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extreme budget t bucket

19K views 21 replies 12 participants last post by  woodz428 
#1 ·
Hey everyone, I'm trying to get some more ideas on another project that I have been tossing around in my head. In the vain of original hot rodders running t buckets on "newer" model a chassis I would like to build a t bucket using a stock frame off of a newer car. I figure if I can buy a running and driving car or truck cheap why can't I strip it down and add a t bucket body on it. The current idea for a chassis is a 94 thunderbird. Being a subframe car it is easy to change the wheelbase, and a high point is that it uses a short arm long arm front suspension instead of struts, and has irs. One downfall that quickly comes to mind is the unusual bolt pattern (5 x 100mm) but I have access to a bridgeport so thats only a minor problem.
The other 2 ideas I had was for a turbo coupe thunderbird or a ranger. But there is the major problem of getting the suspension to ride ok without all that weight on it. Also I thought about the framerails being to wide for the chassis but I don't think thats really a problem because I can weld in rails inside of the other ones then cut the originals off. I'm sure there's alot I'm missing here, so I figure it would be a good idea to run it by others before I dive right in. Any suggestions or thoughts are greatly appreciated.

- Larry
 
#2 ·
:welcome: Welcome to Hotrodders.com :welcome:

We are one of the most diverse bunch of rodders on the net. I myself build a little more traditional style vehicles ... but I am sure someone here will speak up about your project under consideration ...

Deuce ...
 
#3 ·
Not a good idea. The T-bird is a Sub frame car...no frame rails so thats no good. If you do use a car that has frame rails... the frame will be way too wide for a T-bucket body. Also the front suspension on the modern frames and subframes looks like crap without fenders. T-bucket frames are cheap and easy to make with 2x3 tubing . You had a good idea...but in reality it just won't work good.
 
#4 ·
Henry Highrise said:
Not a good idea. The T-bird is a Sub frame car...no frame rails so thats no good. If you do use a car that has frame rails... the frame will be way too wide for a T-bucket body. Also the front suspension on the modern frames and subframes looks like crap without fenders. T-bucket frames are cheap and easy to make with 2x3 tubing . You had a good idea...but in reality it just won't work good.
unless a body was built around the frame. I plan to do that myself, with an S10 frame out of fiberglass, in a year or so.
 
#6 ·
Welcome to the site rust_is_free. :welcome: rust_is_free until you try to get rid of it! :D The T bucket is a very narrow body and will not adapt to newer frames. What you are thinking will cost you more money and time than building a set of rails from 2X4 tubing ($200 should about cover it). Buy your donor car and keep the drivetrain and part out the rest. Then buy yourself a dropped front axle with brakes and suspension; a steering box and drag link and you have what you would have if you used a donor car/truck. It will look clean and ride well. It will be easy to build and the time you save will be well worth it. This has been talked about many times on this site. Use the search function and type in donor frame or hot rod donor frame or rat rod donor frame.

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#12 ·
thanks

I just want to go ahead and thank everyone for their thoughts and feedback. First thanks mike for the links, some useful info there. I have done some frame work before, setting up a four link, front clip, frame rails, etc. but was just looking for an easy way out without having a solid axle. I thought that it would have been too ugly and after looking at the pics supplied by arrowhead, it really wouldn't look too good, with all of the suspension out in the open. matt167's idea of covering up the frame with the body is another idea I had, just make the buckets body a little bit bigger. my main reason for trying to use a stock frame is due to very limited space, the garage is a small one car that i just started renting, so i thought i would try to build something that would fit in it, and i have extremely limited funds, too many projects, and im in college.
does anyone remember a car they called the "spaghetti bender" in street rodder a few years ago. it was a ferrari drivetrain and chassis sitting under a track t body, obviously far more complicated than what i had in mind. i'll try to find it and put a pic up. the body did a great job of covering up the front suspension. my idea was basically to build something that could handle with newer muscle cars and but look better in my opinion. I really am just leary about solid front axles, having no experience with them. Just trying to find something that would be fixable with off the shelf parts. Now im just ramblin. but i guess i will have to reconsider the project and maybe just go back to finishing up my barracuda. Thanks again.

- Larry
 
#15 ·
i know that you can get new parts for solid axles from places like speedway motors. what i had in mind when i said that was more along the lines of a regular parts store, like napa. actually i don't know if napa does carry stuff for solid axles, i suppose they may for newer trucks with solid axles. i did see someone use a solid axle out of an f150. anyone know what years had solid front axles? but that may be too wide too.
i do see what everyone means of how ugly a t bucket looks with an exposed ifs. i was just more concerned with how much abuse they can take. coming from a younger generation i have really no experience with solid axles. i just don't want to be afraid of driving the car hard.

- Larry
 
#16 ·
and that t bucket on ebay, like matt says has no curves, if you read the description it was all built of 14 guage steel, that seems like it would be pretty hard to put any kind of curve into. why would anyone make a t bucket body or any body panel out of that thick of steel?

- Larry
 
#17 ·
Like minds

Yo Larry,

I'm in the process myself of starting a t bucket project. I would love to use an original bucket but finding original rails well thats not a budget option. I'm using a 1:8 Big T model re issue to design the changes I wish to make, check the pics. I started with the chassis frame and broke its back putting a mad rake on the rails adj. the engine, then put a heavy channel on the tub to give 150mm clearance to th deck and at least 100mm clearance to the sump/ clutch housing.

I intend to us RHS for the rails that you don't see with cold folded channel for the rest. Ive got my work cut out so to speak. I want to create the soft compound curves you see in the pic's to the engine rails, and also make them a channel not a box. Check out the bracing to the rear, this should keep it straight when I gun it. The narrow tub on a T bucket makes pedal room tight but workable when you use a heavy channel. Work better pick up or this will stay a 1:8 model. I've even named my T "Made in Sheffield" on the back with no. T42 Tea for two a very British theme.

Ricky
 

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#18 ·
Just to add a little. The T-bird is more than a sub-frame car...it is uni-body. As pointed out, the work to build a frame from box steel is much less than that required to do what you were wanting. I have seen a model A body mounted on a jap truck frame. Early ones are straight railed like a T/A frame and may be a little wider than the T, although the A body dropped on it easily. Since most T bodies available are fiberglass, it would be easy to widen if neccesary( they are plenty tight inside). There is a new steel '27 T body that is widened to set on Deuce frame rails and it is really roomy. You could easily get that with a widened 'glass body.
 
#21 ·
Nope I never got it done, I ended up buying a falcon and am still working on that.

Still have the t-bird though and I do plan on using the subframe for something.

I have come across a few subframe hot rods since I first posted this thread. One was using a SN-95 cobra chassis and the other used 4th gen camaro strut front end, i think, on a custom 32 style coupe.
 
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