Rumble seat to Trunk

[Aok]

I am thinking about changing my car from a rumble seat to a trunk.
Do I just need remove the seat and flip the lid around and maybe get a different hinges. Did a search but came up dry no big rush but I think a trunk would be of more use to me then the rumble seat option

[Hicktick]

If it were me , I would just take the seat out .

[Randy in ca]

More to it than you'd think. Different hinges, latch relocation and fill the old hole (the lid doesn't get flipped) and some different parts on the rear edge were the trunk latch has to go. Also need a support arm to be mounted. Been discussed several times before, keep trying on the searches or maybe someone will post the links.

[wrndln]

Randy is correct. It is not as easy as you might think, but certainly doable. In addition to what was mentioned above, you need to purchase a different inner panel below the trunk lid. A rumble seat uses a curved inner panel whereas a trunk uses an inner panel that has a flat ledge on its top and a place to mount the trunk lid's latch striker. There is also a thin right angled strip that needs to be used to mount the trunk inner panel to the panel below the lid. The two hinges and support arm are probably the easiest tasks to perform. It is moving the handle and the inner panel work that is more difficult.
Hope this helps.
Rusty Nelson

[luckyal]

Another consideration is will it decrease the value of the vehicle if you decide to sell at a later date.
Al

[Model A Man]

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I changed my rumble to a trunk. I used the aftermarket inner panel, and with some work it will fit. I bought the usa made trunk hinges and they did not fit, was able to find original trunk hinges. I did use an aftermarket lid support and with some work it also fit. I like having a trunk.

[5window]

Originally Posted by luckyal

Another consideration is will it decrease the value of the vehicle if you decide to sell at a later date.
Al

Curious, because an awful lot of folks seem to want to make the conversion and value a trunk over a rumble. The cuteness novelty of a rumble seat fades pretty fast.

[wrndln]

I don't really see why converting a rumble seat into a trunk would have much to do with the resale value. If you want a trunk instead of a rumble seat, do it, it is your car. Personally I would rather have a trunk instead of a rumble seat, but that is just my opinion. Trunks are more practical as there isn't much storage room in a coupe or roadster with a rumble seat.
Rusty Nelson

[Geo. H]

When I went looking for a coupe, I didn't buy until I found one with a trunk.

[Roadster62]

Add me to the list of people converting to a trunk. Bob

[CarlG]

When I was looking for my Model A, I had narrowed the search down to a Coupe or a Pickup. The coupe had to have a trunk. Found the PU first, so that's what I got.

[Aok]

while it sounds like a little more work then I figured on it is something that I would like to get done but it will have to on the list of winter projects. I still have to get my roof on just waiting for the warmer weather. I think the rumble seat was a good idea back when our cars were new and it was the only car you owned also my car is not a show car just for fun driving locally.
CarlG's reply about looking for a PU or a coupe with a trunk got me to thinking was there a accessory or maybe a conversion that added a pick up like box to the trunk.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Aok

while it sounds like a little more work then I figured on it is something that I would like to get done but it will have to on the list of winter projects. I still have to get my roof on just waiting for the warmer weather. I think the rumble seat was a good idea back when our cars were new and it was the only car you owned also my car is not a show car just for fun driving locally.
CarlG's reply about looking for a PU or a coupe with a trunk got me to thinking was there a accessory or maybe a conversion that added a pick up like box to the trunk.

Yes, there was. Maybe it's pictured in the book of Unauthorized Accessories?
You'd remove the trunk lid and bolt the box in place.

[wrndln]

I think you would need to also remove the panel below the trunk to install a pickup type box. I think it would look a little cheesy, but again that is my opinion. Unless you keep the coupe inside, water will get inside the car if it rains or you wash the car. With a trunk or rumble seat, the rain channels attached to the quarterpanels and above the lid, divert water down on the ground keeping it from getting inside the car.
Rusty Nelson

[5window]

Originally Posted by wrndln

I think you would need to also remove the panel below the trunk to install a pickup type box. I think it would look a little cheesy, but again that is my opinion. Unless you keep the coupe inside, water will get inside the car if it rains or you wash the car. With a trunk or rumble seat, the rain channels attached to the quarterpanels and above the lid, divert water down on the ground keeping it from getting inside the car.
Rusty Nelson

A: Theoretically
B: Good point from someone named Rusty.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Aok

...was there a accessory or maybe a conversion that added a pick up like box to the trunk.

Someone that posts here regularily has one of these as his avitar.

Couple of pictures I found over on the HAMB:

[luckyal]

I agree with take out the seat and use it as is.
You can put groceries in the rumble seat but you can't put kids in the trunk !
Al

[ronn]

Says who Al? Kids should be put in the trunk often, creating a nice quite manner....

[luckyal]

Ronn They won't fit in the trunk unless the wife moves over !
Al

[Aok]

Originally Posted by CarlG

Someone that posts here regularily has one of these as his avitar.

Couple of pictures I found over on the HAMB:

Thanks for the photos

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by luckyal

Ronn They won't fit in the trunk unless the wife moves over !
Al

Now that's funny right there!

[columbiA]

Back in the 60,s to 80,s,it was the rage to convert coupes & sport coupes to rumble seats.I did the same Thing back in 83 when we went on a 1,000 + mile trip & there wasnt enough room for our 10 year old daughter in the car.It gave us lots of room & our daughter loved being in the rumble.These days there are many who are converting the other way as a trunk is much more practical.I was glad when I restored my late 30 coupe that it had the trunk.Much easier to load things in a trunk and it will hold a lot more than a rumble.Much harder to lift suit cases etc over the open R-lid than into a trunk lid. But,hey,its your car-do what you want.

[TonyM]

Good for you. Put it back the way Henry built it. What I can't believe is that with all the Model A cars for sale out there that people would still buy a trunk coupe and convert it to rumble seat. If you want a car with a rumble seat, buy one with a rumble seat--there are plenty out there. Then when they convert to rumble seat, no one rides in it. Quit butchering the trunk coupes.

[Phil]

A lot of As we're converted to pickups during WW II. You could get more gas rations with a pickup, so I have been told anyway.

[tmiller6]

ColumbiA said "Back in the 60,s to 80,s,it was the rage to convert coupes & sport coupes to rumble seats."

Were Sport Coupes available without rumble seats in '28? I thought the rumble seat was standard on the Sport Coupe.