Technical Aluminum T bucket frame

Is anyone familiar with these aluminum T bucket frames? The previous owner told me he had heard it was manufactured somewhere around Houston. It looks to be high-quality. It looks strong, but is unbelievably light.

 

I guess my main question is do I need specific components like radius, rods?. I think I could probably buy universal hairpin kits and build my own; should be fairly straightforward.

 

I rode in a T with an aluminum frame, powered by a healthy flathead. It was the wildest sensation, felt like it was going to crawl out from under you, had so much flex. I didn't bother to look under it, to see how it was designed.

 

Thanks, Marty. I was afraid of that. My son is a good fabricator. I think I can come up with some clever reinforcements.

 

I do not know about using it. Marty knows better brother. What ever you decide to do , do your research.

 

Yeah, if you built the aluminum frame as a copy of the tube sizes and wall thicknesses of a steel frame, the result would flex 3X as much as a steel one for the same loads.

 

Yeah, I understand. I’ve had this idea for a long time that I wanted to build a reinforced aluminum floor pan that would tie it all together. Kinda like the way a bug body fits on to their frame pan, not exactly, but there will be a hint of that, combining the trans tunnel and everything. This is not my top priority project, just one of those bucket list things.

 

It would be interesting to know the aluminum alloy of the tubing used and also the wall thickness. There appears to be a lot of things still needed to be welded to the frame. Motor mounts, trans mounts, brackets for connecting the front and rear suspension additional cross members, etc. Depending on the alloy the completed frame may need to be solution heat treated and aged to eliminate potential cracks from flexing. Some aluminum alloys don’t require heat treatment at all even after welding, hence would be good to know alloy. Wall thickness is a factor if you intend to drill and tap the frame to bolt components to it as aluminum threads would not be as strong as steel. Wall thickness of course is a factor of flex as well as strength.

Certainly an aluminum frame ups the “cool factor” and probably would cut the weight of the frame by at least half. However, T Bucket frames probably don’t weight that much anyway. Your mileage may vary.

 

I'd be at least thinking of building a K member for the trans mount crossmember.
If it were me I'd be thinking T modified with a small 4 banger. Something in the 800/1600 cc range.

 

Back in the 70's a guy out of Ohio built a sprint car frame out of aluminum. It was very light and fast. However, the aluminum started to work harden and they retired it at the end of the season. I seem to remember the remark was made that it was good it never got upside down.

 

How about using a 215 Olds Aluminum V8 instead of a flathead?

 

Rodney Singer and Karol Miller won the '59 Nationals with this Dragster, the frame was aluminum, and bolted together. But with the stress and twisting of a chassis for the highway over time, would be far different. For something light, I would choose thin wall Chromoly steel, like is used in aircraft.

 

It would certainly be light !

 

Shades of Doug Nash....

 

Yeah, I’m hoping an old timer might remember who manufactured them it doesn’t look homemade. I agree with keeping it light. The Buick is a great idea. I’ve always liked them. The design became the Rover V8, so the equivalent should be easy to find.

 

I have a complete 215 Buick and 5 speed along with most of an Olds equivalent, waiting to go into a Simca 5/ Fiat Topolino. They are a nice little package.

 

I'm surprised it lasted that long.

 

Yes, absolutely, the engineering is pretty straight forward.
Compare Young's Modulus and Yield Strength. Not incredibly difficult.

An aluminum frame would have to be more substantial, the same way
that Aluminum rods are more substantial compared to steel.

 

That is going to look so cool when you polish it!

 

I have kept tabs on T bucket kits and components since the late '70s. It's likely I missed some, but never saw an aluminum frame offering. As I look at the frame it has more of a homemade vibe than a production unit. I hope you are able to track down the history.

 

Well, if nothing else, it might be an interesting wall hanger.

 

And, ,IMO, that's exactly what it should be.
I'm a bit on the conservative side, so there's absolutely no way I'd use that on the street. As was mentioned.....it would work harden from the flexing in relatively short order, and start to crack, if not give way entirely, and dramatically.

Now, a trailer queen show car, with a polished (or even color anodized) ally frame and polished aluminum 215.......that would be an eye-catcher.

Roger

 

My first thought was to buy this complete set up from a wrecked car, have something quick, cheap and easy. I’m not the biggest fan of these 70s style itty-bitty excuse for a pick up box. Might switch this to a turtle deck.

 

From the lack of crossmembers, or brackets it appears to have never been used before?
I think your idea of a heavy gauge floor pan might make it more rigid and help. Crossmembers for engine, trans, and rear axle will also help, but will likely require some bracketry welded into the frame rails to bolt in steel crossmembers to. Hope you're setup to do some aluminum welding!

 

triump tr8 also

 

I think @BigJoeArt still has a few small aluminum v8’s for sale.

with work hardening etc I wonder if
You don’t go the other direction and not try to make it ridgid. A stock A frame is flexy on purpose. Kept it light and low hp
and let it keep some flex and maybe it won’t have many points to really harden?

 

Truth is, if I built a T, I would like it a little more like this. This aluminum frame might not be right for that in the first place. This one had a V8 60 hidden under that hood. Might be peppy with it being very light. I could probably find an appropriate for banger to put in there.

 

I'd also be concerned about work hardening and stress cracks. Don't aluminum trailers have a limited lifespan due to the same thing?

 

Didn't Lil' John Buttera build an all aluminum car that he crossed the U.S. in ?
I want to think the article in Street Rodder magazine said he had to do some repairs along the way due to work hardening.

 

Yeah, I kept a subscription to Street Rodder back then and I do remember that article. I’ve had aluminum boat trailers and they seem to be really well built and long lasting My son is the welder. I haven’t asked him about this yet. If he doesn’t wanna mess with it it probably won’t get done.