Back Of Cab Hole Plug
1932-1979 Pick Up
Within the Chassis & PU Bed system of early Ford vehicles, the rear cab panel contains several factory openings that were originally used for body manufacturing processes. Once the vehicle left the assembly line, many of these openings were sealed using simple plug-style closures. These components prevented dust, moisture and road splash.
On trucks in particular, the back of the cab sits directly in the path of airflow and debris coming off the frame and bed floor. Any missing or hardened plug becomes an entry point for water and fine dust. Over decades of service, these plugs often shrink, crack, or disappear entirely during earlier repairs, leaving exposed openings that were never intended to remain open.
Correct restoration of the back-of-cab panel involves reinstalling the proper hole plugs so the cab structure once again seals as designed. These small components perform a simple job but play an important role in keeping the cab interior dry and protected from underbody contamination.
If a cab has been repainted, rewired, or stripped during restoration, these plugs are often one of the last items that need to be corrected before the cab can be considered properly sealed.
Subsystem Definition
Back-of-cab hole plugs function as closure points for unused circular openings in the rear cab panel. Within the Chassis & PU Bed architecture, these openings appear where wiring once passed through the body, where assembly fixtures contacted the panel, or where factory tooling required access during body production.
Without a plug installed, these openings allow direct airflow between the exterior of the vehicle and the cab interior. In trucks especially, airflow behind the cab can carry water spray, dust, and road grit toward the rear panel. Even small openings can allow these contaminants to enter the interior trim area.
Hole plugs are sized to press into specific circular openings and remain seated through tension against the sheet metal. Correct plug sizing ensures the opening is sealed without distortion of the surrounding metal. When properly installed, the plug sits flush with the body panel and restores the intended barrier between the exterior chassis environment and the cab interior.
Component Breakdown
Back Of Cab Hole Plug
These plugs are sized specifically for openings located in the rear cab panel. They restore the factory seal where original body holes were left unused after assembly or accessory installation.
Round Hole Plug
Round hole plugs serve as general-purpose closures for circular body openings. They are commonly used anywhere a sheet metal hole must be sealed after wiring, hardware, or temporary access points are removed.
Round Rubber Hole Plugs
Rubber hole plugs provide a flexible sealing option for circular openings. Their compressible design allows them to conform tightly to sheet metal edges and maintain a seal as the body flexes during normal chassis movement.
Fitment & Variation
Hole size determines plug selection. Ford body panels across passenger cars, Mercury models, and pickup trucks used multiple hole diameters depending on the purpose of the opening. During restoration, the correct plug must match the diameter of the body hole rather than the vehicle model alone.
Older trucks frequently show enlarged or distorted holes from previous repairs, removed accessories, or corrosion around the edge of the opening. In these cases the plug must still seat securely without forcing the panel out of shape.
Paint buildup around the hole edge can also affect fitment. Excess paint may prevent a plug from seating flush or may cause the plug to loosen over time.
Fitment will vary by model year or suspension configuration.
Inspect the rear cab panel openings to identify missing or hardened plugs before sealing the cab structure.
