Truck is coming right along, at the point now of the little stuff. So yesterday I was putting on small stuff, speedo cable, floor plates around the steering column, glove box. I bought this cardboard glove box from Midwest Early ford at a swap meet last year. It has a sticker on it from Dennis Carpenter. My heater was all in already. I couldn't get the glove box to go in thru the door opening, it looked like it would fit but not quite. Now it was stuck.. As much as I didn't want to I took the whole heater assembly out. Then I could get the box in after mangling it some. I was frustrated at this point but it only got worse! After finding the screw package they gave me with the box is wrong ( needs sheet metal type screws not machine), I searched thru my stuff and found screws that would work. Finally got box in. But guess what? Now heater won't go back in! Not enough room for the both! Really frustrated by now so I pushed up hard on the box and pulled out-ripped the mounts where the lower "floor" attaches to the dash!!! UGH!! Well left it as is . Good enough for this truck. Funny (NO NOT FUNNY!) how the small easy stuff can take a whole afternoon and still end up messed up. Also is there supposed to be a latch for a 56 glove box door? I think it will open by itself when going down the road. Any of you used a small magnet?? Thanks Greg.

 

Ok, found out I'm missing a spring. Also says in Midfifty catalog not to try to install box thru opening. Boy there is a lot of info out there to save hassles, but how can a guy remember where to find it? Still I have to believe something is wrong with shape or size of the repop box....

 

you are better than me putting the box in without removing the heater. And while the heater is out check your
wiper pivit now. then all is easy...

 

you are better than me putting the box in without removing the heater. And while the heater is out check your
wiper pivit now. then all is easy...

 

The custom cabs have a lock on the glove box. The standard cabs did not. Both should have a spring on the one hinge.

 

Hey Greg,
Hang in there! We cheated & used small magnets to keep our glove box closed....
that c shaped spring thing is worthless.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

The 53 to 56 glove boxes have an actual coil spring to pull the door shut and keep it shut. They work pretty good if the spring isn't sprung.

 

 

Heck, I took the box out of mine and have never regretted it. Without it, makes it so much easier to work under the dash, just pulling the ash tray and opening the GB door gives me viewing to 1/2 the wiring, including my fuse box .Besides, every glove box I have ever had just ends up full of junk. Oh and my glove box door still falls open when I stomp on it or hit a bump even with the flat hinge spring, Ill get around to that some day (maybe).

 

I installed the cardboard box in my '56 through the door, not from below. Not an easy task but somehow I made it! I also installed a new spring but that wasn't enough to keep the box shut. So I installed small but strong magnets on either side of the door as well. That works perfect.

 

Thanks guys, I saw a pic of the spring and I think I can find one around here. If it works, good, if not I'll try a magnet.

 

Why not buy the proper spring from MidFifty, Carpenter, mid West Early ford or any other supplier. MidFifty has them for $2.50 each.

 

John made a good improvement in his build thread. Junked the stock hinges, added a piano hinge and a latch........

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1369346-my-56-pickup-build-thread.html

See post 15.

John, if you see this, do you have any pictures of the latch you used?

 

So far I haven't needed a latch stays right in place...the reason I junked the stock hinges was because the way they operated the glove box door interfered with my dash extension..

 

when i bought my 56 the cardboard glove box was not installed because he had put air condition in and it went right behind the glove box.a friend of mine who does interiors on everything cars,trucks,boats,airplane,.anything and everything and he is great at it.we were having a beer one night and started talking about my truck.he looked at my glove box and said that i can make you a glove box out of the original one.he measured the whole thing out.he actually made me a custom glove box..he used real tiny rivits.it looks like it came from the factory.it is tiny,but it is big enough to put a small flashlight and my insurance card i there.i will never leave my registuration in any vehicle.i always keep mine in my wallet