I'm sitting at home reading the forums and decided I wanted to start a "build" thread for my '26T. It will not be much reading for now since I just recently got my garage reorganized and the car up on jacks. I acquired this car from my father or bought it 30+ years ago and wanted to make a hot rod out of it, but he has never had the time to do it and finally allowed me to take a shot at it. This is my very first "classic" car and my first ever build. I have A LOT to learn and even more tools to acquire before I get to much work done. This thread is starting from the very beginning as I am currently working on taking the car apart. I'll keep everyone updated as I go! I'm really enjoying tinkering with it and taking it apart. I can't wait tell I get to start putting it back together! And to make things harder, I'll be doing this all in a single car garage! I am open to all ideas or instruction on how to do something like this! Thanks again and I hope you enjoy.
Keep up the work. What are your plans for your car. you going to leave it tall or chop it? I'm puting another motor in my 26 T now. keep the comeing.
The plan that I have so far is that I plan to chop the top (unsure of how much). I'm gonna keep the fenders on it. And motor wise I'm thinking Ford 302. I'm undecided on transmission atm.
What is the purpose of the Model A chassis? It seems that every T is being put on an "A" chassis. I was thinking about just boxing in the T chassis and putting in some cross or X supports and using it.
its cheap$$$, readily available, noticely BIGGER, & easy to fit. I got a Buick reagal V6/HEI/Q-jet/th350 & 30mpg highway with original firewall/dash/body
The A chassis is a real car frame. The T chassis ain't so stout as some bed frames. By the time you box it and brace it enough to stand up to a modern V8 you have built a new chassis.
I like the Idea of using the original T frame. Though I have started one of my more recent projects with a T frame and quickly found out its a lot of extra work for a worse end result and switched to A. I would like to do it someday though.
Subscribed... Good luck on the build. I think they look classy when left tall and look mean/nasty when chopped. Both good looks, depending on personal preference and maybe engine choice. I really wanted to build one of those but they just don't exist around here and I don't have the money to buy one. The one I attached always made me drool, but maybe with different wheels. I'm not sure how much of a chop there is with it.
GizmoJoe...You may have just given me a new inspiration! I have not seen many T left with full fenders and that is what I plan on doing! Thanks and I look forward to posting new pictures as much as possible.
If you're running full fenders boards and aprons you'll need to mount the rear spring behind the rearend to keep the 100" T wheelbase without modifying the A frame(103 1/4" wheelbase and springbase) and keep the wheels centered in the fenders. This is a good thing because increasing the spring base of a car makes it ride better assuming you also "tune" the spring packs by removing a handful of leaves, say 3-4 up front and 3-4 out back. It's a trial and error process but worth the effort.
That is GREAT information! Thanks for sharing. Do you happen to have a picture of this on a car that I could view?
I'm glad you like the look. As for fenders on a T... they don't always scream "hot rod" but sometimes we don't need to scream. However, some of us MUST run fenders due to laws. My T (1913-ish back section, 1927 cowl, homegrown doors) will run fenders because of laws and the fact that I want to be able to drive mine in any weather without spraying water and crap all over from the tires. I personally like the 28-29 A fenders because of the curves compared to the T. But the newer T fenders aren't bad. Sigh.. I wish it was a Tudor. Color me green with envy. Joe
Take it from someone who has made this mistake way too many times, box, bag, and tag everything. Take lots of pictures of the tear down. Organization has never been my strong suit. I am better now, but still not as good as I should be. These steps will make life so much better when you start to put the old girl back together. I too like the tall full fender and boards look. Satin black low key "Wolf in sheeps clothing" under stated look with a stout streetable drive train would be very kool. You have a world of knowledge available to you here, and opinions too. Just don't let it get so complicated that it stops being fun. Build it for you and drive the snot out of it. Nuff said. Mike.
Keeping it unchopped for awhile gives you time to evaluate your vision, and also minimizes the work to get it on the road. You can always chop it later!
Well, not much to update tonight. But I did get a little bit done. I completed taking out the interior floor and the drivers seat. And got the head lights off! I got one section of the floor out as a section (the only section of wood that was complete in the car). I'm gonna frame it and hang it up with a picture of my inspiration. The body itself looks pretty solid. There is some rust to cut off and weld in new pieces, but overall its a solid body. I'm happy with it. I would post pictures, but they keep failing to upload for some reason. I'll keep trying and get some up. Thanks again every for the kind words and the great ideas! I'll need all the inspiration I can get to complete this project.
Any more progress? Nice that the body is solid! I have been messing with mine for a couple of years and had made very little progress. Then I started doing a half hour or more each day. It's amazing what gets done that way! Keep at it and remember to be safe and have fun. It's no fun sitting on the sidelines because you didn't have eye protection or gloves or whatever. What is the issue with pictures not uploading? Too large maybe? Lots of options...let us know what's up. In the meantime, consider photobucket. Joe
Cool project. I have a 27 T I am fixing to start now that I finished my 51. I have a cherry set of 29 fenders I wanna run. Im looking for a decent 28-31 frame now to use. If I cant find one I guess I'll have to build my own. Im gonna run a 8ba flattie in it I have. Can't wait to get started but my wife says I need to take a break! Haha yea right!
Lots of discussion back and forth on frames -- T, A, new, boxed, modified, etc. I have "plans" for a Model T Tudor, myself, but only have the engine, so far. It's a MEL block from the late '50's! Anyway, I bumped into this video on the Internet, ordered it, and watched the whole 4 1/2 hours the first day I got it! You might be interested: http://www.streetrodplans.com/ I would also be interested in feedback from anyone that has taken this approach. I must admit that I'm looking at a new or self-fabricated frame partly because of the weight of my engine. . . . I still have my eyes out for a T Tudor body in the Carolinas if anyone wants to get rid of one.
Hi, I have a 26 Tudor also. Was working on it a lot until winter got here. Putting lights in garage now so I can at least see wheat Im doing out there. I pretty much have outlined what I want to do with mine. I will keep it tall with full fenders, etc. I am working on the interior in the house now (warm in here) and should have that ready when spring gets here. I will receive my new chassis in a few weeks. It is an exact 26T frame that has been structurally built for a big horsepower engine. The only problem that I haven't solved up to this point is where am I going to put a gas tank as I plan on keeping the back seat in. Will not be any room under the cowling for the original. Any ideas?
grmorris, how about some saddle tanks, underneath the splash aprons? My neighbor got some for his '31 Tudor, cut a small access hole in the splash aprons, and you can't even see them...routing the exhaust far enough away was a tiny bit of a challenge, though... I know we have PM'ed about where my tank is, and how it's not an option for you. But since mine is fenderless, and the firewall is recessed, I really didn't have that much of a choice.
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