Ideas for finishing off the back of my truck?

[slantin_77]

I have a 1977 Dodge D100 pickup and I've wanted to do a clean look to the back end of the truck bed. Trouble is, I can't think of something that would look good or would flow with the rest of the truck. I mean, the bed is so...how do you put it...square! Besides the fenders, there is absolutely NO nice lines or anything.

I'm hoping there are some creative minds in here that can maybe help me come up with a concept for the back end to make it look good instead of completely flat and boring. I'd honestly like to incorporate some exhaust exits and the license plate into the box (the plate is fine where it is for now, but I don't want to keep it under the tail light). Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/03/20140704_074701-1.jpg

[Arrowhead]

I'll give it a whirl. First off the chains got ta go. I'm sure there is a hidden latch / cable supports available somewhere that can be modded to work. . Round off the square edge on the top of the tailgate and wrap it around to match the round rail on top of the bed. French some round tail lights into the fenders and mount the plate under the bed. Delete the backup lights and mount a hidden one under the bed. Round off the boxed uprights. A piece of exhaust tubing cut into quarters could be welded on the box.

No I wasn't drunk making the sketch, I must have spent 3-4 minutes on it. Just enough to get the idea.


110148

[jlcustomz]

Arrowhead is definitely on the right track. Tailgate chains & trailer style lights dirty up the look of pro-touring/ restmod style image & are the first that should go. Modern led tail lights in the fenders are a good option, but so would the right setup in a custom bumper. License plate could be on a hidden flip down mount near where it is now, under a bumper , or in a recessed mount box into the tailgate. Rounding off the cornors as suggested could be a good idea also.

In fitting with the modern trend of things, I think a center exhaust under a custom bumper could be a strong consideration. Here's an in progress pic of my custom cts-v styled bumper & center exhaust . Not exactly what you would ever want , but may lend some vision. United pacific makes some approx. 9" to 12" led strip lights which I may fit into my bumper slots & could be a consideration on yours. A 3rd brake light would also be a nice addition.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/03/DSC00814_zps99069c9f-1.jpg (http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/jlcustomz1/media/DSC00814_zps99069c9f.jpg.html)

[slantin_77]

Wow, I never thought about rounding out the edges of the box and to continue the rolled edge onto the top of the tailgate...great ideas guys! Keep 'em coming! I have thought about that very idea about the tails in the fenders...I might just do it. And the CTS-V style exhaust exit looks to be a bit extreme to what I'm looking for. I'm not sure if I'll do a rear bumper or try to design a roll pan. I will have dual exhaust coming out, just not sure how to design the roll pan.

[slantin_77]

Oh, and the "ribs" on the box sides will be covered by a piece of flat sheet metal. Those ribs don't go with ANYTHING!

[astroracer]

I will suggest looking for LATER MODEL BED... The Chevy guys do it all the time with the '87 to '97 style beds on early pickups. Going to a lot of work to "bandaid" the old square style when new style may fill the bill.
This is my '95.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/12/ry3D400-1.jpg
I added the roll pan, filled the seams and gate handle and made some aluminum step plates for it.
Mark

[slantin_77]

I've thought about that as well, but now that Arrowhead opened my eyes, this bed has a lot more possibilities than I realized.

Also, since the front fenders need to be replaced, I'd love to take the old fenders and somehow make the bed fenders have the same wheel arch design as the front fenders. I just don't know how one would do that and make it look good...

[jlcustomz]

OOPS, on the pic I posted, I did the c-7 vette 4 tailpipes, meant to say 2 centerpipes like a stock cts-v could be a possibility for you. Not so over the top. Center exhaust if becoming a trend now.

Another thought for the bed sides could be a whole new piece of sheetmetal on the sides to smooth the outside look & double wall the bed. Fenders possibly could be mounted outwards more on the outside of the new metal, adding a more aggressive look to the truck & tire clearance. Yea, a lot of work though.

We're all just thinking only right now anyway , right.

[slantin_77]

I actually thought of the sides of the box just this morning. LoL all except extending the fenders with the new box sides. I was thinking of putting square tubing vertically every foot or so that would match the 4 corner tubes, then putting new sheet metal over it, drill holes in the sheet metal where the tubes are and spot welding it to the tubes, grind them down, fill it and then make sure it's flat (gloss paint would show every ripple and distortion in the metal). Something along those lines. Also cutting around where the fender is, then "possibly" welding the fender to the box side as to look like it's all one piece. Not sure if that's feasible or not. Would give the bed a real fresh look though and something nobody has ever done (to my knowledge).

[jlcustomz]

If you do go that route, I'd use a urethane adhesive or something on all the inner parts of the new sheet metal to the spacers, rather than welding & warping. Factories don't weld the inners of any panels, Such as hood braces, etc.. Drill & spot weld all that & you'll initially have the smoothness of the side of a fed ex truck Also, for the fender mounting, you also have the option to screw on from backside, then remove & remount using 3m-8115 adhesive, then USC all metal filler for the initial contouring of the seam. Did that on my lower bodywork extensions seen in my photobucket links. Welding would have been a warping nightmare.

Adhesive WILL hold to clean bare metal, & no warping or backside rust issues. Also any runout of 3m-8115 sands down SUPER smooth.

Do any google searches of the high end street rod truck builds?

EDIT:::: another dumb thought::::https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=959&q=dodge+little+red+wagon&oq=dodge+little+red&gs_l=img.1.0.0l9j0i5.1463.5676.0.7912.16.11.0.5.5. 0.138.865.10j1.11.0.msedr...0...1ac.1.62.img..0.16 .937.Rgr27OcU5Mg#tbm=isch&tbs=rimg%3ACUbahv53lzncIjj63MmOWVv3rPxX12D3KoSOX8v X83wL8SBOVCkpI2CK8ueYyDwPWGqH1Mnf0lKTSBeO5a_113KPT dCoSCfrcyY5ZW_1esEVR1lOTQpnW4KhIJ_1FfXYPcqhI4Rwlj3 WMTMg2UqEglfy9fzfAvxIBFu6oaOHex-LSoSCU5UKSkjYIryEdi4R84P-4YtKhIJ55jIPA9YaocR92z2Zh5dhTEqEgnUyd_1SUpNIFxH_1G zTRpHCeYSoSCY7lr_1Xco9N0EW0Cuxd4LK5I&q=dodge%20little%20red%20wagon&hl=en&imgdii=_

[67rally]

Here are some of the ideas listed above incorporated into your 77:


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/03/slantin207720pickup_zpseittlnsz-1.jpg (http://s228.photobucket.com/user/modi_photos/media/slantin%2077%20pickup_zpseittlnsz.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/03/slantin207720pickup20mod_zpsfx7lbehm-1.jpg (http://s228.photobucket.com/user/modi_photos/media/slantin%2077%20pickup%20mod_zpsfx7lbehm.jpg.html)

[slantin_77]

Wow, that looks excellent! I'm not sure if I like the tails and reverse lights in the fenders though...
Very well-done chop my friend!

[67rally]

No problem, I'm not a huge fan of those tail lights either. Just putting some of the ideas that were thrown out on paper.

Any plans on running a rear bumper? You could do something body color and incorporate the tail lights, license plate and exhaust cutouts there.

I can't do any more chops tonight, but if you have any cool thoughts, I should have some free time tomorrow.

[Twentyover]

I think HPI is doing a 51 Chevy w/ narrowed styleside bed inside stock fenders

[jlcustomz]

I posted the pic of my rear bumper partly because it has slots for tail lights. Similar sized slots in a bumper or roll pan could be an option for you.

[67rally]

Here's another quick one with a combo brake/reverse/turn led light:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/03/slantin207720pickup20mod2_zps1kbtp31r-1.jpg (http://s228.photobucket.com/user/modi_photos/media/photoshop%20stuff/slantin%2077%20pickup%20mod2_zps1kbtp31r.jpg.html)

[slantin_77]

That last chop looks great! I think I really like the smooth bed sides and those tails are pretty interesting. I think I am going to do something with a bumper since a rollpan might look silly...probably find a decent looking rear bumper, making exhaust cutouts, painting it vs. having chrome (or getting a chrome bumper, going over it with a scotchbrite pad and powder clear over it for a brushed finish) and possibly do some tail lights in it. Not sure...I'm far from doing something like that.

[minendrews68]

I must be old fashioned, I liked the look of the tail lights in the fenders. If your going to keep the raised panels in the tail gate maybe put the license plate in the recessed portion between the raised panel. Maybe even recess it a little more. Just a thought. I do like the smooth look too. Nice truck, I like it..

[astroracer]

I like the Caddy lights, but that's just me. The smoothside looks good. If a photoshop could be done to pull the front fender shape into the rear fender I would like to see that. A lot.
And think about extending the bedside back to cover/smooth over all of the tailgate hardware. Those really draw my eye in the last chop and need to be minimalized.
Mark

[slantin_77]

Yeah the tailgate is staying the way it is. It usually says "DODGE" in the middle so I will probably have someone pinstripe a really cool DODGE just to keep it a little oldschool.

[jlcustomz]

It's 2015 here & I have to agree with some sleek slimline leds similar to the last photochop. And I do think it's crying for some sort of a custom bumper back there to fill in that empty space. It is a truck , right.

[67rally]

Sorry guys, I've been out of the country for a bit. If Slantin 77 wants to see any changes, let me know and I'll see what I can do.