Model T Bed Strip Dimensions?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Model T Bed Strip Dimensions?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By AHOOGA A & T "Reproduction Parts" on Sunday, July 01, 2012 - 06:11 pm:

Except for one problem, we are ready to start producing the bed strips for the Model T. That problem is, we are not positive what the dimensions are for the hole spreads and the total lengths.
Currently, we make the bed pans for the Model T and we have the dies and tooling to make the battery covers too, although we have not made them yet. That will be next after we get the bed strips figured out.
We are going to make all three in steel, steel powder coated in gloss black and Bright Stainless Steel.
Any help with this will really be appreciated.

Thanks to everyone,
Dale A.
AHOOGA A & T


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jack daron-Brownsburg,In. on Sunday, July 01, 2012 - 06:24 pm:

Are you going to make them arched in the center like originals?I have a set but they are old and pitted. You could get spacing off them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Alexander in Albion, Maine on Sunday, July 01, 2012 - 07:47 pm:

Dale: The ones I have in my ' 25 T pu are originals I got from Steve Coniff. Due to the battery box cover, the two short ones are 42 and 5/8" long and the two that run the full length of the bed are 53 and 1/16" long. Both are 1 and 5/8" wide. Holes are seperated on 10" centers. Steve is a guru on this as is Larry Smith so you might check further with them. Good luck, Bill


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Sunday, July 01, 2012 - 10:01 pm:

Make sure you do your homework on this. 1925 is a one year only bed strip, and is indeed convex in the center. In '26 they flattened them out. I'm not sure if the TT pickup beds were this way or not. If you need more information, I have two '25 pickups here to measure.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Sunday, July 01, 2012 - 10:17 pm:

Here are the approx dimensions from my early '26 bed, original bed strips. Measures are for the bolt hole openings on the originals.








Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Patterson-Nicholasville, Kentucky on Sunday, July 01, 2012 - 10:29 pm:

Dale
Before you manufacture anything, I strongly suggest you go to the Benson Ford Research Center and review the original Ford prints and Record of Changes for the part numbers.
Ron the Coilman


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Monday, July 02, 2012 - 12:18 am:

I agree with Ron. Proper research makes certain that you know the history of the part and how it changed from year to year. Absent that info you will have spent a lot of time and tooling on another ill fitting part that is poorly researched. We have a ton of those already in the market place. Make it exactly to Ford drawings and have them on file for folks to look at and many customers will beat a path to your products. It isn't about ability to make something, it is about the research to make sure that what you make is correct. Reverse engineering is a poor substitute for original drawings that generally are available at the Ford archives. Reverse engineering does not tell you what changed and when it changed.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mattthew G California on Monday, July 02, 2012 - 01:17 am:

I have a tailgate (sheet metal only) and one bed strip in really nice condition if you are interested in please PM me for photos and you can make offer.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John McGinnis in San Jose area, CA. on Monday, July 02, 2012 - 05:19 am:

Make some for a TT production flatbed too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By AHOOGA A & T "Reproduction Parts" on Tuesday, July 03, 2012 - 04:23 pm:

Wow, great response everyone. While I have heard of being able to get actual drawings, I must be honest, I do not know where to go and I already have the tooling to make them. I just don't have the hole locations. As far as the hump, yes, the bed plate we make for the "T" has the hump. We also make them for the "A" which is flat. Unless the "T" used flat plates too but I certainly am not an expert and I am the first to admit it.
The Sketch looks great. But I do have a question concerning the hole locations on it. What is the start point for the dimensions. I see a spread, but I don't see where the dimensions start from. either one end or the other. Since all strips have a common denominator, they all end at the tail gate, then that would be the best end to take the dimensions from. I would prefer the end closest to the cab, but since only two end there, I would say the tail gate end will have be be the starting point.
Also, how about the notches. Would you happen to have a dimension for the location for the notches too?
The battery tray looks just like ours, in fact, all the metal looks just like ours. The profile on the strips, hump, battery etc.
One thing we want to offer all of these in which may or may not fly, is in bare steel, Gloss Black Powder Coat and in a High Polish Stainless Steel. I know, some people will either like having the choice, while others wont. I just think we should offer products in a variety so everyone can choose what they like individually. After all, not everyone likes chocolate & peanut butter!! :-) I know it, although I cant understand that one myself!!! :-)
As far as the "TT", we can do that too. In fact, I think I have an original "TT" strip. All I know is its much longer than anything else we have so I am assuming its for one. Would you happen to have any dimensions for it so I can confirm if ours is a "TT" or if it is for an "A"? And, do I need to be aware of anything else, such as for the battery plate or for the bed plate? You know, does the "TT" have those to contend with or is it just straight strips? We are also going to make the strips for the "TT" in the above mentioned materials but depending on how many orders we get, we will probably make them on an "as ordered" bases. Oh, and we are going to offer any length special orders also. We will just need to know how long and if you want the tapered ends or the straight butt ends or not.
We just shipped our first orders out of our Model A bed strips. We made steel and the High Polished Stainless so we are really looking forward to getting the Model T strips done too.

Thank you to everyone, you guys are great.

Thanks,
Dale A.
AHOOGA A & T


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Tuesday, July 03, 2012 - 05:36 pm:

Dale

I did that sketch of the hole spacing to help out another T'er who got the current repro strips that don't have holes. The measures are approximate, and won't make too much difference as the bed boards are undrilled.

Simple to space the holes as the overall length of the strip is sketched too.

That said, the correct and proper, authentic way is to obtain the blue prints for these 4 bed strips of the Model T.

Here is the place:

http://www.thehenryford.org/research/services/forms.aspx

Click on the heading, "Parts Drawings" and you will find the form to fill out and mail to the Research Library.

The library likes to have the 'factory number' no the 'part number' used to identify the part for the price list back in the days. They will research for the part number if all you have is the factory number.

Here are the part numbers for the bed strips, they are called "Retainer (floor boards)" in the Price List of Body Parts, page 91.

Note: two lengths of the 'short' and 'long' strips, the '25 and the '26-'27 don't interchange.



As for the current SS strips, (got some from Gaslight Auto Parts) the form is all wrong on those, they don't match the original T style in my photo posted earlier. I got a set of those SS ones, punched holes, and was going to use them in my restoration, but they were just plain Model A style and incorrect for the T. So I re-used the originals, had them powder coated black, and was happy.

The center bed hump plate is original too, and it is held by rivets to two of the bed strips. Those two strips have small holes there for the rivets. The battery plate is reproduction from Howells.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Wednesday, July 04, 2012 - 11:17 am:

I'm not sure if this can be done, but if you have the rollers made for the '25 style bed strip, can't you just re-roll the flat ones with it? If you need the spacing for the holes, I'll be happy to measure mine. They may not be the same as the '26-7.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By AHOOGA A & T "Reproduction Parts" on Friday, September 14, 2012 - 03:34 pm:

Hello everyone. We have an update on the "T" Bed Strips.

We are now manufacturing the 26-27 Bed Strips. The tooling we have is only made to produce the 26-27 model years. Sorry for any confusion.

We have only made them in steel. Our plans is to make them in steel, High Polished Stainless Steel and in steel with a high gloss black powder coat. These variables will come later as orders start coming in. Right now, we don't know how well they will sell and we cant justify putting the money into them if they just stay on our shelves. I'm sure you all understand!

Anyway, we are shipping these out to our customers today. So please go to your favorite vendor and place your orders. I know it has been a long time since these were out on the market but now you have them.

You may also order from us as well. Although we have mainly been a wholesaler, we want to reach out and offer our products to you as a retailer too.

And again, we want to thank everyone for their help and patience in making this possible.

Also, we are going to start making the battery tray soon as well. We have the dies and tooling so its just a matter of time. When we do start making them, we will have them in the same material options as the bed strips. Steel, High Polished Stainless Steel and steel with a High Gloss Black Powder Coat.

Oh, and in case you didn't know, we already have the Center Bed Plate with the hump just for the Model T (we have them for the Model A as well, they just don't have the hump in them). We have them in steel and High Polished Stainless and we are going to have them in High Gloss Black Powder Coat. We do not put the small holes in the center bed plate mainly for alignment purposes. If something is a little off, and the bed plate hole doesn't align with the bed strips hole, then it becomes a real headache for you. And I know, this will be debated back and forth and it is one of those "Executive Decisions" that we had to make.

We will be offering all of these in a "Bundled" package too. Where you can purchase all three, bed strips, center bed plate and the battery cover in any of the materials. This will be coming to you soon and we are knocking off 10% of the total price if you purchased them separately.

Thank you everyone for your support,
Dale A.
AHOOGA A & T


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Friday, September 14, 2012 - 03:53 pm:

Dale email me at danuser88@ktis.net as I need access to these as I sell T and TT Ford Parts, and need top be able to buy them wholesale, I don't run a catalog 573-642-2473 ph


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