Question On Two T Bucket Build Books

Hey everyone,

I have gotten a lot of good info and I really would like to see step by step photos and maybe even a build book. I'm a visual guy that sometimes I just need some text with pictures.

So my question to you all is-

Would both books from Tbucketplans.com be a good source of info?

I was just on their site looking and found "The Bird T-Bucket Hot Rod Roadster Plans. I see it goes back to more of a traditional build.

Has anyone used, bought or read these?

I also have been looking at "How to Build a T-Bucket Hot Rod Roadster for Under $3000: kickin’ it old skool"

I think with both books a lot if not all my questions would be answered along with reading more from the HAMB and other hot rod and T bucket sites.

So if you have experince with either or both of these books please give me some info and let me know if this would be a good direction to go in for now.

Thanks everyone.

 

The books will be good for the measurements that you will need but when I built my t I change up alot to fit my own design.

 

I think i have some info on building a T-bucket frame saved on my work computer? I'll check and post back-chuck

 

http://www.tbucketplans.com/california-custom-roadsters-t-bucket-ch***is-plans/

Its the CCR plans. California Custom Roadster plans. Been around for a long time.

This book of plans is the one I used the most. Has 1to1 patterns and good measurements.

 

I just went to the CCR page via the link to have a look at the drawings, built only a couple of T Bucket ch***is and would advise that this ch***is will sit quite high in the front and lacks some form of K or X member to tie the rails together and negate the chance of the rails " racking" under hard suspension! My 2c's worth Wayne

 

I have never buit a T bucket project. But I have both books/plans you are refering too. I think these are a great guide to go by or to use as is for your build if you are inexperianced. I learned a lot form these and have applied that kowledge to my own 32 coupe build. Those books will give you insperation and motivation to begin your project. Cheap money well spent for these books/plans. Just my opinion.

 

Quite honestly I would buy them both. every bit of info you can put your hands on at this point will be great for you to learn from. The old Bird plans will be the more traditional looking car by the time all is said and done, but I think the other has more general info for you to figure stuff out with.

I have built a car based on the CCR stuff... Not again. They were written in the early seventies and really were some of the first "modern" too long too high cars out there. Good for general info about what fits what and how, but the car it produces is just not very good looking in my opinion.

 

I built a T from CCR plans 12 years ago. It was a father son project. The car was for my son. He drove it his senior year in high school. We made everything to the plans and it drove and handled great!

 

Free online t-bucket plans.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=441782

 

The BEST T building book is the Total Performance build manual. It has plans (some full size), pics, how to do the interior, wiring ....everything. I believe Speedway still has some copies for sale at about $20 or less.

 

I built my T Bucket using the CCR book. I changed a few things. I put coil springs on the rear instead of the tall single leaf setup. I drew up a lot of the bracket parts from the book and had them water jetted. It came our great.

 

Is that the T-Bucket Manual? I have looked at it on Speedway's site and I've come close to ordering it. I read that it is good but only if you use one of their kits with it. I just have not found a lot of info on the book.

I do have the frame plans from Car Craft and also from Tbucketplans.com.

I think buying both books from Tbucketplans.com would be of great help and maybe even the one from Speedway Motors. I have a code to get the one from Speedway for $14.99 plus shipping.

The T Bird build would be the one I would lean to the most I think when building but the other book has some info I'm told that helps find other things to work together.

I just think the more I read up on a build along with everything on the HAMB I can't go wrong with what ever I do and I will get a good build and a great car when done.

Keep the info coming guys.

 

Tell you what, This is gonna be a bit harder to do than just order stuff, but the best T-Bucket how to ever put to paper was a series written by Ray Sizemore in Car Craft magazine between November of '64 and May of '65. I have had my set for well over 30 years now and to this day I still use it for reference all the time. It not only walks you through the process of building the frame and ch***is, but all of the detail type stuff that is important to know when doing this stuff. Also the differences in all the early Ford stuff too. It might take some digging even on E-Bay, but grab the whole set if you can.

 

Second vote on the Car Craft set! Excellent stuff there, even though it drifts over into 1965 and so out of "traditional" on the HAMB

 

Thank you Louvers! That was the info I had been looking for online as well. I could not pin point the year it started with the project to the end.

I need to dig out my Rod & Custom magazine, maybe a month or two back. There is a company that sells used magazines and helps find them so they might have the full series.

Oh while we're on the Car Craft magazine. Do you know if it was monthly or bi-monthly back then?

 

It's as good as people say. NOT Speedways manual! The Total Performance manual that Speedway sells. The Speedway manual is a catalog and useless. The TP info can be used for any style you choose. It's got blueprints and shows how to make ALL the brackets.

It seems like you already know about the sources others are mentioning. So, go buy them.

 

Monthly...

 

While it's possible, no one has yet come out with a PERFECT T book. There are just too many variables. That's why, when I was planning mine, I got ALL the info I could.

On my T, I have stuff from TP, CCR and off the internet. Street Rodder did a T build that was covered in a year of issues. I had all of those too. Mine is a combo of what worked best for my final goal. That's what you need to do.

Right now, I'm gathering info for a '27. After I go over all the info, I'll start my build. Research saves time and money.

 

I think I built my T using the Car Craft plans as a reference.

I have both of the CCR plans and the build a T for under 3 K plans.

The CCR plans are worth the money spent just for the tips and tricks that they show along with detailed drawings for brackets and pieces. By today's standards the wheelbase is a bit long though but that can be adjusted.

Only buy the how to build a T bucket for under 3k plans if you want a set for nostalgia's sake and collect that sort of stuff which I do. The methods described are crude to the point that they probably would make a lot of ratrodders cringe. We just flat don't cut the frame off with a torch and then grind the ends to fit them together anymore as was common practice when that was written. It's interesting and fun to read but a lot of his suggestions are too crude and out of date for the way we build cars now.

 

Thank you I will look for the Total Performance one as well, it might be one that I've seen and just over looked it.

Thanks.

Ok I found it -
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Garage-Sale-Total-Performance-T-Roadster-***embly-Manual,54114.html

Looks like its another one to add to my books.

 

That's it. Here's one on Ebay for $15.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/715M1-/261187160687?pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&hash=item3ccff7ca6f&vxp=mtr

Opps! Same one.

 

Hey thanks,

That is the one I was looking for but couldn't find it on their (Speedway) site for some reason but did find and linked it. I have a code to make it $12.00 plus shipping. I think I will pick this one up along with CCR.

 

Thank you and I also like the nostalgia stuff as well. I think it would also be a good history on the bucket builds and might offer me a more inside look at building a traditional T.

I'm also going to look up getting the Car Craft magazines and read them.

My goal is to read, read again and learn as much as I can and then start my build. If I can find some parts along the way that I will and can use then I will buy them.

I don't think my build will start until late August. I will finished with school and back to work full time, with that said if I find parts and the body for a good deal I might scoop them up. I'm also getting prices for the frame and I will build that once I have the body. I think there is to much of a chance for a mistake without the body.

So for now my best way and only way and goal is to read and study everything and keep planning my build.

Keep the info coming and I will keep everyone posted on what I do and when I do it.

 

If you want a ton of pics for nothing, just click my sig.

I based mine off of the CCR plans and used RPM's front axle kit. Everything else was fab'd by me in my little "2" car garage.

 

Thanks Keep, will do and I will be working out of my two car garage as well.

I still remember the day I brought home my Coronet R/T it was in the afternoon no one home around me all the neighbors still at work. The next afternoon I started the tear down and cutting of the quarters.

The neighbors were not happy at all! I love the sound of air tools in the morning!

 

BTTT......fibergl*** "T" buckets= traditional HOT ROD........59 Chevy 4 door= your grandmothers ride. Unless it is your daily driver, sell the 4 door and build a bucket!

 

I just got in the Speedway catalog and wow some nice pics in it to really give me an idea of parts and also colors for cars.

I have been looking at old and new photos and getting ideas for paint color. I saw a pink T bucket years ago that I really liked and now I'm seeing yellowish greens and dark greens. I tell you there are some crazy paint jobs that just look awesome.

My original idea was black with red interior...not sure I wont go a different color.

I was thinking black with blue interior and blue rims. I would call it Black & Blue.

 

Mine was built in the very early '70's from Car Craft plans. Only difference now, we replaced the front axle w/ a 6" drop from Speedway a couple years ago. Very nice stance. I would love to find a set of those plans, myself, just to have.

The idea of a blue interior & wheels vs typical red is cool. There's about half a dozen colors I'd like to do another T in, but black isn't one of them.

I'm kinda sweet on zodiac vinyl as well...

 

I have a set of plans from Car Craft in 1964 . . . I think? These were emailed me to a while ago. I have a few different plans and blue prints that I have looked over. My T Bucket build is on the back burner right now but I'm still reading and learning things. I spent a week in the hospital that seemed to want my car money more than I did lol.

DaPeach if these are the plans you built off of and want a copy send me a message and I will email them to you.

Oh and on the blue interior idea. I had a B5 blue 70 Dodge Challenger R/T. I was thinking of that blue in color or maybe a B3. I think the B3 is just a shade lighter. There is a 70-71 Cuda that is a one and one in this color combo. It is a black body and B5 . . . or B3 interior. It is just an eye catching color combo.

 

cool...you've got a message!
Hope you're doing well & can get back on your build soon