[Old Fool]

A neighbor of mine is interested in building his first street rod.

He saw a few t-buckets at Good Guys this last weekend and had the bug bite him

He is looking into kits to get started on his first build.
I have no background in this type rod, always been a muscle car guy.

Any info you can share for me to pass along would be appreciated.

I do know he took home a Speedway catalogue and is giving it a good look over.

Thanks!

 

[2old2fast]

Have your friend google t-buckets or t-bucket kits , many choices out there , personally , speedway would be my last choice , too much import stuff [marginal quality] .

dave

 

[studeelover]

The “Youngster” FREE T-Bucket Frame Plans | TBucketPlans.com

 

[Irelands child]

If he can find an original Total Performance 'kit' that is a left over, a roughly built car or an abandoned project, that might be one way to jump into the fray. Also, another that I've heard some talk about is a 'kit' from Spirit Industries (Spirit T-Bucket Parts and Turn-Key TBucket Cars - Home - Spirit Industries). As far as Speedway - they are selling a Total Perf. design as well as, I believe, their own - most Speedway 'buckets I've seen leave, IMHO, a lot to be desired. Then of course, look here at the National T-Bucket Alliance : T-Buckets

 

[mike the painter]

Brooksville makes nice, STEEL body kits...

 

[Irelands child]

Brooksville makes nice, STEEL body kits...

But not T-buckets (and their quality is only mediocre as well)

 

[mike the painter]

I'm not up to date with what they are producing these days,its just another option to concider but I believe their body kits fit a lot better than their individual body parts they sell. I imagine they would be a lot more expensive too.
But they ARE steel....

 

[2old2fast]

Ya' know , I'll tell you what , my T bucket body was built in 1968 & has yet to have a dent or rust ....... Steel ???? why???

dave

 

[timothale]

Tbucketeers

The Tbucketeers web site also has a lot of Info, One of my T bucket bodies was built in 1916 By Henry Ford ReAL Steel. , one of the Glass bodies my son started on 20 years ago has lots of spider web cracks, some bodies are thinner, The last T bucket I got for Free, a project started then parked in the guy's back yard for 20 years. I passed up an unfinished T bucket project A roller with engine and trans running for 2 K,

 

[GT23T]

A neighbor of mine is interested in building his first street rod.

He saw a few t-buckets at Good Guys this last weekend and had the bug bite him

He is looking into kits to get started on his first build.
I have no background in this type rod, always been a muscle car guy.

Any info you can share for me to pass along would be appreciated.

I do know he took home a Speedway catalogue and is giving it a good look over.

Thanks!

California Custom Roadsters - New Page 2
Wintec - WINTEC Fabrication
EZTbucket - Home Page
Spirit Ind - Spirit T-Bucket Parts and Turn-Key TBucket Cars - Home - Spirit Industries
RussNoMore - Russ Nomore Streetrods
Scott's Rods - Fiberglass Street Rod Bodies, Fiberglass One Piece Front End, Camaro Body Parts
ClassGlass - 1923 T Bucket - 23 T Roadster Fiberglass Body
Speedway Motors - Speedway Motors - Street Rod Parts, Race Parts, Ford Flathead Parts, Sprint and Midget Racing Parts, Pedal Car Parts

Note: Speedway bought out Total Performance a few years ago.

 

[timothale]

Ccr

I built a couple T chassis using the plans from CCR everything fit pretty good, better than using 2 x 4's to build a mock up. one problem I had was using the patterns for the Corvair steering box and the Jag rear end. I used the bluprints that come in the CCR book and copied them and laminated clear shelf paper, cut them out with the optical tracer Plasma at the college, The copy machine might have distorted them. On the next ones I will use the CCR plans and draw the patterns on cardstock paper with drafting tools and double check with the cut up Jag crosmember pieces

 

[OneMoreTime]

Just my idea is that the final result is really dependent on the builder..

Sam

 

[AutoGear]

Tbucketeers is a great site. The HAMB can be too; if your friend can weed through the 'they didnt have that muffler clamp in 1968' and 'its not a Tbucket, its a Modified' crowd. Oh and they hate the pro street T look, so if thats what hes after, keep him between here, Tbucketeers and NTBA.

*At this point; 'glas T's ARE traditional if you're looking to do something say 1968 and later.
*I dont like the prefab interior kits, seem like a waste of money for the low quality pieces you get.
*I'd also have him sit IN a couple of buckets. My Dad is 6'2 and a T is fine for local stuff; but he'd never handle a poker run in one. To go with that; he may want to weigh his options on cutting in a door on a 'glas T. I have bad legs and getting in a bucket without a door can be easy early in the day, but by the time Im tired, I just about fall out of 'em

*Using the GM intermediate sized disc brakes seems to cause problems for some people at highway speeds; but not everybody.

He would only really need a 305 with an RV cam and a TH200-4r or TH350.

 

[2old2fast]

May only "need" a 305 but 4-500 horse is sure more fun!!!

dave

 

[timothale]

Whoa !!

The fence posts come at you pretty fast when the front wheels are up in the air. You don.t need a lot of power but you will want the look,Henry Ford was a little guy and the early Model t's were made to fit him, I am 6 ft and I am very crowded in the 16 body, the 23 glass one has a little more room. they now make oversized T bodies.

 

[ssimpala]

I'm currently gathering up parts for a '27 T bucket and been searching the different sites. Got to agree with all the folks here about different sites and suppliers. Good luck on your build.

 

[Old Fool]

Hey guys, thanks for all the replies.

I am going to email him the link to this thread and maybe he will Join and get into the discussion first hand.
The size of the 23 isnt that much of a problem for him,as he is less than 6ft, slim trim mid 40's. Not built anything like this old fool, big, fat, and old

 

[JGK95]

Ya' know , I'll tell you what , my T bucket body was built in 1968 & has yet to have a dent or rust ....... Steel ???? why???

dave

You know, I had to chuckle when I read your response.

Keep on keepin' on.

Jay K.

ps. Ed Roth liked the fiberglass too.

 

[68NovaSS]

My only experience with T-Buckets is with Total Performance. Mine is mid '70's, no cracks or spider webs and I see a few projects still around for sale.

My steering passes through the bottom of the firewall, makes for more leg and pedal room, if you're tall, you may have issues with a straight up and down column setup.

For the 1700 or so pounds they weigh, no, they don't need a lot of power to get your heart rate up, add the short wheel base it's even more exciting. I have a BBC/Tunnel Ram/T-400 in mine, gives me miles of smiles.

 

[seltec8]

You will be able to see 150+ Ts and at least 2 vendors at the Gold Dust West Casino in Carson City, Nevada from June 20-22, 2013. Information is on the NTBA website as listed above and more will be coming. Two more companies are okie street rods and Lucky 7.