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

With much anticipation I look forward to seeing how this great little hot rod turns out. I like your methodical approach to the end goal.

Good luck with your vision.

 

One more radiator question for you guys. Has anybody run the Speedway T-Bucket radiator under a stock "T" shell? I'm a bit concerned because they state you can run it without. That generally means it's too big to use one.

Sorry to be so inquisitive on something as simple as radiators, this is the first build on a 'bucket I've done since I've been on e-bay, and are soo many options out there that I just flat didn't have last time I was doing one of these.

 

Not really an "update" on this deal, but pulling and shipping the brass radiator off the front of my car this morning gave me pause for a minute or two to do a sort of "how NOT to do it". See, one of the many things that was wrong with this car was where the radiator was actually mounted, moreover the radiator itself. The last photo I shot this morning illustrates that better than damn near anything I can write.

The idea is to get the radiator on these cars down to the same level as the cowl on the body, if not a bit lower. If you never noticed this before, start looking closely looking at the t-Buckets in your own neck of the woods. It's shocking how many are "not quite right"...

 

Some inspirational photos/personal favorites...

 

This one is out of Massachusetts isn't it? Still looks the same. Bob

 

The perfect angle of cowl and radiator not only applies to Ts but to As on 32 rails as well. Many many are wrong with the radiator higher than the cowl. I believe most of this is due to the fact that it takes a huge amount of work to do it right and most will not take the extra time to do it.

 

Nope, that was Monogram Models full scale pattern for the "Big T" kit from about '61 or so. Starbird built it, and he was out of Kansas.

 

Absolutely! I remember you and I took the lead on a thread where a guy here was doing a '30 on deuce rails and had it just bit wrong. After a bit he relented and dropped the grill shell down a bit and it looked 200% better! I remember I go a very nice thank you P.M. for taking the time to explain and share how to get it right, and I'm sure you probably received the same.

I wish I could have said the same for my buddies that put this car together! When I was over before the radiator was mounted, I was asked how to do it. I suggested that they drop the mounts to the lower part of the frame, so the radiator is on the proper level. When I came back a couple of days later, here is where it was mounted! When I asked why, the statement was, "well, the only fan we had was this one, and if we dropped the radiator down where you said to put it, the fan would have hit the top hose...". I guess it never occurred to them to get a shorter fan?


Edit: Going back to the idea that this is commonly wrong on "A" on deuce rail combinations, have you ever noticed that Rootlieb actually make a hood for doing this the wrong way? I giggle every time I flip to that page...

 

Thanks man! That's some seriously good company for inspiration! the little red car in the lower right box is especially cool for me, as it belongs to a local rodder who is also a louver customer of mine! He drives the wheels off of it too!

 

Oh, one last little bit of procurement news, too! Since I took the radiator off and shipped it to it's new home today, the Incredible Miss Judy flipped out just a tiny bit. I explained that I knew what was going to replace it, I just had to decide which type it would be, "T", or deuce. When we got home today I broke out some magazines featuring Norm's car (deuce shell) and Ivo's car ("T" shell)... A decision has been made! Tomorrow I head up to a friends house and pickup a butchered '32 shell!!!

 

That will look Oh So Cool!!!!!

 

I think a chopped Deuce shell will fit the look you're after. As to your other question, I'm running a Speedway radiator and while I don't run a genie T shell, I'd say it wouldn't fit. The measurement difference is VERY close. That radiator is meant to run as is or with their glass shell. I run without a shell. I probably should have sprung for the polished version for the bling, but I hate polishing aluminum and it would have ended up looking brushed anyway. The brushed version fits the stripped down look I was after.

I may be swapping mine out due to cooling issues. I'm not sure it's the radiators fault, but I'm in the process of narrowing down the issue. It's a 2 core and warms up quick. You being in Nevada, I'd say go 3 or 4 core.

Oh, my radiator is 1" below the cowl line. A nice evil rake.

 

Thats the ticket! Time to start shopping for some nice drawer pulls!

 

Angle of the radiator to the cowl is another area that seems to give a lot of people trouble. Far to many cars running around looking like they as broke in the middle.

--louis

 

If you don't have The Rodder's Journal #36, try and grab a copy. The story and pics of both versions of Norm's car done by Von Franco are in it. GREATT photos. I've had that issue on my coffee table since it first came out, while I was building my T.

 

Sweeeet!!!

I was secretly hoping for that.....

 

Further to the Corvette valve covers, normally I wouldn't even mention this on here, but I know you are a total, hard-core, knitpicking, obsessive, period-correct detail fanatic like me, so here goes.
Most of the Corvette valve covers you will find will have the casting flaw running through the "o", which normally wouldn't be an issue, EXCEPT you are shooting for an early sixties build date, and according to everything I have read, the flaw didnt appear in the mold till '67. So you see the issue here.
Paragon makes a set of dead-to-nuts re-pops minus the flaw for just this reason, but they are NOT cheap. As far as I know, these are a Paragon exclusive.
Maybe you should consider some Moons or Edelbrocks?

https://www.paragoncorvette.com/p-358783-aluminum-valve-cover-w-283-327.aspx

Paragon knows their shit, and sells some really good stuff others dont, but it is aimed at the hard-core Corvette restorer, so they can be pricier. Considering how much of this stuff was used on hot rods in the late fifties/early sixties, you would think more HAMBers would be looking at the Corvette restoration market as a parts source.

 

At $135, that's a LOT cheaper than Edelbrocks.

 

Thats a piece, not a pair. Just figured I'd better mention that. I was just thinking, M/Ts might JUST squeak into your time frame as well. You were aiming at '64, right?

 

Cool! Any chance you could snap a picture of yours and maybe post some dimensions? Width and height from the mount pads would be the ideal.

Got it! Always have, but I have been staring at it for weeks now to find some inspiration for this car. Hell, I even used it as my main teaching aid to teach Judy what this stuff is all about. Now she knows that Norm's is the first, and Ivo's the second...

Ya, me too!

Damn dude! You are as much a nit picker nut bag as me! I have to admit I didn't know about that deal at all. But, they would do just great for me and might end up in the mix here soon. I have resigned my self to the fact that the coil overs are staying, even though it will eat at my very soul forever. I have to draw the line somewhere to keep this deal within reason.

Damn straight!!!

 

Man this thread grew quick. I like the direction you are going with this.

I wanted to comment on the seats, personally I hate the "sitting on top of the car" t-bucket seats, I spent many hours working on mine to get them comfortable. I did a whole write up in the upholstery group, if you are interested.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=21768

I also agree that missing the rad/cowl line can really mess up the look of the car. A few hours with some painters tape and a lot of patience can make or break the look.

 

"Cool! Any chance you could snap a picture of yours and maybe post some dimensions? Width and height from the mount pads would be the ideal."

Give me a bit for the dimensions. It's too dark for pics, but I think I have a couple on my computer.

 

Come on Fred we know you have some pics around

 

Found a pic.



Measurements from mount edge where it meets the frame to the other side of the frame is 21". From top of mounts to top edge of radiator is 19 1/4".

Side view with photo shopped WWW's.

 

That's a game changer.

 

yea, kinda figured that might shed a whole new light on things. They ARE nice, I saw a set of them on a 327 and thought they were an old original pre-'67 set, commented on them, and the guy came clean and told me where he got 'em.

 

You know, I never say anything out loud, but you can just imagine my inner dialog when I am looking at some of these "period-correct" sixties hot rods... I realize I am a total f*$&ing fanatic misfit obsessive nut-bar religious zealot, and temper what I say accordingly. Ryan talks about passion, well, it lives here.

 

Damned good looking stuff! I'm going to do mine quite a bit differently, but it is good to see this done in a very crafts manly way. Thank you!

 

Don't write off the GM overcounter Vette covers , a little Dremmel time and those lines can be history! Usally can be found fairly cheap at the flea's ; due to real anal Vette guys look right by them. Love your build plan, its got "the" vibe!

 

Count Darryl Von Dracula?

It will be okay, Chip!