MTFCA Forum

I’m embarrassed to ask this but what are the steps in replacing the turtle deck on a 1925 roadster with a Ford 1925 pickup bed? Thanks for any pictures or instructions you may have in advance. Best John

Anyone please

The first picture in this discussion shows 4 holes that holds the turtle deck to the body frame. That's a good place to start.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1216937972

Plus 4 bolts through the front edge of the turtle-deck from behind/inside the seat-back. Unfortunately, they are typically bolts and not carriage bolts so there is a high probability that they will spin when taking the nuts off from inside the turtle-deck.

So it just mounts straight on the wood deck that the turtle deck sits on?

That's how I did mine, yes. Unbolted the turtle deck, bolted ash 2x4 or better, from side to side, then ran 1" ash deck boards front to back, and lag bolted to the 2x4 'slats'. Hi would have to really dig for some in-progress photos of it, as that was several phones ago!

Thanks love your pickup! The bed I have is the Ford steel 1925 pickup bead. Wonder if that would be different?

Thanks!

I'm not sure about the metal one..... Mine was totally fabricated from local lumber my father in-law had from some trash trees he had cut a couple years earlier. I cut and planed to consistency... But not to modern dimensions.

I suspect it will be very similar... I suspect you will need at least 2 or 3 horizontal supposed for the metal bed, as well, to give it good support. Is the bed floor metal, as well, or wood slats?

Metal cladding over wood is an option.

In a few hours I will let you know exactly how the factory bed is mounted on my 25. Will try to take pictures.

Remove the turtle deck, should be one bolt on each interior corner. The box should have flanges to lower over the edge of the deck platform, Should be 4 bolts spread along each side flange, back 2 are rear body mount bolts. should be a cross brace that buts against the rear of the platform, Only the rear 3 rows of the bolts are exposed that hold the metal strips between the wood bed. All the rest of these bolts are drilled thru the deck platform and are bolted thru the deck.

So no cross braces need other than what’s on the pickup bed?

Henry very nicely done really beautiful & the lines are crisp. You must know someone that has a lot of metal experience ha.

Forgot to mention one thing, You must remove the roadster fender mounts, the pickup uses mounts that are fastened directly to the side of the box.

Jim thank you. I knew about the fender post but that’s a great reminder. Best John

In addition to the fender mount change you will need a commercial type taillight bracket to mount your taillight under the pickup bed. If you have demountable wheels you will need to decide where to mount your spare, under bed, at driver's side fake door ( USA ), or in bed.

So Kevin what does one look like that I need and where exactly does it go?

Kevin what does the tail light & mount look like and
Where is it suppose to be mounted? Thanks John

This is the bracket you need. It will attach on the cross bracket bottom of bed that runs against the body. Believe it was attached by riveting.I used a different light then the 26 light that is shown. Bed should attach to body by 3 bolt holes along same body line below roadster deck. I don’t have pictures of mine but could take some if needed

Glad to see another steel bed ‘25 come to life. When you get it put together- let Larry Smith in CA know. I believe he’s keeping track of the ‘25 steel bed Roadster pickups. They’re a great conversation piece at shows.

David how hard are those mounting brackets to find?

They were used on ton trucks and the roadster pickups. So they come up every now and then. I purchased a reproduction from a vender.

Would someone please take a picture of the taillight mounted on the pickup

Lets see if this works

Now I get it, thanks Jim for the pictures

John: My US early 25 PU does not have the metal trim around the rear of the sills. I think that this bed came from factory installed on this truck. Why put on trim if it was going to get a bed?
That said, the gap is very close to bed where trim would be.
Check that out before you try to install bed.
By way RHD 25 Pu has trim, but bed is not on it yet. Was told it was complete PU also. Dan

PS : 25 PU left factory with a spare rim nailed to bed of truck. Never was spare mount from factory for 25 PU.

Thanks Dan doing some measuring. My bed is a very early 1925 off a late Dec of 1924 roadster pickup. The tail gate does not have Ford on it. Best John

My US 25 does not have Ford on gate too. The RHD has Ford on gate.
I have only seen one other bed without Ford on gate. Dan