I just found out that the bed we have is actually from a Model T, not a Model A as we thought before. It is the where the front stake pockets were moved 7 back. The bed's front panel is completely shot and I was just going to order a new one. All I can find are panels with the battery plate recess. Since the tailgate from Model T and A have the same part number (MAC's catalogue), would the front panel interchange as well?
I'm pretty sure they will...are you planning on running fenders? If so, I'd be interested to see how you tackle that since the T bedsides are a little different.
I am using the same box fenderless on my A. Maybe a Model T guy would make you some sort of deal if they need the T box.
That box was a one year use. I am sure if I was restoring a T pickup it would like be looking for a needle in a hay stack.
Actually the T bed with the setback stake pockets was in production for about year and a half...judging from extant original RPU's the change occurred in mid-1926 (to address the interference issue with the top in the 'down' position). AFAIK, the rarest T beds are the first factory bed (1925) and the first series '26's...when looking for a bed for my RPU I came across 10-12; all of them late 26-27's.
@gwhite Yes, I am putting the fenders back on. The bed had fenders on before when we bought the truck but in a very artistic way, with a lot of bondo and aluminum sheet. I had the bed stripped on the frame and wheels installed, all I basically need are the fender spacers from the Model A bed to make it work. @steves29 I don't know if I really want to get rid of it. I mean I put already so much work into it to restore it after it was completely covered in aluminum sheet and several layers of sheet metal and angle iron everywhere. And on the other hand I really like the look with the rather narrow bed and the wide fenders to cover the L78-15s in the rear.
Naw, they are a two year use, '26 and '27. The front panels do interchange with Model "A", so that's pretty easy. If you are running fenders on this truck and it's a Model "A" you will end up raising the bed a bit to get your proportions back. You can get the Model "A" type fender mounts in repro and use those. The cool part with this type of bed on a Model "A" is that since the distance between the axle centerline and the bed front is about 2 1/4" shorter for the "T" bed, you can slide your cab back that much and have room for a V8 with out cutting up the fire wall. Makes a hue difference in leg room.
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style> @need louvers ? It is not a Model A, I bought it as a 1930 Model A with custom frame just to find out that it is actually a 32 Pickup Cab with a 32 commercial grill and a Model T bed.
Gotcha! Pretty much all that I said still applies, you just get to be more creative than most! Here is a bad picture of mine from last summer before I finished up the hood and other stuff...
Mine is a T and was a mess so I just made one. Lid from an old baler was about the right size, made a few passes through the bead roller. It might get painted but I kind of like it this way. I used a piece of square tube across the top and the original top braces.
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