35/36 Pickup Seat Base

Here is a sketch for the plywood seat bottom that was original to my 1938 pickup. Maybe someone could compare it to their earlier model to see if they are the same.
 

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38bill - thanks for your sketches. Your drawings definitely indicate that by 1938 the design had changed. I appreciate you sharing these.
 
Model51 said:
38bill - thanks for your sketches. Your drawings definitely indicate that by 1938 the design had changed. I appreciate you sharing these.
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If you pay attention to the dimensions of his drawing rather than the proportions of it, it appears to be the same seat base as 35-37 and I believe 39 should be the same as well. I think 1940 is the same with the exception of the hinge locations being relocated to a narrower position. If I missed something, let me know.
 
38bill said:
Here is a sketch for the plywood seat bottom that was original to my 1938 pickup. Maybe someone could compare it to their earlier model to see if they are the same.
Click to expand...

Thank you for taking the time to do this. It appears to be the same as the earlier versions. Thanks!
 
The seat bottom sketch shows 4 opening holes so I'm not sure why. Also, the truck seat bottom is 3/4" thick 5-ply fir plywood, not that it really makes much difference but it's the way Ford did it in the day. I found a source for this exact plywood but it's $240 per 4x8 sheet!!
 
Model51 said:
The seat bottom sketch shows 4 opening holes so I'm not sure why. Also, the truck seat bottom is 3/4" thick 5-ply fir plywood, not that it really makes much difference but it's the way Ford did it in the day. I found a source for this exact plywood but it's $240 per 4x8 sheet!!
Click to expand...

The versions with the large rectangular cutouts in the center of the seat base are the pickup versions. The truck versions, as you know, have the two large square shaped cutouts. I have had several guys measure the thickness of their original pickup seat base and they all measure 5/8" thick, or close to it. I only have one measurement for the truck seat base thickness, from you, which measures 3/4" thick.

Good plywood is not cheap! I have A-A marine grade plywood, which I feel is better suited for vehicles than most other plywood types, including Baltic Birch, since it is a nearly void-free plywood, moisture resistant and less prone to warping than other plywood types. Plus, 5/8" marine plywood measures 5/8", 3/4" measures 3/4", unlike most other plywood. It does cost more though.
 
Here is my new pickup seat base. This should fit 35 thru 39 pickups but I’m still confirming this.
 

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My drawing was done fast to help another pickup owner. I probably should do a better scaled one to have on hand. I have seen several different seat bases out there with minor differences and I wonder if Ford didn't contract them out. As you can see mine has the name "YOUNG" embossed in the wood on the top side (hidden side).

PS: Here is a link to a previous seat base discussions.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=324354&highlight=wood+seat+base
 

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The pictures reminded me of yet another difference between the truck and pickup seat bases. The truck does not have the two metal three hole plates. I speculate that the plates were needed on the pickup because the plywood is sitting on the edge of the metal seat base. The truck seat base sits flat on top of the gas tank and is supported for essentially it's entire shape by the gas tank so there is no point loading at the seat stop holes.

Just another piece of trivial information.
 
Does that mean then that the truck seat was not adjustable? Because I believe that the pickup seat base was adjustable forward and back. (for what it is worth)
 
The adjustment stops are the same for the pickup and truck. Three holes 3/4" diameter on each side (for the bench seat) 1 1/2" apart. The truck seat base just doesn't need the re-enforcement plate.

Panel delivery and panel trucks have single drivers seats and optional passenger seats which are a whole different ball of wax.
 
I thought the metal plate was to keep the holes in the wood from elongating over time. The seat is for a commercial vehicle and would get some abuse.
 
Yep. I had the same thought and it does make sense. Doing all the research and having the Ford Engineering Drawings for the seat base parts I can only come to one conclusion that those metal plates weren't part of the seat base for trucks, only pickups. Since the difference is the seat base support, Ford engineers must have thought the seat riser put too much stress on the plywood in that area, but that's just speculation on what they were thinking in the day.
 
I’ve heard some pickups didn’t even have the metal plates or any evidence of them ever being installed. I’m wondering if these examples with no plates were earlier versions and the metal plates were an improvement at some point. But why do these examples without the plates still have the recessed cutouts like they were intended to have this plate installed? Dave, does your Truck versions have the recessed area around the 3 holes?
 
None of the 1935-36 truck seat base plywood I've seen have the three hole re-enforcement plate on the seat base or the recessed area. Same for all of the Ford engineering parts drawings for this truck part.
I'm not sure why there are pickup seat bases with the grove cut but no plate installed.
 

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