Projects The bucket of ugly! A de-uglifying thread...

Looks pretty good, Zandoz!




Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

9

Whip (It's actually Marc, right?)

I'm curious, does the low in Low Vehicle Inspection represent vehicle ride height, or a level of inspection? We have a similar program in Texas, but it's an annual safety inspection, gotta pass it prior to getting your registration. Until recently, there were two separate stickers, but from what I've heard, their combining them into one sticker this year. Good idea, actually, keeps them from being due at different times of the year, and takes up less space on the windshield. Kind of a PITA, but not nearly as bad as Smog here in California! As one of the very few state inspectors who was familiar with old cars (and a junior member of a NSRA Safety Inspection team as well), I was one popular guy in San Antonio back in those days!

I couldn't quite figure out the controls on this T the first time but I think I get it now. Still not sure why he mounted the shifter outside the body, but my guess is it's to accommodate his disability (I think I still would have done it differently, probably mimicked a Dragster brake handle, and mounted the shifter outboard under the body, and built / bent a longer handle to hug the inside of the body.). It's most likely on that side since his left hand will be busy operating the combined gas and brake hand control on the left side of the column. It looks like it has a motorcycle style twist throttle and either pushes or pulls to operate the brake. Not sure that's right, but it makes sense to me based on what I'm seeing.

Kurt (Blownfuel)

Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

Low is for the low number (volume)of the cars on our roads that this covers.
Jeremy

 

The shifter is on the outside because he will need to have his left hand on the brake so it doesn't take off when put into drive ( or R for racing). You could have it the other way round but that all depends on the drivers individual requirements.
There have been some good ideas here on how to do alternative controls but the one where the steering column pulls back to stop and forward to go just will not work. Try grasping the wheel while braking and try to turn at the same time, aint going to happen and to pull back for braking is wrong as your weight transfer will be counterproductive as all will need the steering wheel/column for upper body support if their legs cant do so adequately.
Jeremy

 

Yes Kurt, it is Marc, and I forgot the Volume in the Low inspection so thanks Jeremy. Interestingly, some here in NZ are just starting to push the car registration and Warrant of Fitness to be combined but I personally ain't in favour of that as at times I have to budget for funds to register my car and if at the same time I needed a couple of tyres, then the car would either have to be side lined or driven illegally on the road as that would cost so much in one hit. Our WOF stickers are small and are place at the top right hand corner of the windscreen and the registration label is legally required to be on the lower left hand corner. As my Roadster has been certified , unless I modify or change it from what is on the Cert. Plate, I only need to have a WOF check every 6 months and keep the Registration current to legally drive the car. We also have a system here in NZ which allows us to run our cars fenderless which is again, a privilege organised by our Hot Rod Association.
Back to the photo I posted, sorry,I didn't actually meet the guy who owns the car so I'm not able to say what his or her disabilities are to warrant having the shifter on the outside of the body. I too would of looked at other options for sure.What I do like is that the person can be out and about in his car and be accepted as well as anybody else.

 

Bill
I don't want to discourage you or anybody else from posting on (Chip's, need louvers) thread But please start from the beginning and read at least the first few pages to see what this thread is about. I know it has morphed into a lot more that it was originally intended (dog photos, Ugly guys standing next to their flamed trucks etc.) but I think we need to keep in mind what it is really intended to do and that is to alert builders of T buckets what really can make an otherwise good build UGLY.
Gary

 

Herby's deal was toooo E-Z, It had a cable for go, and a rod to a power brake master cylinder, just pull to go, push to slow, (or stop)

 

If anything I've posted is offensive or inappropriate I apologize. Please feel free to have it removed. <returns to lurking>

 

No Bill that's not what I meant. Anyone and everyone I'm sure is welcome on this thread but I think some of Chip.s "need louvers" early info on the thread is so important to anyone building a "T Bucket" that I don't think it should be missed. He has been around this stuff so long he just "GETS IT". He literally grew up around it. His dad built them as a business.
Gary

 

Jeremy,
Got it and I agree completely it needs to be there, I was just saying I would have found a more (aesthetically pleasing) way of doing it (ie. locating it inside the body). The shifter he has (B&M Quick Silver) is very similar to the B&M Mega Shifter in the fact that the actual shifter mechanism is actually very thin (maybe 1" to 1.5" total width), and all the rest of the area under the box and trim plate is wasted space. I can see mounting it (without the Floor mount box), inside between the body and the upholstery, with just the knob and an inch or so of the lever sticking up out of a slot in the upper body. But like I said, I wasn't there so I don't know the full extent of the requirements to accommodate his particular disability. If this was one you modified (I'm pretty sure Marc said you had been involved in converting some? If so, GOOD on you for helping someone to enjoy their car, and I may need to discuss further with you for a buddy of mine), I'm not trying to knock the work, just offering an alternative approach. (God knows, you do what you have to do so the person can enjoy their car, the happiness it brings them is worth it! I have a buddy who is gradually losing the use of his legs, and we're slowly making plans to convert 5 of his cars to Hand controls ('28 Roadster Pick up, '39 Plymouth 2 door sedan, '56 Plymouth 2 door hardtop mild custom, '66 (or could be a '67)Plymouth Barracuda, and either a Plymouth Fury or a '73 Plymouth Satellite (he's planning on selling one and keeping the other). Definitely a Mopar guy, and these cars are important to him, so whatever has to be done for him to enjoy them, we're going to figure out!)

Kurt (Blownfuel)

 

Oh yeah, He's not making it any easier on us either! He wants to run one of the cars in the Goodguy's autocross events.......! That doesn't add ANY complications to the equation!

 

Sorry for my misunderstanding. I started at the beginning last night. I've been having a hard time not necro-posting.

 

Good on you Bill and can I suggest, note down any comments / questions with the reference post number and then when finished post one stretched question or comment that we can help you with by finding the post ourselves to refresh our memories, oh add page number too please as that helps to quickly find the required post.
As Gary has mentioned, we here are not chasing you away and you certainly haven't offended anybody. We aren't even experts on this ourselves but with the combined years of knowledge here alone, hopefully we can help you realise your dream without the mistakes that we may of made.

 

Heck guys, I have just heard the sad news that one of the founding men of the popular T Bucket Hot Rod Ted Brown has passed away after a short illness. Ted was well known in the California Rodding scene for his frames to complete turnkey cars.
Ted will be missed by myself as I used to phone him for chats from NZ here and found him to be a real gentleman.
Rest In Peace my friend, Ted Brown.

 

Well I'm trying very hard to tread softly here because so much of what I'm doing I know is not well received here...largely by constraints beyond my control...and some by personal preference. On the other hand I do want to make this little hot rod as cohesive as possible within the constraints.

To complicate things my hot rod exposure has two gaping holes...from the very early 60s to the mid 70s, and from the mid 70s to about 2 years ago. I know I have a LOT hot rod to learn, and a short time to learn it...I'l probably have to be commissioning my frame in the next month or so.

Hopefully I'll not be stepping on too many toes, but if I do, please don't be subtle calling me on it. My brain does not play well with subtlety...LOL

 

Bill, if there's anything consistent on this thread (besides an abundance of 40's Mopar owners and Kiwis, lol) is a distinct lack of subtly. So you should be ok.
Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

I'm waiting for Need Louvers? aka Chip to chime back in on this thread, maybe after he gets his radiator fixed? He's on Facebook daily selling his louvered keychains and posting pictures of his projects so maybe it's the medium that's working best for him. In the mean time I'll keep trying to organize this big pile of parts into a "T" that's not too ugly.

 

Well, I like 40s MOPARs....and LOVE early to mid 50s MOPARs. One of the vehicles high on my "wish I had done" list is a '49-'54 Plymouth wagon. Another is a '49-'52 Dodge Wayfarer sedan.

 

Man, that is indeed sad news......he will be sorely missed. Godspeed.

Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

I also really like 40s Mopars, and would love to have a 46-48 Plymouth coupe. And I like Kiwis too . But, you'll find as you read through this thread, seems everyone who owns a bucket also has a 40s Mopar of some sort, or is a Kiwi. Or both

 

Shit. I used to talk to Ted a lot, kinda lost touch when I left facebook. Should have made more of an effort to stay in touch...guy was a walking talking history book. Ill miss you Ted.

Some guys reading this thread may not be aware of the fact that Ted also did a lot of chassis work on a lot of very high profile gas class race cars as well, the semi elliptic leaf swindler, Ciambilla Austin just to name a couple of the most famous...
Back to lurk status...

 

Stop lurking and reclaim your place at the inner circle, where you rightfully belongs! [emoji4][emoji106]

 

I cant really believe this. Some asshole of a celebrity dies and everyone is mourning their pathetic life passing away...

Ted was a Gentleman who always had time for anyone with an interest in Buckets. I have spent many hours over the last 1o years both in contact with and emailing this stalwart of Hot Rodding History.

I will miss Ted a lot with his usual opening line of

Helllllowwwwwwwwwwwwww Gerry.
As a committed dancer and a very kind person he used his Bucket (when he was younger and in better health) all the time; putting over 100,000 miles on it. Always one for practicability, he moved away from show n shine, to black and dirty.

I dont know about you Guys, but I for one will miss and grieve for the forefather of Buckets.

I will always think of you and miss your help and generosity, Ted

Gerry

 

Hey Gerry , was gonna e-mail you the other day when I found out Ted passed , couldn't find your address , sorry ....
How've you been ?
dave

 

Mixed day. Found out this morning from a 2 liner that Ted has passed and then test drove a 32 roadster with a 46 Flathead after rebuilding the trans. (C4 with a Flat-O-Matic conversion)

Been a while since we talked. Still into my Ts and still playing with mine. Missing the old days when we could chat n cut the breeze. Stay safe n well.
Gerry

 

24 hours without a post !
Jeremy

 

I had a guy around to do a preliminary appraisal and he took a side on shot of the RPU that my camera isn't capable of in my small garage.
Also a view from the winters qc looking forward.
Then I removed myself from the picture
Larry

 

Very cool Larry
Jeremy

 

Yes Larry, they look very cool but Sir, you should of shaved and put a clean Tee Shirt on for the photo...

 

Did you dudes chase Chip off or something??