I'm trying to piece a project together in my head, and am thinking of using a fibergl*** t-bucket body for my project...I'm building a little modified roadster, and figured a bucket would be a good start for a body...I don't want to have a **** load of money in it in the end...But want something nice to start with. I noticed Total Performance had some decent looking bodys, I was just thinking of buying just a basic bucket...no dash, floor, doors. I can come up with that. I was just wondering if Total Performance sells a good product? or does any one else have recomendations on a body? Also, I was going to base my frame off of a T frame...or just beef up a T frame... Will I have problems mounting the body to the T frame? or did they really change much on them? All I am going to be using for an engine is a 218 Chrysler Flat Six, with a 4 speed...Not really any engine upgrades aside from an intake, and exhaust. The only difference (which is a big difference) on my frame is...where the body stops...the normalness of the T frame is going to stop too...From the body on it will have a coil sprung swing arm with a single wheel, running on a chain that connects to a right angle drive gear box off the ******. So it'll be a pretty sweet 3 wheeled modified roadster dealio..With a little drag racing and show rod flare worked into it too when it's all done. It's going to be REAL light since there is no rear end...one rear wheel...and a gl*** T-body.
MAS racing products shows their basic T body for 399 and that one has been around as long as I can remember. On a gl*** T you usually cut your floor boards out of marine or exterior plywood and then gl*** it to the body.
Total t has a good body and theres is a little longer for some leg room. I own 2 T Bucketts and like them both my Total T dose have more room and I like that as I drive them. hope this helps Keep in mind if you buy a cheap body you'll get a POS you get what you pay for. Tim
On the plywood deal, would you gl*** both sides? Also for the dash, how would you go about putting a steel dash in it? just gl*** in some mounts to bolt it to and call it good? I'm not to shabby with fibergl***, I just have never done any work with a full gl*** body...I've repaired some lawn mower parts that turned out nice, but that's about it.
Yeah, cheap most of the time isn't good...But the Total products seem to have fair prices. I was looking at the '23 T-Bucket body with out a bed, floor, dash, and all that. it's only $525.
I am using a body from Speedway Motors. No operating doors, or floor. Has a molded dash but a steel/aluminum dash would easily cover it. I am using the dash to start with but will probably go with some sort of aluminum one later. $470.00 with no bed. I have had it laying around in my garage for several years and has stood up very well to being moved around. (got to get it mounted to my frame.) http://www.speedwaymotors.com/1923-T-ROADSTER-BODY-ONLY,1421.html
Total T bodys are made real good I like them I used plywood on my other buckett sealed it real good then put SS on the bottem of it just in case something broke under it say a drive shaft to keep it from takeing my leg off. thats just me > theirs a post on here that a guy just put a streight eight vavle cover as his dash its cool lookin if you want to put a steel dash in it like you said just make the tabs and bolt it in hope this helps Tim
T-performance, Speedway, CCR and Spirit make the top notch stuff. in the long run, you'll be much happier having spent a little more up front on the body. in fibergl*** t bucket arena, there really is no such thing as cheap quality. you can get away with an inexpensive body for a time, but you'll wind up with lots if repairs and headaches. the other thing you can do is buy an inexpensive body and reinforce it with another couple of layers to make it nice and stiff.
I used a MAS body and got what I paid for. The Total Performance body is way nicer quality. Fibergl*** is twice as thick and designed better. Mine looks good now but it took twice as much work. This was my first build and I learned alot along the way. Good and Cheap don't always go together.
Cool, thanks for the info guys. I think I'm going to go with the Total Performance body, From what every body says it sounds pretty nice. For the floor how thick of plywood should I use? And on adding stainless to the floor, did you just screw it to the ply and call it good? Also, did they change the width of the body compared to a stock T? I'm just trying to figure out dimensions before I jump into it. Oh, do you need to build a frame work inside the body for strength? or is it fine the way it is?
Total performance as stated is no more. A friend of mine tried to order a T bucket kit from them a couple weeks ago and ended up cancelling his order due to the problems they are having with shipments during the transition. My friend and I both went with Spirit Industries for our T bodies. The one I recieved is nice and thick gl*** with a dash for around the same price that the Total bodies were. A quality T body in my opnion. Wp
I don't know what brand mine is. The car was built by Flathead Pete in MI and is reinforced with steel, has a steel firewall, and a plywood floor covered in gl***<center> <br /><br /> </center>
I agree 100%, used a MAS body for my sons T Bucket project to save some money,..... it's was pretty bad,... then I looked at a Total Performance T body and was really unhappy we didn't pay the extra bucks for one of theres from the beginning.
Cl*** Gl*** and Performance. 8" over stock. Good quality and legroom. Mine is their body. http://www.cl***gl***performance.com/23 T.html Bill
For the floor how thick of plywood should I use? I'd use 5/8 thick ply, but it must be un-treated, the resin won't stick to it otherwise. So you will have to gl*** it both sides and seal any holes you put in it or it'll rot, and don't forget to give the body a real good grind-up where you laminate the floor to or it won't stick there either. Good luck.
Did you ever look at one of their bodies in person? My guess would be... NO. Speedway sells a very nice body for a few $ more than MAS, and well worth the extra $.
I am still sayin' the Spirit Industries body is the best deal in the business and a nice thick body with a cool '32 style dash. Wp
Shipping is a big item so look for free shipping or close enough to pick up. Speedway does free shipping a couple times a year.
i just bought molds to make t-buckets, its the body, a pickup box and tailgate and also a turtle deck, $200, needs a little loveing care but has lots of life left, i wont be makeing any for awhile though.
Yor project sounds very unique! I hope you will post pictures in time. I ordered my "T" body just a little over a year ago. It turned out that I spent as much for shipping as I did the body itself. Check out the expense & method of shipping before you commit to anything to avoid an ugly surprise. Talking with various friends with fibergl*** "T's", all the bodies need a little body work to finish them, no matter where they come from. Good Luck!
mines a '27 style,more like a roadster ,but i built a t style frame with tube skeleton and have the body zust-fastened to it.maken it so itll drive with no body on it and the body is just a shell its gotta sprint car quick change rear with 4-bar,aluminum floor,rad. mounted under rear of body...
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