Technical Model A: Rumble Seat to Trunk Conversion-Help

I know this topic has been touched on here and there, but I thought I'd ask again with a couple more specific options. My '29 roadster has a rumble seat, I want a trunk, I like the look better, and need the space for possible battery or tank placement on down the road. Even if it's empty, I'd still rather have the trunk than the seat cushions back there.

I know the lid can't be flipped, has to have the handle removed and put on bottom side. What else is needed for full conversion?

Question: Is there any (Ford) hardware specific to the trunk that I need?

2nd question: I see some guys using '37 Chev-type trunk (external) hinges. What do I need on the inside of the lid to make those work?

I appreciate any help! Or if anyone has a good clear picture of the stock hardware in a factory coupe/roadster trunk, that would be also be a big help. Since the Model A suppliers pretty much have everything, I guess anything I need is readily available? thanks!

 

Any Model A parts dealer has the trunk hinge kit, it's two small plates, four counter sunk screws and two special bolts. the holes are already in the deck lid, cost under $15 dollars. Snyders Antique Auto is a good vendor and has an online catalog.

 

Thanks!

 

Look for someone to swap lids with you. A lot of people want a rumble seat instead of a trunk. I made that mistake once. I sure miss my trunk.

Charlie Stephens

 

I did the conversion on my '29 cabriolet. There is also an inside panel to change at the back. the curved inner panel is for the rumble seat and a different one is used for the trunk. It has a valley with a place to mount the latch and rubber bumpers at the back corners,




No pics, but besides the low cost hinge there is another sold by Snyders and others that has a bit of adjustment of the hinge pivot point. Often this is needed to get a proper fit.

 

This is a great help, Russ, thanks very much.

 

Thanks Charlie, I put a ad on FordBarn to see if anyone wants to swap their trunklid for my rumble lid and cushions. Figure there are more people wanting rumble seats on Ford Barn than on here....

 

I did this conversion maybe 30 years ago. Not hard at all. Best bet is to get a catalog from a Model A parts supplier and go from there. All parts are available and you will appreciate having a trunk. Scott

 

I'm about to do mine too...I thought my kids would ride back there, but they've been in the rumble maybe 3 times in 8 years...now they're teenagers...a trunk will be much more useful. Unfortunately I'll have to fill the holes in the quarters where the grab handles are too...

 

Just adding a couple part numbers. A-41615 striker plate for latch, and A-41512-S , the better, more adjustable, deck lid hinges. Both are part numbers from Snyder's Antique Auto Parts, Inc. Other places also sell the parts, including Brookville, but found these in my iPad bag a few minutes ago. I am still working to perfect the adjustment on my conversion. Note also, the head thickness of the bolts holding the drip rail can be a concern in that they can potentially damage paint on the edge of the trunk lid . I am replacing mine with thinner pan head bolts.

 

This link may be of some use to you:

Rumble Seat to trunk conversion

 

HI all - resurrecting an older post here. I'm looking to sort out my trunk lid before Billetproof Antioch in a month (nice to have goals right?) and this thread was super helpful. The had simply been installed in my 31 Roadster with a couple of bolts and at the bottom was a homemade bracket from the prior owner that finally snapped thereby leaving the deck lid banging around at highway speed. I found the hinges at Synder and they are on their way. The lid is shaved and has a pull behind the seat which works but there's nothing to "pop" the trunk lid.

Since the bracket along the bottom broke, my initial thought was to get a new piece of tubing (1"x1" or something) and perhaps add in a place for a rubber stop and spring if needed. Once it's properly installed if I put some weatherstripping down it might be enough to pop it a bit? I noticed that Synder also had the piece you show a pic of above with the rubber stops (https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/inner-panel) Part A-161-ABTR which could work but since my body is channeled I'm not sure I want to have that slope and lose some space back there.

I'm curious what others have done? I'm thinking for $99 I'd rather fab up my own bracket vs buying theirs and hacking it to bits. Pics would be great!

--Jon