26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

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351cmach
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26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by 351cmach » Thu Sep 25, 2025 8:44 pm

I have a 26 pickup and can't figure out why the crossmember cover plate is proud of the bed boards. The crossmember is up against the cover now so you can't move the cover lower. Are the body blocks incorrect?
tbed.jpg
tbed2.jpg
tbed3.jpg
tbed4.jpg

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DanTreace
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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by DanTreace » Thu Sep 25, 2025 10:03 pm

That 'hump plate' should be mounted with the flanges under the bed wood. Suppose the wood blocks are misplaced, can't seem to see in the photos.


Hump plate on originals:

IMG_0180.jpeg
27 bed.jpg
bed hump plate under side.jpg
bed hump plate under side.jpg (99.21 KiB) Viewed 408 times
bed hump plate.jpg
bed hump plate.jpg (53.16 KiB) Viewed 408 times
Last edited by DanTreace on Fri Sep 26, 2025 8:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
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351cmach
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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by 351cmach » Thu Sep 25, 2025 10:14 pm

DanTreace wrote:
Thu Sep 25, 2025 10:03 pm
That 'hump plate' should be mounted with the flanges under the bed wood. Suppose the bocks are misplaced, can't seem to see in the photos.
unfortunately, I can't mount it with the flanges under the bed wood. The crossmember is already up against the hump plate. bocks? Do you mean blocks?
What blocks are you referring to?

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Humblej
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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by Humblej » Fri Sep 26, 2025 7:12 am

Can you post some pictures of the outside view of the turtle deck sub frame please.


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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by Jack Putnam, in Ohio » Fri Sep 26, 2025 9:49 am

Why not raise the bed 3/4 of an inch with new wood blocks.??

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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by DanTreace » Fri Sep 26, 2025 10:14 am

Meant to post "body blocks" they are frame mounts to lift the runabout body and its deck off the frame. You might have missing or worn ones, and the body is mounted too low on the frame.


body blocks.jpg
DCP_1084 (600x400) (580x387).jpg
DCP_1084 (600x400) (580x387).jpg (147.1 KiB) Viewed 311 times
Body B;locks.jpg
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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by TXGOAT2 » Fri Sep 26, 2025 10:45 am

Raise the bed, put the plate where it belongs, and oil the springs.


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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by 351cmach » Fri Sep 26, 2025 7:27 pm

Humblej wrote:
Fri Sep 26, 2025 7:12 am
Can you post some pictures of the outside view of the turtle deck sub frame please.
Hope this helps
tbed8.jpg
tbed7.jpg
tbed6.jpg
tbed5.jpg


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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by 351cmach » Fri Sep 26, 2025 7:28 pm

Jack Putnam, in Ohio wrote:
Fri Sep 26, 2025 9:49 am
Why not raise the bed 3/4 of an inch with new wood blocks.??
That's what I was thinking but didn't know if something else was off. The hood alignment seems good though.


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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by TXGOAT2 » Fri Sep 26, 2025 8:05 pm

It looks like the body and rear subframe are about where they should be, but the bed is too low. I'm not sure just where is the problem lies. The fenders seem to be in the right place relative to the running boards and the bed. Maybe all the wood blocks are too thin, including the running board blocks, and the entire body is too close to the frame.

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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by Humblej » Sat Sep 27, 2025 6:59 am

Everything looks right but it does not add up... I am starting to think your floor boards are too thick, that would bring the cover plate lower and therefore closer to the frame. Please measure the thickness of the floorboards and report back.


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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by 351cmach » Sat Sep 27, 2025 10:07 am

Humblej wrote:
Sat Sep 27, 2025 6:59 am
Everything looks right but it does not add up... I am starting to think your floor boards are too thick, that would bring the cover plate lower and therefore closer to the frame. Please measure the thickness of the floorboards and report back.
My thoughts also, something doesn't seem to add up. I thought about the board thickness but everything else lines up. (see the pics). The boards measure 3/4".
tbed11.jpg
tbed10.jpg
tbed9.jpg

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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by Mark Nunn » Sat Sep 27, 2025 11:26 am

Is this a Canadian-made truck? For some reason I was thinking that frames for the UK market had taller rear crossmembers to lower the car. Where did I get that impression?

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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by DanTreace » Sun Sep 28, 2025 9:59 am

351cmach wrote:
Thu Sep 25, 2025 10:14 pm
DanTreace wrote:
Thu Sep 25, 2025 10:03 pm
That 'hump plate' should be mounted with the flanges under the bed wood. Suppose the bocks are misplaced, can't seem to see in the photos.
unfortunately, I can't mount it with the flanges under the bed wood. The crossmember is already up against the hump plate. bocks? Do you mean blocks?
What blocks are you referring to?


Just another observation from your photo. The crosssmember on your pickup is the earlier version without the flanges for reinforcement. But both have the same curve.

26-27 Late above , early below.jpg

Believe you have enough space under the crossmember and the bed to place the hump place flush with the bed wood.

There is only a little space anyway between the hump plate and the top of the crossmember.

That is why Ford used the hump plate, otherwise the bed boards would ride on the very top of the radius of the crossmember, making fit difficult.

Could just be the former owner didn't know the flanges of the hump plate mount to the underside of the bed boards.


Bed plate0004.jpg
Bed plate0004.jpg (37.49 KiB) Viewed 51 times
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Topic author
351cmach
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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by 351cmach » Sun Sep 28, 2025 1:06 pm

DanTreace wrote:
Sun Sep 28, 2025 9:59 am

Believe you have enough space under the crossmember and the bed to place the hump place flush with the bed wood.


Nope that's the issue I have.

DanTreace wrote:
Sun Sep 28, 2025 9:59 am
Could just be the former owner didn't know the flanges of the hump plate mount to the underside of the bed boards.
No room. Maybe I need new body blocks but the few I have seen in person sit the same as mine. Things don't add up, but I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it.


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Re: 26/27 Bed crossmember cover plate

Post by speedytinc » Sun Sep 28, 2025 1:38 pm

The pictures of the bed & fender (especially #3) look like the bed is to low & the fenders bent down to fit.

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