31 Open Cab Beltrail Fasteners

[Brokenvette]

Just acquired the truck in kit form as it was taken apart years ago. I have done several roadsters in the past with the wooden beltrail. My question; are the fasteners machine threaded and just fasten to the body or is there a wooden pice that goes on the inside and the fasteners are screwed into it.Any help appreciated. I am sure I will run into more puzzles in the future.

 

[Charlie Stephens]

My RDPU is early '31 based on a small bed and not having an indented firewall. The pictures show how the fasteners and installed but i put it together 50 years ago and don't remember the details. I assume the nuts should be square.

Charlie Stephens

 

[Brokenvette]

Thanks Charlie , My truck is an early 31 also. From the pics it looks like there is no wood on the inside . The fasteners look to just bolt to the body.If you have some pics of the seat back in the truck it sure would be helpful. By the way I am the one who you sent all the production figures for these trucks. Thanks again my friend.

 

[Cape Codder]

Not really knowing anything about these BUT from Charlie Stephens picture I would suggest that there was wood on the back side because of the length of the fasteners threaded part!

 

[rotorwrench]

Most open bodies just have the belt rail tack strip fastened to the body sheet metal. I don't know about the later open cabs but the 28/29 just had four wood formers for the seat back cushion and they also fasten to the body. The later open cabs aren't as common.

My 29 Sport Coupe has the belt rail tack strip fastened with long screws through the wood & body sheet metal and nuts on the bottom but it also secures the rear of the package tray on this design.

 

[Brokenvette]

Thanks I have seen the 28-29's in person and they use external belt rail wood like the roadsters. The 30-31's have no exterior belt rail wood. Just trying to determine if there was interior belt rail wood that the fasteners screwed into or like Charlie's pics machine threaded. Any case I will mock mine up like Charlies. Thanks to all.

 

[rotorwrench]

That may be why they aren't included on sites like Ford Wood. The later cab bodies started getting more steel structure and less wood. Wood or some form of cardboard tack strips had to be there if the top is tacked down.