PU bed questions

Kdancy

Are the 37 and 46 beds the same (will they interchange?) How about the cab itself -- are the cabs (I know the cowl is different) basically the same?

I am working on a 37 PU that needs a ton of work in both areas and wonder how much if any of the later style will interchange to the 37. It has good fenders, hood and such.

bellbigdawg

Kdancy wrote:

Are the 37 and 46 beds the same (will they interchange?) How about the cab itself -- are the cabs (I know the cowl is different) basically the same?

I am working on a 37 PU that needs a ton of work in both areas and wonder how much if any of the later style will interchange to the 37. It has good fenders, hood and such.

no, not a single thing interchanges. I have a 37, 41, and 47 pickups, know this for sure. the metal works will make you a new reproduction 37 terraplane pickup bed if you want.

Kdancy

bellbigdawg wrote:

no, not a single thing interchanges. I have a 37, 41, and 47 pickups, know this for sure. the metal works will make you a new reproduction 37 terraplane pickup bed if you want.

Already spoke to them about it and was discouraged to do this because of shipping cost.

Uncle Josh

Back when I was growing up, almost nobody had an original bed on their truck. If it hadn't rusted out here in the Northeast, it got torn apart in the woods, or from hauling wood, rocks, scrap metal and junk.



Yea verily, many of the trucks had been converted from an old sedan, like our 29 Packard Pickup, and never did have a proper bed on it.



Furthermore, proper beds sometimes didn't do the job. Try and put a hay rigging on an original pickup box...or log bunks to haul log-length firewood. And where do you hook your chains to hold your load on while you're bouncing around in the bottomless mud-holes diring mud season.



It would be very period correct to build yourself a custom wooden bed for it...and the people at the shows would go nuts over it. And wood is a lot easier to work with than metal for most people....AND it won't rust.



Larry, HET truck registrar.

RL Chilton

Really, when talking of old pick-ups, most folks these days don't realize that trucks from the beginnings of the automobile up until the late '70's, trucks were strictly utilitarian and most often, commercial vehicles. Subsequently, un-abused beds were/are few and far between. Trucks were used as trucks, and not as "drivers". They were also, usually less-appointed than cars. Even up till the early '70's, arm-rests were an option with some manufacturers.



Here in Texas, where there are more trucks than cars, people assume that trucks were always folks "cars", but that is truly a late 20th century mind-set.



I've got a '68 F*** truck, that has a tailgate that is straight as an arrow, as if it never had a heavy load on it in it's life. I've never seen another original ('cept when they were new) in that good of shape.



Straight beds on old trucks are just about as rare as hen's teeth.

bellbigdawg

have had a total of three hudson pickups now with straight, rust free, "cherry" beds on them, and only one (my 37) missing a bed. stick with the original type bed, will make your truck worth so much more...

RL Chilton

bellbigdawg wrote:

have had a total of three hudson pickups now with straight, rust free, "cherry" beds on them, and only one (my 37) missing a bed. stick with the original type bed, will make your truck worth so much more...

My guess is, percentage-wise, anyway, one would probably have better chances finding a straight bed on an independent than something like a F*** or Chebby. Still, you've had really good fortune with your beds. Know the history on these trucks? Some commercial vehicles were used to haul less-damaging merchandise, like flowers. Perhaps you came upon such a vehicle.

Uncle Josh

Good for you Dawg. You sure didn't get those in NY State. We have to deal with what we're dealt here.



I have holes in my original bed sides that are several feet long. 'Throw the cat right thru it anywhere. Some previous guy welded new sheet metal right over the old. The previous guy had new galvanized sheet metal all cut to do it again on the inside.



If I had used them, the sides would approach 1/4 inch thick. It's only rated for 3/4 ton.

RL Chilton

Uncle Josh-



THAT'S what I was talking about. Seems like I've seen beds in those conditions probably 100 to 1 vs. the cherry ones.

LanceB

The bed on mine is far from perfect. It was a work truck and has the dings and dents to prove it. The only thing cherry there is the bed wood. I did not want a trailer queen, I wanted a driver!



I grew up on a dairy and all our pick-ups were well used. Even the El Camino I drove. Trucks were for work.

Uncle Josh

Yup, like this job yesterday.

Roger Harmon

Lance, Uncle Josh,,



What is the correct thickness for P/U bed boards?



R/ Roger.

LanceB

Thats great Uncle Josh.



Roger, I'll go measure and let you know shortly.

LanceB

Roger, The bed wood measures just under 3/4 inch thick.

Roger Harmon

Thanks Lance,



That's about what the channels in my bed measure, but I thought they might be squashed down some.



Happy Fourth to all!



R/ Roger.