283 is a great little engine, and it's probably the commonly thought of as "traditional". 400.00 is a good price if it's a usable runner, but I would consider it too high priced out here. My last one came to me for free, and later this summer I'll have another I'm sure for the same price. It all comes down to what your comfortable paying. T FeverFred brings up another point: yes small Fords are a great engine, as long as you buy them in tandem with the trans you intend to use and every single accessory attached. I personally don't like they way they look in an open engine car, but from time to time I see a car that changes that. The small block Chev to my mind just looks "righter" in a T-bucket. That said, the roller I posted on your other thread was equipped with a Plymouth 318 that was to be dressed up to look like a first year 273. I had it and the exercise was to use up stuff collected in roller package. The Chevy has more stuff available as far as dress up stuff due to it's 8-10 year longer run that spanned from '55 into some point in the nineties. The early speed stuff is common and affordable because the engines were considered hot rod material the day they became available to the public.
Yeah I have found two 283s one was just a short block the other a running motor in truck that I can hear run. I love Mopars and I have found two 383 motors the one runs the other doesnt but it will turn over by hand. Those both have the 727 trans with them. I think a 440 would be crazy wild in one! I am a member over there but not on there as much. I will look him later when I get on and get started on this build. I just wish I was done with school and back to work because I would be building right now. I did stand up a couple of times and man getting on that stage on open mic night is tough lol. So tell me this everyone is I would go small block will that help with my trans tunnel? Would it help with giving me a little bit more room in the interior of the car?
Thank you and good point on parts being out there. I can find some Ford stuff but as of late not as much. I would like to find some vintage speed parts stuff. What trans would bolt to a 283? I'm guessing it would be the same 350 but maybe a different bell housing?
Same 350. The small block trans pattern, for that matter the big block, the sixes, the fours and everything but modern Chevs and Corvairs used the same trans case. Simple. The Ford C4 is a bit more pe***, but keeping your trans tunnel close to the trans will make all the difference in the world with interior room with any trans.
Heres the Hot Rod article. If you are going "period" and using a 283, why not a 3 speed stick? Cheap as dirt, and almost as common. A light car wont really miss the extra gear. I really find it hard to get excited about the S-10 rear. I get what Chip is saying, easy to find, the right width, really cheap( like in the way **** from Wal-Mart is "really cheap") But in a T, its hanging out there for all to see, and it really IS a ****py little rear. How about an early drop-out pumpkin ten bolt? Not real hard to find or expensive, and strong enough for a light T with a 283.
Coronet and I have talked a bit in the past, and he is in an area and situation where he is having a hard time locating even stuff like a S10 rear. I agree completely with that being a not so spectacular looking rear end, but the truth is it won't be a complete focal point under a turtle deck on a bucket. It also doesn't look too different than the early Merc, Lincoln, and Ford truck rear ends that were once common under these cars, and it's the right width too. I'd personally use an early Ford, 'cause I have three of them laying around, but that's not the case here. Keep it simple, ya know!
I saw a bucket with a flat floor and I have no clue in how they did it. Ok so same trans then. That is good to know and filing it away now. How did Gene Chan get this stance? I think that is one of the next things I really need to understand as well. I like the stance of this and I also like not being raked up high in the rear. Tell me about the ten bolt? I take that is from a Chevy correct? I found an 8 3/4 rear from two Mopars (the guy with the 383s) one is in a 67 Fury I think and the other is a 66 New Yorker. Also wont the turtle deck be covering the rear?
I would guess that the kick on the frame rails is right at about 6" inches, maybe seven. I wrote down the specs on mine on my shop door, but that was about eight years ago and my nephew was testing a paint gun's spray pattern and shot over them. My car sat at about the same stance as his.
Very true on that. I found an S10 2wd truck that was a parts truck. The guy was selling parts. I asked about the rear with the drums and I was told $350 for it. We used to have some really good yard here but most have clossed there doors and if guys are parting stuff are asking high dollar. The price the guy had on it I'm not far away from having a new 9 inch Ford rear. I did find and lost the add but I think it has been reposted a Ford 9 inch rear out of a 71-74 Mustang. Oh and the three speed was mentioned I thought about that and I thought it about it hard. I had a stroke a few years ago that has left with me a lot of muscle weakness. I have trouble with shifting and holding a clutch in for a peroid of time. Like light to light gets me fast. I had a 96 LT4 Corvette that would have been a fun car to toy around in but the clutch killed me so I sold it and moved on. I started looking around back in my old world of Mopar muscle cars and if I hadn't been told about the HAMB after I mentioned I like T Buckets I would still be looking. I found my next and I think my last project and it will be done with my dad. We both wanted to do one last car together and my R/T was to be that car but as fate would have it I got sick. I'm also very excited to do a Bucket. I think it is one of the first Hot Rods I remember seeing at the local shows that just drew me in.
I think the best thing to do is get the body and deck then the motor and trans and build the frame around all that. I have a shop or two in town one was just in Hot Rod magazine building a 55 chevy I think the other guy said he has built a lot of T's and said he would love to help me build the frame.
I forgot to add thanks for posting those pics. What year was the magazien again? Man that right there is just an awesome looking T and I'm in LOVE!
Hey, if you have an 8 3/4, HELL YES, use that! Great rear, looks nice, broad ratio selection, posi's are all over the place, and the axles are tapered, so you can narrow it without having to shell out for axles. Yes, the ten bolt I am refering to was found in chevies from '55-'63. They were REALLY common under hot rods from the early sixties on, probably the most popular choice to replace the banjo, with the pre '56 Olds rear running a close second, and they look nice. The only drawback with the chevy rear is posi-tracs can be expensive.
Right, Chip...at least 6" kickup, more like 7". (I have one on my frame jig right now...) Front has to have a high mount if using an un-dropped '37 V860 axle...(like the Chan car) As for the ******, 3 speed Chev would be nice, as Coronet is a thin guy. (the Hurst floorshift linkage will put the stick close to his right hip!) There was once a ****** case made by Ansen...it was an aluminum Chevy 3 speed case, cast with an open top that took a '38 Chev pickup shift tower and stick! HRM did a writeup, a cool new Drag race advantage for shoebox Chevs...Saw one at San Gabriel drags, 1959...saw another for sale (used) at Quincy Automotive. Those things were so scarce it was probably the same one...Best ****** I ever saw for a bucket...at the time... My favorite trans is the '68 Ford 3 speed toploader. Jeep shift tower, trans bolts to the Chevy bellhousing with a flat plate adaptor. (or redrill the housing at the mounting bolts and front bearing flange bore) Trans is small, stick is tall; Bolt it in and you've got it all! (Falcon Humor??? Falcon Eh!) Couldn't resist...
Agree 100% with Mike about the ford 3 speed, with or without the jeep top plate, and the ford unit is alot tougher than the chevy. Just the chevy is easier if you are using a 283. Just hunt up an old synchro-lok and Milty's yer uncle...
Yeah the price for the motor, trans and rear on none running motor is 350 and on the one with the running motor it is 450 dropped off at my house. The guy is a farmer and right now he is really busy and told me when I'm ready he is sure they will be there. Yeah when the guy told me the price I was shocked. The truck was either wrecked or blown motor cant remember now. He still has it and its not going any where. Thanks for the info and I wish I could put a stick in it. Tell me what you mean on this "Front has to have a high mount if using an un-dropped '37 V860 axle" I'm so new and it may sound like a crazy question but I have to ask it. Also the chan car is it using a 7" kick up in the rear?
Gene Chan, was a good friend of mine, he p***ed away about 10 years ago. His brother Vince has some of his Vettes and is buiding a really cool C-Cab T. The T-Bucket that Gene had was painted by Larry Watson, He and his brother Vince had several cars painted by Watson in the 60's and 70's. I have a really cool framed picture of Gene in the T-Bucket that his brother Vince gave to me. Gene built several cars and bikes over the years, and they all had some good "eyeball" going for them. I'm sure Vince will be very proud when I tell him that Hamber's are talking about Gene's "T". I am sure Vince could answer the questions about the build of the car. Pm me and I can get you in contact with Vince Chan, he loves to talk about Cars!
Thank you Sandord&son and I'm very sorry to hear about Gene's p***ing. I would love to see the other stuff that he and his brother built over the years. I have been wanting to do a post about his T for a while now and I just had the time to do so today. Again thank you and I will pm you. It is really cool when you see these cars that have been in magazines and than get to talk to people who either saw them in real life and knew the builder. I wish there was a book or books out there that just put all the well known cars to the less known but known cars and builders in it. That would be an awesome Hot Rod history book.
Steering box looks mighty familiar to ME.....34 Chevy.....and I wonder what that front suicide perch looks like....hhhmmmm?? As far as rear diff goes, if you cant find the Merc rear end, the Dana 44 I have is same width as the front axle at the wheel mounting surfaces, 11"x1 3/4" drums and 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern ta-boot (1971 International Scout). This lil car is just *****in. And so do-able!!!
...oh and for every dollar I spent, I would put a dollar aside for the Hemi....almost a must on this lil thing without a hood.
Beat me to it, I've been at work all afternoon. I did call a good friend of mine who was connected to Gene through Corvettes and said he thinks the T is still with the family.
That would be very cool if the Bucket is still out there. Now I have a qeustion. Did this car to the big shows back in the day or was it just built and driven on the streets and someone saw it and put in the magazines? To me the cars back in the day that got into magazine seem like they were built for show and go. I know a lot of cars in magazines to day are built for show and never go. I would love to hear the history on it and I hope to very soon. It would really be cool to hear from guys who saw on the streets back then as well. If only we had a time machine!
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