Metal Roof Insert

[JerryB]

Some time ago, I heard of a company that makes metal inserts for several Model A bodies. At that time they had NOT done so for the Closed Cab PU. Can anyone give me the company name and an update on their progress? Thanks

[CarlG]

These guys list on eBay all the time, claim to be the original mfr of the roof inserts:

Walden Speed Shop
1040 Price Ave
Pomona, CA 91766

Shop: 909-623-3747

(But mine came from good ol' Henry himself)

[Keith True]

Carl,does your roof covering only cover the center of the roof,or the opening? Or is it just a shadow in the picture? Years ago I bought a fiberglass top panel for a 31 pickup.I had a bunch of cab parts but no roof panels or parts.The guy used to advertise them in Hemmings,it fit nice and looked good.It looked like a late 31 and I liked it.

[Robert]

Years ago a buddy orf my Dad's cut a center top section for a P/U out of the top of a crashed late 40's Studebaker. I guess this wouldn't be cost effective these days?!?!?

[JerryB]

Carl, Thanks for the information. They are only a short drive from my home. My other 31 P/U has a "Henry" installed metal top.

[CarlG]

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Originally Posted by Keith True

Carl,does your roof covering only cover the center of the roof,or the opening? Or is it just a shadow in the picture? ...

The top is all one piece, including the visor and all the way down to the top of the doors. It does have a seam just before the curve that forms the back pannel, similar to where the fabric ended on the earlier models. It was installed that way at the factory and also has steel supports rather than wood like the earlier models.

[Keith True]

My computer makes your cab look like it has a covered panel in the center.There is a pretty nicely done truck about 15 miles from me that was done that way by the owner back in the early 60's.He had metal-finished the panels over the doors,and has a fabric panel like a coupe in the middle.He said that when he did the truck as a young fellow he didn't know what they were supposed to look like and worked his butt off to make the panels straight.It does look nice though,and he is not about to do it over now.I'm pretty familiar with the Budd cabs,and I like them the best.I even bought one of those fiberglass tops years ago to make an earlier one look like a Budd cab.

[CarlG]

This is a better shot of the top:

[Chewbacca]

I am planning to convert my 1930 82-B's roof to a real hard top. Checked out Walden Speed Shop as they have listed A steel pickup roof inserts as "coming soon" on their website for some time. Just for grins I decided to call them. Turn out they just started manufacturing them - price $450. I placed an order. They say one week lead time. I'll let you all know my experience and post some pictures with my progress.

Bob

[dave in australia]

There is an Aussie company that makes some as well, the same that produce the complete CC pickup cab. Before this, in Australia, we would just cut the roof off a holden at the wrecker, about the only thing a holden is good for.

[Huckster Dave]

Excuse my ignorance but what is a "holden"?

[29ModelA]

Originally Posted by Huckster Dave

Excuse my ignorance but what is a "holden"?

A down under Chevy.... basically. Well now-days they are. The Pontiac G8 was a rebadged Holden as was the recent GTO.

The G8 was one of the best cars GM currently had going stateside, reviews were phenomenal, and then they cancel Pontiac.

[CarlG]

Holden is the GM of Australia

[CHuDWah]

OK, just for my edification:

1. Did Henry basically just slap a metal roof/bows/etc on a cloth top cab or are there other differences?

2. Which came first - metal cab or wide bed?

[Keith True]

1.Pretty much yes.You can put a steel top on an earlier cab easily.2.the wide bed came out somewhere around June and the steel top came out around August.

[CarlG]

So, for '31 there is quite a mixture of configurations. Parts were used up before new ones were introduced. So you have:
1. Soft top, flat firewall, narrow bed (same as previous years)
2. Steel top, indented firewall, wide bed
3. Then you have any combination possible of these 3 components.

Mine is a Steel top, indented firewall, narrow bed
My friend has a Steel top, flat firewall, wide bed
etc, etc.

[CHuDWah]

Originally Posted by CarlG

Mine is a Steel top, indented firewall, narrow bed
My friend has a Steel top, flat firewall, wide bed
etc, etc.

Interesting. Supposedly, the indented firewall was in full production by May. So, THEORETICALLY, the possible 1931 configurations and approximate time-frames are:

1. Soft top, flat firewall, narrow bed - pre-May
2. Soft top, indented firewall, narrow bed - May
3. Soft top, indented firewall. wide bed - June-July
4. Steel top, indented firewall, wide bed - August and beyond

It's possible your and your friend's trucks originally were some other configuration and had parts replaced. However, I think it more likely that, as you say, there were more configurations than the theoretical ones.

[glenn in camino]

When I was 15-1/2 I put a sheet metal top on a 31 coupe, my first car, with sheet metal screws and caulking. Not very pretty but it was waterproof.

[31apickup]

I agree with CHuDWah's interpretation of the evolution on the truck. The steel roof truck is basically the same as the earlier truck with the exception of the front roof and the steel bows. The seat risers were changed later in the year also. Mine is a late 31 steel roof, I got it without a box and used an earlier box.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by CHuDWah

Interesting. Supposedly, the indented firewall was in full production by May. So, THEORETICALLY, the possible 1931 configurations and approximate time-frames are:

1. Soft top, flat firewall, narrow bed - pre-May
2. Soft top, indented firewall, narrow bed - May
3. Soft top, indented firewall. wide bed - June-July
4. Steel top, indented firewall, wide bed - August and beyond

It's possible your and your friend's trucks originally were some other configuration and had parts replaced. However, I think it more likely that, as you say, there were more configurations than the theoretical ones.

It appears from reading about commercial vehicles over the years, the Ford Motor Company used the conmmercial line as the place to put all the "spare" parts from passenger cars, leaving us to see a mix of years in the building of the commercial line of vehicles.