What's a T bucket with V8 like to drive?

Man, that T is bad ass.

 

Really? Around here most tub drivers are over 60 and sadly, most have automatics.

 

Most have automatics due to the lack of foot room. I'm not saying a manual trans can't be done, but the amount of foot room lost is quite a bit.

 

You must live in "Logans Run".

 

Mine has a 39 Lincoln top loader but my right leg can't get past the wheel easy so we ended up with a right hand brake for when you need to operate the cluch & brake at the same time... again, it not on the road so I working by theory - It should work

 

I am 66 and have been shifting my 4-speed T for over 32 years. It puts 430 hp to the rear wheels and weighs 1790 with top on and full of fuel.

 

i live in socal and i drove mine to san francisco several times and once to the grand canyon. i just had 3 in foam on plywood and it was fine to ride in. i think it had a lot to do with the firmness of the foam. i also had a little trailer i would tow on long trips which seem to smooth out the ride. it also had buggy springs all round too.

 

Got any more of those helpers available? Why do you need that large a wheel? I have a much smaller diameter and with 700 lbs. on the front wheels it's a breeze to steer.

Beautiful car

 

Yup. I am building a '27 track inspired T with a 270 Red Ram Hemi, 3-deuces, a real Halibrand quick change, and a TH350.

A 3rd. pedal would not fit anywhere in there.

 

Mine? 93 inch wheelbase, 11 inch long driveshaft, 350-350, 1770 lbs, quarter elliptics in the rear, four bars all round, cross spring in the front, trailer fenders. A blast to drive, with radials it handled like a slot car, very good race on the Whistler hiway for a porsche, he lost, my old lady proud but mad, very fun few miles. The car has been thru several owners, on the road more than twenty years, copper coloured now, its in Alberta somewhere, I'd like to find it. Great car.

 

Schroeder center steer... 8:1 ratio

 

What a great T! How'd I miss this build?

 

baddest bucket in my area is owned and driven by a guy in his 70's...was built in Michigan I believe.
twin turbo small block chevy with factory fuel injection run by a computer,all chromed jag rearend,very nicely done in kind of a light blue color called the "Turbo T".

 

I "baby-sat" this bucket for a friend ,who was travelling around the country...(I had some space near the '32).





It was fun 'round town , but we did a few 4 hour rides in it and a 3hour trip in it , and it was'nt real comfortable. l'm 6'2" tall.

With such a short wheel base you really had to DRIVE it.

Check out the speedo.....



Regards Dave.

 

yea depending on the actual build they can range in the 1200 to 1800 pound range.

Whats it like to drive? Try loosley saddled razorblade on for size.

Wild Willy Borsch would have been a good guy to ask.

 

Been about 30 years ago, nasty 327, powerglide, plastic T-bucket. Probably as close to a sprint car as I will ever get.

 

Mine was 1650lbs, with 330hp it ran 12.6 quarters, It was a real exciting car to drive but equally very drivable. I abused this car for 10 years and it never broke, I really miss that little car !!!

 

Steve - my 4 1/2 year old has the second picture on her bedroom wall. Says she wants a pink superfast car just like it ;-)

 

Yeah, Steve really babies his cars.

T's are a blast to drive, kinda like a 4 wheel Harley. But you have to respect the power to weight ratio or you can get in trouble pretty quickly. One time I was "merging" with traffic and had my foot deep in the firewall of my 23. On the 1-2 shift one slick grabbed and one didn't and before I knew it I was taking up all 3 lanes. That will wake you up pretty fast.

Don

 

Had this one for 2summers,really fun to drive and kinda fast.
Really miss it,it was a perfect driver.
327/400 and a 9inch.

 

Only rode in one once, late '70s. A buddy re-did a '26 from the '60s, well enough to win a big-ass 4' trophy at the Cleveland WoW that year. Took it out criusin' once and remember it being like a big, over powered go-kart (mild 327). Fun as hell, but could get you in trouble in more ways than one, quick!

 

I loved my T. Had to sale it to pay the lawyer for my divorce, one more reason that I dislike that woman !

 

I just came across this the other day - definitely worth a read if you like T-buckets:

http://www.tbucketplans.com/2013/02/14/frank-and-linda-mazis-10-second-street-driven-t-bucket/

 

What a great story! Would like to see what that rear suspension looked like.

 

I've only had one, a track T and it was fun to drive. Here's the only picture I have left of it. The grandkids loved riding around waving at everyone. This car was built in 66'

 

What a great story, indeed!
His rear suspension was basically a four-link, like modern race cars use. He had quater eliptic springs attached to the top of the rear housing, and support bars running back to the underside of it, so the spring was essentially the top link of a four-bar set up. Brilliant.

 

I can't wait to find out!

 

My buddy, who is in his '70's has 2 of them. Being retired, he'll just jump into one of his buckets and drive anywhere. 6 hour road trips are normal for him. Both of his rods have Jag rear ends.

This one won award at the GNRS Drive-in.

 

In a word ,they're a blast to drive . Wife & I put on about 3K miles each summer for the last 11 yrs...I'm 64 & she's 61.. 150-200 miles on a sunday afternoon is 'bout average...400+ hp. & torque..4-speed,3.55 locker,weighs 1750,103" w.b., goes like stink, corners like a slot car , rides better than my buddies '72 'vette , like I said , if you like GO , it's a BLAST !!

dave

 

like a go cart with v-8 i had to get rid of mine to much fun couple cans of confidence an the richard petty comes out i'd killed myself in that thing but what a blast