A pick up opinion , thoughts or photo shop

been working on the frame kick up covers on my model A and am having trouble with a final design.

I know i want it to match the lower body line of the A body. I dont know if i want to put a bead in it like the bed sides, leave it plain or make a recessed panel with the step the same as the lower reveal.



this was playing around with the idea of the recessed panel

 

i cant believe no one has an opinion or any thoughts on this.

 

Make a test panel, looks good. I also like the bottom to flow with the frame.

 

I'm into the idea of having the panel flow along with the cab bottom. a quick photoshop.

_T

 

slag,

a bead will make the panel look more "factory" and help it hold up better over time.


ed

 

I don't like the beaded panel. It would look good if the bead on the bed came further forward and the vertical lines lined up. Not sure what the rest of the truck looks like but with those wheels and tires a louvered panel may look cool.
Clark

 

need to see the rest of the truck

 

My poor attempt.

 

Here's a couple. I think the bead would look better if it lines up with top one.

Sean

 

Get rid of the Hoosiers, put some pie crusty slicks on it... then stick a big ole decal on the flat panel you add.

 

it's not pretty, but it's free.

 

made a quick plain panel and vise griped the stake pocket in place to get a better look



i not sure what to do with the panel

 

Slag, I like the plain panel with the bottom of the panel worked to mimic the lower lines of the cab. Subtle. Any more body lines or rolled accents will detract from the lines already in the bed and make it kinda gaudy. K.I.S.S.

 

That looks good plain like that on the sides with just the body-like bead at the bottom.

How about continuing it behind the axle and across the back?
Maybe louver it, like Clark said, but in the back and put the tail lights behind the louvers, ala '67 GTO tail lights?

I like louvers to look like they are functionally logical, not just decoration,* so if they help aerodynamics, anwhere, put them in.

*(see a past thread on louver function..)

 

it is going to tapper to about 4" and continue behind the wheels and wrap around the back of the truck with the corners rolled and the rear rolling under.

 

id run what you have mocked up there be with a row of maybe 5-8 louvers punche in it opening towards the front

 

Im am in full ageement with Sean 72s pic on yhe left but think the arc should line up too.

 

I like the plain one.

 

How much narrower is the bed than the cab? Do you have room to incorporate a step? I think it would look cool to have a step with several ribs in it. Drop the "riser" part of the step to match the cab. Then make the tread part square with the cab, and then at the back (leading edge of the tire) a radiused corner returning to the edge of the bed. Match the rear.

 

what 57 said....the boy lin emimic is neat...it ties the bed to the pnael and the panel to the bed...

i hate the hoosiers though...

tilt bed is kinda cool though...incase you need to haul gravel for the neighbor in a 70 year old truck.

 

the bed lower panel is about 5 inches in from the cab. I had thought about pulling the body line out to make a small step there but i may put fenders and running boards on it.

i made the tilt bed so i could get to the gas tank and battery with out having to clutter up the bed with any of it. There is soo much room i ended up with a 15 gallon tank and full size batery that are out of sightand all set low and between the wheel base to keep the car more balanced.

 

Comet's idea is close...but IMHO, I'd leave the panel plain and not put any ribs in it...I think it detracts from the raised box panel above it. I do agree with the step tho.

What I'd do is make the panel plain, roll the bottom to get a softer lower edge and roll the front, toward the cab, to soften that edge. Then I'd continue the "stake" (and I don't know if that's what it's called, but it's the square upright body stiffener on the front of the box) portion of the bed down into the panel. That will add an illusion that the box is deeper than it is and will continue the bed's "body" line.

As for continuing it behind the wheel to the back, I think you need to incorporate it the same way you would up front.

Just my 13 cents...

R-

 

I like what you've already done.



It's nice and clean. With the press line in the bed already, putting one in down below is kind of overkill. The plain panel looks so much cleaner, especially if youre continueing it around the tires and the back of the bed. That's just my humble opinion though.

 

i was thinking of rolling the front edge of the panel but it will not match the front of the bed above it. I will roll the lower body line to soffen it up and give a cleaner look.

 

OK so don't laugh, this is my first attempt at using Paint to modify anything.

I envision the filler as having a 1-1 1/2" step in it somwhere close to center. The lower half would give off the impression of being like a framerail extention but with a bead to match the cab. THe upper half would come up under the bed about half way through the radius on the bottom edge.

To me, this lightens up the look and makes the upper part of the filler appear as though it is attatched to the top of the frame rail.

 

Not sure if my description of the ribs were very clear. I meant to have them on the tread part of the step, not the "riser panel." Not sure if you read it that way or not. I like what you added though.