JUST SCARY!!,T-bucket The SEQUEL! (someone else is going to get hurt!)

Maybe I'm just getting old,.... or maybe some things bother me more as time goes on,.. I really don't like ragging on other guy's cars,.. but some of the stuff you see out there is just down right unsafe in my book,... I was in town today doing some errands,... and there sits this "T" Bucket style 27,.. looked o.k. at first glance from several feet away,... As I got closer the rear suspension bothered me. ( please look closely at the pictures,.. crappy cell phone shot's cause thats all I had)

The T in question had a steel body, SBF/C4, 37 Tube axle, disc brakes, etc., I had a opportunity to talk to the owner, I mentioned the rear "radius rods" and told him I was really concerned about there strength and safety (made from 1/4" bar stock),... He didn't build the car his Son-in-law did,... "they twisted up before, so he welded the 1/8" flat plate behind them to strengthen them up." (Take a look at the frame mount "rod ends" and the frame bracket)

Things like this bother me because you know eventually these things are going to fail,... the driver or the passenger could get hurt (or worse),... someone else in another car could get hurt (or worse) ,...pedestrians could get hurt ( or worse),.....

Because of the uniqueness of Hot Rods in general, the chance something like this would make the news paper is better than average, and once again, Hot Rods get put under the microscope of Insurance Companies and Government officials,.....

When I told this guy about my concerns, he seemed to take it well and thought maybe he should eventually go through the car,.... Some guys probably wouldn't take it so well,....

So heres my question, Do you think I was right in calling this to this guy's attention?,...... or am I just a old worry wart ?

 

Sorry from those pics I dont understand how the pivot point of the 'ladder' bar is attached to the frame hanger.

You did the right thing.

 

OK. I give up...What the hell is holding this on? I think you did right. You may have saved a few lives.

 

Thats just plain ugly & dangerous !! In NZ, we have a certification procedure to go through to get rods on the road, and while a lot of people whinge & moan about it, THAT sort of bullshit doesn't get through. Hope the guy takes it off the road and get it sorted pronto (and gets the other crap thats probably on it sorted as well !)

 

I don't think if you were tac-ful about it you were wrong in bringing up safety issues.

If you went up to him and told him his ride was the biggest piece of crap you ever laid eyes on that would be different............ My 2 cents

 

I tried to get a really close look at that, but all I seen was a lot of weld over weld,... I think he cut the threaded end off of a tie-rod end and welded it to the back of the "Laded bar" leaving a hole for the zerk.

 

It almost looks as if the front mount of the ladder bar had a rod end welded to it and a hole was cut for the zerk fitting?

Didn't type fast enuff...

 

Luck

 

it kinda looks like a temporary mock up...held on by faith or luck

 

I feel you did right. It affects all of us if or WHEN this fails. These are some of the reasons it is getting more difficult to build a rod in some states. It makes the news and we are all looked at as though evey one of our cars are dangerous. Build right, build strong and safe or don't build it. Ssme holds true for what is under some of the older cars that are put back on the road after sitting for many years. They need to be gone ALL the way through to make damned sure they are safe

 

Scary shit right there I hope that guy parks it before someone is killed.

There was a car at billetproof that scared the shit out of me.
Lets hope these people that are driving these shit boxes get a clue and start building them right or have someone that know what there doing build it for them.

 

You did the right thing.
Honestly, I don't care if some dumbass plays roulette with Darwin and ends up taking a dirt nap, BUT he very well could kill someone else.
It seems like the totally innocent are always the ones who pay the highest price for the actions of the dumbest.
That should have been impounded as a public safety hazard.

 

WTF... Why? Is it that freaking hard to build a set of ladder bars?? Jeezz!

 

Wow we are seeing the start of huge legal ramification when there is an accident because of this type of garbage.

 

Your pointing out the safety problems with the construction of this car MAY have saved that guy's life IF his son-in-law doesn't get his back up when he tells him about it, and even if he does, Dad probably won't be driving the thing anymore anyway.
Good job to you, we all need to do this even if some take it personally.

 

As evidenced by these photos and many other cars and trucks I've seen, YES, it is that freaking hard to build a set of ladder bars for those who have never read a book, never researched anything they ever did, think they know everything about old cars because they once had a 67 Camaro, and listen intently to the numbnut next door who tried once to build a dragster and knows just everything about street cars.

 

You sure as hell did the right thing. That kinda of "workmanship" scares the hell out of me. Pic 2 looks like the frame was welded together and that might be alright in itself but after looking at the rest of those pics I'd be very sceptical of it. Maybe the builder is tryin to get rid of him early

 

T bucket type suspension components are only as far away as that parts catalog that came in the mail. Why would you even bother to put the time in to build something that hacked together?

 

You just saved someones life...maybe not today, but you most certainly did in the future. Good job!

 

you did the right thing, I would never feel bad about telling someone about a safety issue.

 

I've seen R@% Rods built better than that!

 

What really bothers me is I am seeing this stuff more and more,... Here's the first "SCARY" thread

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=367016&highlight=scary



Like I said, I don't like to trash other guy's work,... but maybe we should all be aware of this kind of thing. IMHO

 

should have got his address and sent him a couple of catalogs.

 

There is nothing wrong with trashing someones work when it looks like that. That clown needed a public outing. Too bad we dont know his personal info so we could warn everyone to stay away from this hack.

 

Thats some scary stuff right there.

 

I've seen plastic model kits I'd sooner strap to each foot and ride down the street on.

 

Constructive criticism, especially when someone's safety is at stake, does not need an excuse. Hopefully more guy's will take the advice like he did and not get thier panties all wadded up.
Been on both side's of the topic and learned a lot from some of that advice/criticism whether i liked getting it or not.

Like the other's have said, you did right by saying something. Some guy's just simply don't know what's safe and what isn't until either someone guides them, or something happens.

Tony

 

Sounds like we're 100 percent on this, right thing to do...hope he takes your advice.

 

GOOD FOR YOU! Chances are down the road you saved someones life! I check out all the cars in view when I'm pumping gas, you'd be supprised what drivers are clueless about. Missing lug nuts, broken lights, near flat tires, little things sure but little things cause bigger problems.