Hey guys, this is my first real post other than the intro and I would like some help with a little project I'm looking to start up. I have some sketches drawn up of the 27 T-Bucket that I am just itching to build. In the past I have fixed up many cars for my family but none were older than a 1984 Ford van. I'm just looking for some ***istance with the little things. My general idea so far is to have a 27 body and chasis, the pick up bed in the back is gonna be custom made so I can have a 3-3.5 foot long bed in the back (Model A style), and for the engine..... V8 Flatty. If there are any experts or weekenders like me with some tips or advise please share. I'm gonna clean up my sketches and post them soon if anyone wants to see the madness.
sounds like a great plan. in all honesty, the best advice i can give you is to search, search and search. then when you think you have got it, search some more. there are about a million things you're going to run into along the way, and this site has the answer for every question you'll come up with, i can promise you that. i say just start ripping into it, dive in head first and tear it up. good luck.
27 roadster truck much better than a t bucket you have little more leg room .Model a or 2x4 tube frame how is it gonna sit low or high boy. Look at other cars most guys will let you measure their frames .Split bones or raduis rods buggie springs or bags ,coilovers maybe an option.Wheelbase,rake and profile is what makes them look cool. Start a s**** book pictures magazines articles . Talk to people most love to talk about their cars .Make drawings formulate a plan dont over complicate it keep it safe .Swapmeets fleebay this forums cl***ified ads .Watch your money.Details make the car keep it yours. Get it rolling first then it will start to fall in place AND DONT GET BOGGED DOWN WITH THE SET BACKS JUST ASK FOR HELP!!!!
If this is your first full-on build, keep it SIMPLE. You can learn as you go. Consider buying someone else's stalled project, and finishing it the way you want. Above all else, make a plan. Changes in mid-project are expensive and take more time. If at all possible, get your project running as soon as possible. This will help keep you from getting bored and frustrated. Good luck, and keep asking questions.
Many many thanks to all that have posted so far. To answer a few questions.... This has been in planning for 2 years now. I have searched and searched and I think I have just about every Model T and A parts catalog ever made. I am an artist so I have all the major things planned out and on paper and soon to be sculpted as a 30 inch model of my ideas. I have planned to lengthen the front a bit to fit my 6'3" body. Ride hight is gonna be moderate: not a highboy but just enough clearance to get over the local speedbumps. Suspention was one thing I was up in the air about. I like the thought of the adjustable ride hight of bags but I have never had a set and wasn't sure of ride quality if I have some weight in the back. I was gonna build my own frame 2x4 that is simple like the standard T frame with a 4-5" drop in the back so I can use 18x8 wheels in the back and 16x5or6 in the front. This is not my first build or custom but those were suburbans and trucks and I wasn't starting from scratch. Please keep the ideas coming.....
It really doesn't matter what you run for suspension in the rear of a t-bucket. They're not heavy enough to make it work anyway!
I figured the weight would be minimal in the back end. Is there a suspention that would be best to keep it on the road or do I need a few sand bags? The main reason is that I am designing it to be my daily driver.
Alright here they are... the rough sketches of my T-Bucket concept. The sketch is on 17x14 paper so i had to post it as 4 pics. Questions and comments are welcomed!http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=8723&pictureid=84117 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=8723&pictureid=84118 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=8723&pictureid=84119 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=8723&pictureid=84120
Well the sketch is rough (start to finish: 30min). Where do you mean the body kicking up? If you mean the back then thats the gas tank. 17+ gallons and no horrible steel cylinder to fill the bed. Or do you mean the roll bar?
The front fenders in your sketch look like 1928-29 fenders. If you like the look of them I'd just put a 26-27 Roadster body on an A frame with 28-29 fenders. It has been done in the past and really looks nice. For a first time build that would work well and there are examples out there to look at for ideas.
The fenders are going to be custom. They might end up looking like a late T early A cross. I like the look of the full fender but I doubt I'd be able to stuff an 18x8 under a stock rear fender and be able to stuff a 16x6 under the front and be able to make a 90 deg turn in a single lane. Plus, I want this car to be mine. The more parts I hand fab the happier I will be. the 27 T is the basic idea. The fun is making the mods look like they belonged there.
I'd move the rear axle back and center it with the bed. A little more wheelbase is not a bad thing. Here is a pic of my 27 shell minus the firewall. Tha bed is a chopped model a. Hope this helps a little.
Thanks Phil. For some reason I wasn't even thinking about that. I think I could move it back some but having it centered may be pushing it.....
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