anyone here done it? i know they are both huge units in such a small space, but its what i've got laying around and i'd like to not put a 350/350 in it. any chassis, frame or other detail pics??? how about radiator? how big a unit? i have a 67 mustang radiator sitting in the corner... seems kinda small. any probs with standard type t bucket steering mounting? brake master mounting? anything else to watch out for???
I say go for it. In my book bigger is always better in my book. Im putting a BBC in my caddy. just remember some assembly required.
Building one right now....Stretched the frame 8" (BBC = 3" over sbc, t400 = 6" over t350. Using AFCO universal hot rod radiator, cowl steering based on mopar aluminum box. Vette 4 wheel disc manual mcyl under floor.. Dave
Hey.... I'm into these little monsters, I'm building my own right now. Just got thru with the engine.......full boogie 400 SB with a 6-71 and a turbo 400 trans. If you want some geat info.....the guys here with a lot of years should steer you in the right direction. Also, check out T-Bucketters and NTBA.....
On the radiator....go thick.....wide and tall will look silly if done too much........3 to 4 row ought to be good......
I talked to a guy with a blown big block Chevy and 2 4's in a bucket with big slicks at a car show a couple years ago. I remember him sayin' it was a real hand full on the street beyond 55 or 60 miles an hour with the slicks on it. It looked badass and musta had the power to weight ratio of a rocketship.
when i was growing up...actually the car that got me into cars was a t witha real ls6 and a glide. Umm...well it was scary, as fuck. You floored it and it went straight at the ditch. It didnt look stretched from what i remember. Ran fairly warm i remember that. It had a franklin q/c and 411s. I remember when i turned 14, about the 3rd time id ever driven in my life...he made me hop in the drivers seat and take it for a "loop" anyways...the loop consisted of going thru the hs parking lot that was blacktop..nice and fresh. A bunch of seniors were in there and he looks over at me and says nail it. Sooo...unfortunatly i did, tires bit, front came up a bit, let off, and cruised on by...i was the coolest kid at school on monday. Im sorta surprised i never pissed my pants, enjoyed the car from the passenger seat from there on out. Oh and before he got the car it was also blown..he made the guy take it off before he bought it. Still had the 'blown' emblem on the radiator.
nice ... wheel standing t bucket... mine is just a fresh, stock 454 and 400 out of a truck. tri five rear with 3.55's still debating on doing it, but why the heck not... right???? i've got all the pieces to put it together, just gotta put it together. besides, i'd have to do a bunch more horse trading to wind up with a 350/350 thats in this shape... unless someone needs this combo for their gasser or truck and has a combo to trade up...
ooooo my 396 an A M-22 would feel so perfect but i would settle for the TH400 bolted to the back of i now in a T-bucket(more like T-Rocket which brings a smile to my face)
i wouldnt really call it wheelstanding...i kinda weinered out before it got too far up. I really liked the idea of the glide since its so small...hell you could probably run one hell of a high gear and still have loads of fun. The glide would be ALOT smaller.
i actually have one of each (pg, 350, 400). i know how much you can beat on any of the three. its just that the 400 has already been gone thru and has all the heavy duty guts and is bolted to the engine. i'm lazy. i'm gonna set them between the rails with the body and see if i can deal with it.
I don't understand all the hype about a th400. I have one in my car behind a mildly cam'd 403 Olds witha mojave green stall convertor. Not having passing gear is kind of dis appointing to me. The car is no slouch but it seems like it could do a lot more witha th350... I know I know it's a not a t-bucket.....I just noticed the th400 comments
Can't offer much input other than back in the mid-70's there used to be a "T" Touring car built bucket style with a BBC in it around here. A local siding company sponsored late night horror films on a local TV station and they'd dress up in monster costumes and do benefit baseball games, etc. and on weekends 4 of them would pile in this T in full costume and hit the local cruise spots and small towns to promote different events. I remember one night the driver got a little "enthusiactic" and nailed it at a stop sign, it lifted the front wheels a couple feet. They did it right next to the police station, fortunately none of the constables were looking out the window.
mine isnt finished yet, but mine is a 396/4 speed, you can check my other post with build progress and pictures(havent updated in a while). I made my own frame, but it is only stretched 3" and I am using a mechanical fan, but I am using a short water pump. The mounts for SBC/BBC are the same, so mount your radiator, then drop in the motor and trans together and weld in the motor mounts, and then make the trans crossmember wherever it lies, then fab from there. They really arent bad to fit in. My feet are a little tight in the compartment because mine is channelled a bunch and and running a 4 speed so I need to somehow fit 3 pedals, but you should be fine. Just go for it! It'll work out.
Get the electric kickdown system working and you'll have passing gear, plus a finished th400 installation. Back to the original question, I'd look close at the size differences to see if the th350 will gain you some needed tunnel clearance. You're certainly never going to put down enough power to kill one. good luck
If you weren't so far away, I'd swap ya my not even finished yet 450 hp. 400 lb. torque. 350 and a M-22 and even give ya my double tunnelram. I'd love to big block the 55
Go to my personal space, and check out my project. I know it's not a bucket, but it might as well be. I'm running a walker rad for a '32, because I have the room for it. I'm running a 4-speed. but you will have more room all around with an automatic. My car was originally a small block, and when I sat the big motor in the hole the front end didn't seem to set down much more from the weight. Depending on who you use for reference the big motor is anywhere from 75 to 110# more weight. IF you are running an automatic I STRONGLY suggest some discs for the front. Screw the purists, without engine compression you will need help stopping.