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

Since that cap has holes in it, maybe a cable-type bicycle lock could be used to lock it down, if you have another hole nearby yo fasten it to.

 

This T is turning from an ugly duckling to a swan with every post. Nice work, dude!

My favorite part is that you're using a lot of stuff you've got laying around, and with a little bit of ingenuity and fab work, it looks outstanding. I love these kind of "run whatcha brung" kind of builds. They're fun to do because it makes you put on your thinking cap and work out the details. To me, a car built from a catalog has no soul. A car built with creativity and skill does.

 

Bingo! I have taken some criticism off the board for "just pulling "rare" Americans out of my stash" and such things. But truth be told, ANYBODY that invests some time looking and searching can find any of this stuff at swaps for a reasonable price. I am far from a wealthy playboy sitting on a stash of cool obscure hot rod stuff, but I have been collecting with certain cars to build in mind for about thirty years now. As I find something that interests me and I can afford, I grab it. I miss out on lots of cool stuff I CAN'T afford, just like everybody else though, too. At least I know what I want and what it will cost for next time.

I just came from a cold rainy swap at the fairgrounds about a mile from my home where I noticed three different pairs of 15X8 1/2" American five spokes in 4 1/2" or 4 3/4" bolt patterns that could have been had for 300.00-350.00 per pair. That sounds pricey, but you COULD order new ones for about 200.00 a piece, and they just don't quite have the same "soul". This stuff, while certainly more common out here in the west, is still out there IF you are willing to go out and look. You just have to take the time and use your imagination a bit to find the "right stuff" and not be easy to settle for almost right.

I'm going to semi-rant for a moment, 'cause I haven't in a bit. I know first hand it's harder to find the basic parts in the Midwest and eastern parts of the country. But, when I read threads like, "where do I find a Ford 15X6" passenger car steel wheel that'll fit my '56?" I get a little crazy! On almost any full-sized Ford from '49-mid eighties! That's where! Go out and look. There has to be a wrecking yard SOMEWHERE near you. If there isn't, what about that "weird old guy/hoarder" that has a yard full of cars 1 mile out of town? The farmer that has dragged every worn out car for four family generations back to the family dump in the back forty? The town dump in the next town over? Got a Craig's list for your area? A Thrifty Nickel freebie classifieds? How about if your really deluxe and have a U-pullit yard? That's right, you've been told there is nothing but front wheel drive late model stuff in there. But have you ever actually spent the 2.00 and walked in? In mine last spring, they parted a '54 Ford 2 dr. hardtop some idiot donated. I bought a perfect pair of doors for 40.00 each, and sold them for 300.00 each on E-Bay a week later. There's some bucks to go forward on my build. I have bought lots of Falcon pieces and parts in mine this year, and the current front drums on the 'Bucket came from a '49 F-1 someone dragged into the U-Pullit a year or two ago.

I guess what I'm saying is, don't be afraid to go out and look further than just the catalog in front of you, or the Napa or O'Rilley's down the street. There is stuff all over the place, ya just have to use your resources and look for it. And, if you do knock on the "weird old guy/hoarder's" door, you might find a new friend in this deal that can lead you to other cool discoveries in life... Maybe even a friend you never expected.

 

Good rant..... And oh-so-true.....

 

Winner Winner chicken dinner. It all comes down too how bad do you want it.

 

I've said that for years. If you can't find real steel you don't want it bad enough. It took me ten years to build my roadster because I had to have the right parts and had little money.

 

Or how quick, after waiting forever.

 

Mooneyes do spin-on gas caps that have a small brass vent in the cap - maybe you can get one from them?

They have a little check-ball in them to prevent the fuel sloshing out.





http://www.mooneyesusa.com/MOON-Spinner-Cap-p/mp609.htm

 

Chip get a screw in vent from a 9 inch Ford rearend..

 

Drill a blind hole in from the side of the cap, then drill a blind hole up from the bottom that meets it. If the cap was thick enough, you could counter drill and tap the vertical hole and add a ball and drilled set screw so you had a roll-over valve to appease the safety minded among us.

 

Didn't think about that one SimonSez! Clever and would solve the problem 100%. See, where I'm getting into the issues is in vertical height. I could easily drill a hole in the side of the neck and cut a pipe thread, screw in a hose bib and bend a bit of tube to exit it out the floor. Problem is, the top edge of this tank is damn near flush with the top of the pickup bed. Anything I put in the neck would either have to go above the tonneau cover and be removed to completely take the cover off, (pain in the ass...) or be below the tonneau and make an unsightly ripple in the cover. Neither makes me real happy, but this might just solve the issue all the way around. And, I bet if I roll down to our local Parker Store (a shop that specializes in roundy round supplies and automotive plumbing) they might have such a beast on the shelf! On top of all that, the idea of a one way check valve is great so if this thing ever does go over on top of me and doesn't kill me, I don't have to sit there watch myself burn to death! Always a plus!!! Damn, the sun just came out and the skies went blue!!!

Good idea Bob, but I think the one way check valve idea above sells the deal 100%!

 

You nailed it, Chip!! You posted exactly the words of the sermon I've been preaching for years. I have always told the guys who are new to the hobby to never be afraid to ask a question, never be afraid to get your hands dirty, always research and plan out your projects, and never suppress your creative side.

 

Chip I am with you. I really get teeed off at the same type of question. Where do I get some stock item for 40 years. Shit get off your dead ass and go find it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Young folks today want someone else to do all the leg work for them!!

 

It's funny Fuzzy, it's not just the younger guys out there. It's like a general culture of people that are afraid to ask, afraid to knock on a strange door, or call out from a gate they have never yelled over before. In my past business, I have literally traveled all over this country. In EVERY town I have ever been in I have found something worth investigating, or someplace I could have bought something I need. I used to fairly frequently ship parts home from all points of the country, and this was just during driving from place to place during business hours. In other words, not even really looking.

I think what set off this thought yesterday was reading through Flat-N-Low's thread on his C10 which uses lots of collected and salvage yard stuff adapted and reused, and the reaction to an event by a friend of mine at this morning's swap. A bunch of us rolled through the gate at the same time, and right inside there was a gal giving out free admission tickets to one of our local U-Pullit type yards. He took one, and as we walked a bit further veered off to a garbage can and said "well this is worthless!" and tossed it in! I reached for it on top of the stuff and said "well hell, I'll take it"! His reaction is what set me off... "Why bother, it's all late model front wheel drive junk anyway"!!! I asked if he had ever been in before. His answer was "everybody knows there isn't anything in a yard anymore for us, besides, it costs two dollars to walk in and I won't pay that just on principal". Funny, same guy that frequently calls ME up to see if I know where such and such part is...

Guess I'm just saying, instead of endlessly searching on a computer, or Speedway catalog, or E-Bay, get in the car and go somewhere and open your eyes. I've found some pretty cool stuff doing just that, and know a lot of off-beat characters in all corners of this country because I have.

 

Oftentimes, I'll just go to the local self-service yards just to do "recon". I'll leave the toolbag in the car and just go for a walk and see what's new since the last time I was there. Many yards will have a certain day of the week where they cycle in the new stuff, so it's good to try to go right after the new additions hit the yard. You''l be amazed at some of the stuff that they get. When the economy went into the tank a few years ago, a lot of people got desperate and cleared out their garages and backyards and some amazing stuff was unfortunately sent to the wrecking yards. The yards are not as good right now, but cool stuff still shows up on occasion.

My walks through the yards are actually therapeutic. I can clear my head of all the BS from work and get my mind to shift into "project-mode". It's fun to brainstorm in a wrecking yard because you've got so much stuff to work with.

Like Chip says, it's out there, all you have to do is to go find it. I think the "chase" is the most fun part of it all.

 

At the swap last weekend, I picked up a really nice set of 14" x 6" mid '60s vintage American 200s wheels with brand new 205 / 70 14 black wall radials all mounted and balanced for $325. I wasn't in the market for these, but they will be perfect on my wife's '64 1/2 Mustang, so I grabbed them.

The stuff is out there, you have to put in the leg work and be willing to pull the trigger when you find a good deal on something cool, even if you don't need the part right then. I've bought a lot of cool parts (especially wheels) that I did not have a need for. I figured that I might use it some day or that someone I know may need / want it later.

Chip's (or anyone's) stash of cool parts did not build itself or fall into his lap. It's there because he had the foresight to put in the time, effort and shell out the cash to build it.

 

I some how figured you'd end up with that set of tires and wheels! You were right behind us when Bodi pointed them out...

 

Ya know some times it is just trading material that you pick up. Some times it is GOLD!! Years ago at Pomona I walked by this one swap space and there was a BBF Tri power set up, Complete, Fuel log , linkage Everything. Just curious I asked what he wanted for it. 350 bucks he said. I almost broke my wrist getting the money out of my pocket!!!

 

I have one of those Moon caps with the vent, and my other early Moon tank does not have a vented cap, so I am in the same predicament as you. I was thinking of repurposing a Holley Power Valve blow out protection kit. All that's required is a small hole drilled in the cap (do all of this from the bottom of the cap toward the top), then a slightly larger one for the ball and spring to hang out in, then press a very small washer onto the assembly and voila! Vents as tank pressure overcomes spring pressure, but I do not think it would work in a roll-over (I don't think the Moon one will, either). If you do this, make sure you put the check valve the correct way!

 

You may want to disregard some, perhaps all, of my last post. I think I just thoroughly confused myself. I always thought a check valve allows flow in one direction, but not the other. How do fuel tank rollover valves work? The flow of fuel would travel the same direction of the vented gases, so how does it work?

 

No, you have it right. A check valve will allow fuel travel in only one direction. I'm not sure the orifice in a power valve protector would be large enough to flow enough air though, but it warrants a look.

 

You guys are so right about the hunt. As much as building the car, the journey in finding the parts TO build the car is so cool. Often frustrating but always satisfying when the target is hit! It's the experiences that make the memories.

 

On the hot rod tank roll over valves that I have seen the ball is free floating then gravity and the weight of the fuel seals it when it is inverted.

 

Aha! That makes sense, and now I'm wondering how I did not arrive at that conclusion in the first place. Thank you for clearing that up.

 

I just held one in my hands at Parker store that had a light spring loaded ball that kept the ball at the top of its bore on a seat. As the fuel pump drew fuel from the tank the vacuum would draw the ball down and allow atmospheric pressure to vent the tank. I went super simple and bought a cool little stainless fitting with a bronze mesh covered vent in the center. It doesn't have a roll over valve, but in all honesty, if I'm upside down in this thing, I DO at that point have much larger problems in life, and that's a risk I decided to take of my own accord.

John Evans called me earlier and reminded me about the unusual side effect we have out here with extreme heat in the summer, and that is pressurizing the fuel tank. (Well, really he just wanted to call me a dumb-ass in a loving, paternal sort of way...) See, with a one way valve, there no way to let pressure out of the tank, and it is fairly frequent out here that if a tank isn't completely empty on a hot day when you crack the cap, you can easily end up wearing a good portion of it's contents. Not gonna do it, wouldn't be wise, wouldn't be prudent...

 

You'd have to have no spring and grooves in the lower seat to allow venting. It would only seat when upside down. Could also do a small copper line (3/16") with a tight curly cue just out of the center of the cap.

 

With all the keyboard commandos on the HAMB that are telling everybody to shoot anyone that looks twice at thier car, is that surprising?

Seriously, I really think twice before I talk to anyone I dont know at a cruise night now. I never used to be like that, but...

 

I told Chip I could make him a anti-roll check valve that would also vent pressure and not pull a vacuum either. Exactly what LSA suggests.

 

Chip just make it look like moon shine still vent, out the top curly=cue..

get on wit it...your burnin' day lite...

 

This thread has evolved into a social thread as well as a build thread, not unlike the E&B sedan and has now reached the point where it too cannot end. You've created a monster that everyone following this will want to swing by and see the "Bucket of Ugly" when they are in the Phoenix area and of course meet the Lady of the house.