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Hot Rods T-bucket pickup bed

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Dave G in Gansevoort, Jul 2, 2025.

  1. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 3,647

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    Does anyone know if there is a T-bucket sized pickup bed in fiberglass available from any manufacturer that is as long as or longer than a turtle deck? The turtle deck is 33 inches long. I would like a pickup bed 33 inches or more long for the whatever project. Thanks for all input…
     
  2. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 8,396

    RodStRace
    Member

  3. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 3,647

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    Than. I didn’t know there were this many manufacturers of T bodies. Spirit might have a winner. 36 inches long would fit the current length of the frame. A little bit of fabrication and it could swap out with the turtle deck, allowing for the removable roll bar structure I’m planning. More details later…
     
    Tow Truck Tom likes this.
  4. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 8,396

    RodStRace
    Member

    There are probably a few others. It's one of those where the big guys cover the searches with ads and the little guys are often flash in the pan or too low visibility to get shown. The places that do other fiberglass parts often have a T mold, but it's old, worn not called for or not profitable enough. Add in a long version and it's even less likely.
    I read this a while back but haven't heard about them lately (haven't looked)
    https://www.tbucketplans.com/turn-of-the-century-fiberglass-t-bucket-body-bargains/
    Thread here about them
    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/inexpensive-t-bucket-body.1212581/

    This place has a lot of history, not all good
    https://www.up22.com/t_bucket.htm

    another
    https://classglassperformance.com/23 T.html

    https://hairyglass.com/products/605?srsltid=AfmBOopbuedbqGvqHGx9Yp7p_KwvkfYqkT2-nBz4ZytiodpF4loShqMv


    https://www.ebay.com/itm/234376044400?_skw=t+bucket+body+fiberglass&epid=1923841630
     
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  5. nrgwizard
    Joined: Aug 18, 2006
    Posts: 3,027

    nrgwizard
    Member
    from Minn. uSA

    A while back(a long while...), iirc, Steve Archer made a 40" one, for the VolksRods. Don't know who got his molds. Another one might've been Cal Custom. Same deal though.
    Marcus...
     
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  6. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 9,674

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Years ago I was going to make one out of aluminum, but I never got around to it. The script on the tailgate would be the tough part.
     
  7. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 3,647

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    Marty if I had your skills, I’d consider attempting it. I could picture finding a steel tailgate and altering it to fit if necessary, and then making the rest of the bed to fit. But I don’t think I can pull it off. I am going to plaigerize your roadsters roll bar however. That I can do…
     
    Outback likes this.
  8. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 8,396

    RodStRace
    Member

    Tow Truck Tom and Outback like this.
  9. Just Gary
    Joined: Oct 9, 2002
    Posts: 5,774

    Just Gary
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Why not buy two 20" beds and 'glass them together into one long one?

    You can make it as long as you want.
     
  10. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 3,647

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    If I had any experience with fiberglass other than destroying it, I’d give it a try. But I’m sure I’d mess it up! I tried synthetic auto body filler years ago, and it wasn’t pretty! I’m sure epoxy resin stuff would be worse!

    That 36 inch bed from Spirit is looking pretty good for my purposes. It only needs to look good from 20 feet away going by at speed!
     
    Just Gary likes this.
  11. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 3,647

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    Marty, if you were to make a bed, how would you go about making the sides? There’s a roll at the bottom, a break at the top of about 45 degrees, and the outer edge is a little bit like a section of tubing.

    That tailgate is not that expensive, and without the script, if necessary it could be narrowed. The bed doesn’t need a floor or front closure just a mounting flange or? to attach it to the back of the body. And if you made it, would you roll the bead details in the sides?
     
  12. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 8,396

    RodStRace
    Member

    @Dave G in Gansevoort No fab guy, but cut to size, bead roll the sides, finish corners by hand, roll bottom curve and brake to bend. Tools to do it quick would be a bead roller, a 36" brake and roller.
    I'd imagine all could be done by hand, hammer, clamps and a chunk of angle and round tube.
    Carter auto restyling built a tailgate for his 35 Chevy recently.
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB8Ut7AC4YI
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2025
  13. Mitchell Rish
    Joined: Jun 10, 2007
    Posts: 2,320

    Mitchell Rish
    Member
    from Houston MS

    How wide is the script ? Could you narrow the bed /tail gate and reattach the script after and blend in ? Would work for metal or glass would it not.
     
  14. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 3,647

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    Good thing about the gate RSR found it doesn’t have any script, so not a problem! Just cut it in half and remove the required amount. Keeping it straight? Different story. I have some straight sections of box tube that would make a good fixture to help.
     

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