'32 frame and a '27 RPU body......

Will a '27 Roadster pick up body fit a '32 frame??.............has anyone done it?? Seems like the frame would be too wide................just thinking out loud............

 

There's a coupla threads on this- A bodies on Deuce frames-try the search function and see whatcha get...Lotta good info here.

 

'27 is a 'T' not an 'A'.................found nothing in a search, Thanks

 

No its not , BUT a 27 T fits an A frame with no mods, so the Mods to a 32 Frame for an A should be helpful. It will have to be narrowed or at least pinched in the front.

 

now i'm confused, A 27 isn't a T? or can it be both?

 

That did look a bit odd after I read it again. A 27 IS a T . What I was trying to say is a 27 T is NOT an A but a 27 T WILL FIT an A frame .

 

Look up some of Nimrod's posts.

 

Here is one from my downloaded "Idea Cars" picture file.

 

Thanks guys......................I would like to hear from someone that has actually done it. any and all pictures are welcome..................

 

Mine's channeled a couple inches...so the frame had to be narrower than stock. It ended up being about 3" narrower than stock at the front spreader bar and about an inch wider that stock at the rear. Thats how the contour of the rails ended up matching the body the best.

I've pictures of highboy T's from the '40's on stock width '32 frames...the top edge of the frame shows about the whole length of the body and looks funny. The lower edge of the '26-7 T's are narrower than a model A.

 

Here are a couple more pictures.
One of the car sitin on the rails (but narrower than stock width).
One upside down before I started cutting the body.
And one rightside up again channeled.

I kinda miss my old big shop!

-Jeff

 

I read in a Model A restorers magazine that Ford made the A frame fit the 27T body because he wasen't sure the A bodies would be ready in time, and planned to use T bodies on the A running gear if nessarry to get cars to the public if the A bodys weren't ready in time.

 

Thanks Nimrod.............Thats what I needed to know.....your ride looks kickass bythe way.
CT.

 

Hey CT, I went about it a bit different. Since T's don't exactly have a buttload of foot room, I figured I would widen the body to fit the frame. Mine has a 32 frame and K-member with A front and rear crossmembers. I cut the cowl down the middle and added 3 1/2". Obviously, the dash and other parts had to be done too, but the result is much more roomier than a stock T and the vast majority of people don't even realize it.

 

Hay Nailhead..............after reading Nimrod's post, that's exactly what came to mind. How 'bout some pictures??............Thanks
CT.

 

The late Tom Senter was originally planning to use a 27 T body on deuce rails but found the T a little small for his Height and ended up doing a Deuce Hiboy, but I have a pic somewhere on his chassis with the T body in place. The chassis would have required a little narrowing. Still a cool pic. I'll try to find it later tonight and post. These things look great!

 

Nailheadroadster, What you did was almosrt exactly what Jon Hall of Shadowrods has done with his new XL27 body. It's a '27 T roadster body sized to fit on a stock dimensioned '32 frame. It's a beautiful piece but like any quality product it''s priced accordingly.

Frank

 

There are pics of a real old timey one in a '53 or 4 R&C Bonneville issue--'27 pickup on '32 V8 frame, called a "T-V8". This thing was the tow car in a long story on a tow to Bonneville. I don't think this car was really even viewed as a rod, just as something thrown together to make a truck out of the stuff in the back yard, and was very rough and crude, but it was an appealing little car nonetheless. Mebbe someone here knows how to post pictures...

 

Here are a couple of pics for you CT. Basically cut it down the middle then stood there staring at the body while my buddy said "You sure you know what yer doin?" At the wise old age of 23 I promptly replied "Nope, all I know is that it's gotta fit that frame." I had the holy grail of frames and a narrow 26 roadster body wasn't gonna stop me from using it! Basically, it turned out to be about 3 1/2" I hadta add to middle of the cowl then I just ended up pie cuttin it towards the back. The rear dimensions, past the seat back, are stock. It's probably not even close to the best fit out there, but it works for me.

 

Thanks...............!!!

 

Here's the pic I was talking about. Like I said, Tom ended up using a Deuce body so He never got around to narrowing the frame, but it sure looks good like it is. This pic is from Oct. 1977 !001 Custom and Rod ideas. Too bad this magazine isn't around now - it always had some cool stuff.

 

Ragtop, have you ever looked at the masthead/list of writers in the last few "1001's" edited by Senter?? Checkitout--best thing in the magazine!

 

Hey Nailhead, got any construction photos?

 

The only books I have are pretty old - mid to late 70's but I see Magoo, Brennan. Middle linebacker?

 

This '27 was featured in R&C a while back, here's the link to the article. The frame's been pinched in front to fit the cowl.

http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/135_0402_1927_ford_model_t_pickup/

 

Doin' one as we speak! Oh yeah! ...and does it look low & cool!

 

Dan........ you gotta post some pictures..!!! Don't make me beg.
Jay.........does a rod get any better than that?
Thanks for posting that picture and the link...............................

 

That was a neat looking little truck. Very muscular looking!

 

At the end, I think Senter was more or less running it alone on a budget of 47 cents and the masthead was entirely imaginary--Names like "Hiram Squee" and "Tito Garfoon", titles like "Degaussing engineer." Somebody here must have one of the late issues...

 

Hey Nailhead, got any construction photos?

I do have a few that I just scanned but they're not very good pics. Lost a bunch while moving a few years ago. Sorry about the quality, I didn't have a digital camera then.