Can anybody tell me the overall length of a '15 Roadster body, from firewall to rear sill? I'm wondering if one will fit in my 6.5' pickup box with the tailgate up. I have just over 78" of space.
according to the wood plans the main sill is 74 1/8
That was quick. Much quicker than me trying to sort through my junk to find my set of plans. Thanks.
It may be slightly more than that! The cowl tapers in for a few forward inches.
I don't know if I can get an accurate measure off my body or not?
A full size truck with a short bed shouldn't give you any trouble. I've hauled an assembled body wood for a touring in a small mini truck with the tailgate down, still no issues with some rope or straps...
Make sure you tie it down good, you would be amazed what 70 mph passing an 18 wheeler will suck out of the bed of your truck.
As near as I can tell, with a flashlight and tape measure under a tarp in the dark, my unrestored '15 runabout body is 78 inches long withOUT the firewall/hood-former. Add at least two inches if the firewall/hood-former is attached.
It may be very close for fit.
Good luck!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
It works, I have put it in the back of my F-350 with a short bed without issues, tailgate up.
Good deal!
Thanks guys!
Eric,
If you have just over 78 inches the body without the firewall and hoodformer would probably fit and you could close the tailgate. With the hoodformer probably not unless you lifted one end of the body up on blocks etc. I would think leaving the tailgate down would be easier. But you could unbolt the hood former and firewall and place it inside the cab etc. Please see the drawing below and remember that several different body makers supplied bodies and they varied a little. You don't have much room for variation in length. Illustration originally published in Murray Fahnestock's "Model T Ford Owner" available in reprint from the vendors. It is for the 1915-1922ish body if you disregard the top
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Eric-
A body travels fine in a small truck with the tailgate open, too. I did it with my 1911 body in my Che^rolet Colorado. It is a four-door, so the bed is pretty short.
I made a wooden substructure frame and anchored it in the bed. Then used lag screws to bolt the body onto the frame using the body mounting brackets.
I drove about 1,200 miles from El Cajon, California to Gresham, Oregon and mostly kept it below 70 mph this way:
(except Spencer rode inside...)
: ^ )
It's home now, I chickened out and hauled it in my enclosed trailer in fear of rain, which has been plentiful in these parts lately. It would've fit with the tailgate up. The pickup is an '11 Silverado with the 6.5' box.