pickup tail light mount

[larry harding]

before i knew better i stupidly mounted my tail lights to the rear fenders on my 31 pickup. there weren't any around to look at. i did some calling around and found two of the pick up mounting brackets. they are not repoping them at the present time. the catalogs show a wooden block with two holes that is supposed to be used when mounting the lights or brackets. where does this block go? if they go between the bracket and the mount under the bed, why is there two holes in the block and three in the bracket and the bed mount. if i had the measurements i could easily make the blocks.

[cjkohnast]

I don't have any blocks on my 31 wide bed. the brackets just bolt to existing holes under the floor.

[Bob C]

Do you have a wide bed or narrow, they use different brackets.


Bob

[wrndln]

I attached a picture of a repro tail light block I have that is used for a narrow bed mounted taillight bracket. I also have the dimensions for the wood mounting block. The block dimension are, 3'' long, 2'' high, 1 1/2" wide, I had to shave the block slightly so the taillight was level. The block and taillight bracket are mounted to the bed with two carriage bolts.

Rusty Nelson

[CarlG]

I have no clue as to why the pickup bracket has 3 bolt holes. All the ones I have seen only use 2 holes, including mine.

[rfitzpatrick]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

What are the measurements/different between wide and narrow beds anyway. I have '31 Truck

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by CarlG

I have no clue as to why the pickup bracket has 3 bolt holes. All the ones I have seen only use 2 holes, including mine.

I think they have three holes because the early 28's and the big
trucks used three holes.


Bob

[Bob C]

Here are pictures of the two beds. Wide bed on the left.


Bob

[wrndln]

I was going to post the same picture Bob C did - steel brackets on early 28's that used 3 bolts.
Rusty Nelson

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by Bob C

I think they have three holes because the early 28's and the big
trucks used three holes.


Bob

Bob,

The history behind this "metal plate" that is attached to the Floor Side Sill, A-78036, is that it is Part Number A-78084, Floor Side Sill to License Bracket Support Plate. It was a "New Number, New Drawing, Adopted" on 05/10/28, Part Release #8670, and used with the second generation Pickup body.

The light bracket for the first generation Pickup box was attached to A-76055, Floor Cross Sill-Rear and not from the side like the second generation.



On 10/16/28, PR#10622 the part was redesigned and was changed from "steel to wood" which was used from this time to the introduction of the Wide Bed..



On 05/25/31, PR#19866, it was "Obsolete (Wood Block)...Not Replaced". This is about the time the Wide Bed was being introduced.



Pluck

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by Bob C

I think they have three holes because the early 28's and the big
trucks used three holes.


Bob

Bob,

I see that the metal bracket has two rivets on its top side to attach to the Pickup's Floor Side Sill...what about the bottom part of the bracket...is it also riveted or is it spot welded?

Thanks.

Pluck

[Bob C]

Can't help you Steve. I downloaded the picture awhile ago and don't remember
who posted it, maybe Rusty knows.


Bob

[midgetracer]

Pluck, If you look closely at the picture, the bottom side is bent and follows the pickup bed side rail and is riveted using a waffle pattern.

[wrndln]

Steve,
I, like Bob C, downloaded the early bed picture here on Fordbarn some time ago. I believe it came from Charles Reese, a Fordbarner. I have a later pickup bed, so I don't have the metal taillight mounting bracket on my bed. I believe that Charles Reese would probably know the details about the early 28 taillight mounting bracket attached to the bed. He is restoring an early pickup that I believe has the metal bracket on the bed. Also, Neil Wilson is a very knowledgeable person when it come to commercial vehicles. He might also know about it. You could PM either or both of them to see if they have information you are looking for.
Rusty Nelson

[larry harding]

the photos really help. my bed has the bracket that is level with the bottom edge of the bed. mine ain't no show truck, so i have fabricated another bracket for the right side so i can run two tail lights for turn signals. the bracket won't show unless you are under the bed so their are easier more modern ways to fasten the bracket. i'll also weld up the holes in the fenders and touch up the paint. this truck was so rough i painted it with"hot rod black" kind of a semi gloss black, hides a few imperfections.

[Bill Pursel]

Here is how I made my block for a 3 hole bracket

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by wrndln

Steve,
I, like Bob C, downloaded the early bed picture here on Fordbarn some time ago. I believe it came from Charles Reese, a Fordbarner. I have a later pickup bed, so I don't have the metal taillight mounting bracket on my bed. I believe that Charles Reese would probably know the details about the early 28 taillight mounting bracket attached to the bed. He is restoring an early pickup that I believe has the metal bracket on the bed. Also, Neil Wilson is a very knowledgeable person when it come to commercial vehicles. He might also know about it. You could PM either or both of them to see if they have information you are looking for.
Rusty Nelson

Well, I figured it out...The top two rivets are both rounded on either side of each.

The bottom two are rounded on the outside and waffled on the inside (thanks midgetracer).

Dan Partain came up with a bunch of past posts concerning this bracket and how it was originally installed. Those photos were originally posted by Dennis Pereria a few years ago on the barn.





https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=210336


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=167318


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166274


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154114


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144673


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100381



Pluck