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…
RPM is 20" https://eztbucket.com/shop/ols/products/20-pick-up-bed CCR is 14 and 20" https://shopcaliforniacustomroadsters.com/collections/beds-sportdecks Spirit is 20" https://shop.spiritcars.com/body-fiberglass-parts/20-pickup-box.html But this one might work https://shop.spiritcars.com/model-t-pick-up-fiberglass-bed-36-inch.html This shows a 20 and a 30" https://hotrodfiberglass.com/product/t-bucket-1923-ford-fiberglass-body/ You could go nuts with this! https://www.modeltford.com/item/PU-BED.aspx or roll your own (ideas) https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/30202.html?1180435052
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…
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
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...
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.
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…
https://www.modeltford.com/item/PTG1NS.aspx The script one is more, probably another stamping step and licensing. Fab guys like you could do it for a lot less.
Why not buy two 20" beds and 'glass them together into one long one? You can make it as long as you want.
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!
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?
@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
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.
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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