I've done a search on Google and can not find anyone that has the center corigated section for the unibody trucks. Does anyone have a source for replacement panels?

 

another unibody i suspect...is yours a long or shortbed ???


- cs65

 

Mines a long bed, most of the metal is good but up close to the cab it has some cancer. I just cant believe that someone would not carry or make this panel.

 

My 63 unibody longbed is in the same shape as yours and I too cant find any replacement panels, if i remember correctly, I believe I have heard of some people cutting pieces out of chevy beds so you might try asking around about that.

 

Bookmarked couple links w/ pic's of members bed repairs. Unfortunately I did not note the members name so if recognize would appreciated posting FTE name so I can give credit where credit is due.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=30574

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...10&albumid=206

Believe the bottom bed panels are available for the later model trucks but the patterns are different. Also, FTE member posted pic's where he took an entire later model bed and swapped the side panel skins with his 66. Anyhow, food for thought!!

 

Thats a thought, replaceing with a new truck replacement panel, didn't think about that.

 

No one makes the correct stamping for a uni. there are things out there that are close but not identical.

No one tooled up for replacement floor panels for a truck that was considered at the time as a complete failure.

The unis floor is also a structural element and is not easily replace as it has multiple underlying components such as the torque box.

Garbz

 

So what are you saying we own the edsel for trucks?

 

Yes. A failure greater than the Edsel...But the most collectible ford truck next to the 53 to 56 fords.

Garbz

 

I have to disagree Dave.

The Edsel was an abject failure, the worst the US auto industry has ever seen...before or since.

Ford went public for the first time in 1956 to raise the money needed to engineer, design and build the Edsel, which was introduced in September 1957 as a 1958 model.

Ford had studied the market since 1948, felt they needed a car priced to fit between Ford and Mercury, as GM had Buick, Olds, Pontiac, while ChryCo had Chrysler, Dodge, DeSoto (Imperial was a separate model then).

Ford expected to sell 200,000 Edsels in 1958, but only 63,100 were made.

This was due to several factor, the worst was the "Eisenhower Recession" of 1957/58. 1958 US automakers advertising slogan: "You auto buy now."

The Edsel was cancelled on November 19, 1959. Only 2,846 1960 models were assembled.

Total 1958/60 Edsel production: 110,847.

Ford lost over ONE BILLION DOLLARS on the Edsel, and that was when a buck was worth a buck.

Ford made a profit on every Uni they sold. F100/250 Uni production figures: 1961: 72,418. / 1962: 79,686 / 1963: 45,991.

btw: More "victims" of the Eisenhower Recession were DeSoto. Sales dropped like a stone after 1957. DeSoto was cancelled November 1960, after 3,030 1961's were assembled.

Nash & Hudson were cancelled at the end of the 1957 model run.

Packard went out of business in March 1956, the Detroit factory was shuttered.

Only "Packabakers" were made (in South Bend, IN) in 1957, early 1958, and only to fulfill dealer franchise agreements.

 

Was the drop in the Unibody sales because of the overloading/door problem?

 

Because of the integral cab/bed design, when the frame flexed, the doors popped open.

Lap seat belts were an option, no shoulder harnesses were available.

When the doors popped open, people FELL OUT of the cabs.

Now you know why Ford cancelled the Uni midyear 1963.

 

Has someone ever thought about making a fix for the unibody structural defect so the doors will not open?

 

Unfortunately it is inherent in the engineering of the unitized body and not able to be engineered out. They actually did continue the body style after 63 in South America with a non integral bed.

I would like to get a cargo container of those up here.....

Garbz

 

On the last bed floor I had to fix I cut a section out of the center of another bed to get the right style ridges. It was off a long bed and I was able to cut a 23 1/2" x 48" section that I used in the front of my bed. Something to look into maybe.