically NEW bed, no scratches or rust AT ALL! $350. Nearly same color too. Getting spray in liner just as soon as i get it changed!

djcobraman427

I have had my bed off several times and I just used a regular rachet. If you are from a rust-prone area, spay the bolts from the bottom with a rust solvent, let sit over night and you should have no issues.

briggzer

I tried that, I used PB Blaster, sprayed one day, let sit over night, then sprayed next day, broke torx bit tip right off with air impact, and bolts didn't move.

I decided to get the six new bolts and cage nuts, $84.38 with tax. I guess I can't complain.

now I get to have fun using either a air chisel, or sawzall to cut the old ones off!

YAY! New box this weekend.

JesseGuyett

wow, mine aren't even starting to rust on my 98. yours are so bad that pb blaster didnt even work? i've loosened mine by hand before just used a breaker bar, are they really rusty?

akdoggie

A full set is 25.00 on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-11...item3f07f844b7

the bolts and the nuts both together

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-11...item3f07fb8df7

xxfaceyourfear

The bit you used probably wasn't up to the challenge of an impact. You should try using a breaker bar with a cheater pipe on it to break them loose. That is, if you haven't gone chisel happy already, haha.

briggzer

I used a Kobalt 3/8 Drive Torx socket. I already tried using a breaker bar, I twisted this socket already, well not this exact one, i returned it and got a new one but i figured that I was going to need a impact. I think I might need a snap-on or one of the craftsman torx bits which might be stronger to get these loose.

They are a little rusty. i live in Vermont and we use calcium chloride (road salt) a lot, and lots of people in this state don't do underbody oil coating ever so rust is usually a issue up here.

briggzer

are those the same as on my 97 do you know??

skizriz

Do you have a welder?? Weld some nuts to the tops of the bolts instead of the Torx bit.

akdoggie

Yes they are the same from 97 up. That was I would think a misprint or the guy didn't know. Ford has the same part number for 97 and 98 and up.