Projects The 23T project is well underway!!

Hello there folks,
Well with the new season of Miami ink started I've been able to start having time and funds to finish the T Bucket. You might notice the front suspention is not a normal T Bucket, nor much of anything else for that matter, Kind of a one off system that works great. Cord newman is the Welder, builder, here is the frame as it sits today 10/2006. More to come as the weeks go by, and we're planning on driving this thing to the turkey Rod Run on Thanksgiving weekend.
Ozzie

 

looks *****in

 

Very cool, good to see another Florida HotRod going togather.
Best of luck on making the Turkey Rod Run.
Be sure and post a completed picture before you go so we can say Hi.

 

Well it's 15 days later and tonight the Brake lines were started and should be done along with the Fuel lines tomorrow night, and more sanding on the body. Notice how it's deeper than a normal T Bucket body.We raised the sides to match the top of the dash, this way when sitting in it ( 6'0/210lbs) you won't see the top of my knees at all, we lowered the floor and the whole thing is framed in square steel tubing, then gl***ed, then covered in plywood, then gl***ed again. The body you see here now weighs 150 lbs. We also made the doors wider, steel framed and re-enforced, those will be suicide, hopefully hung by weeks end.
Ozzie

 

Well, another week and the stainless brake lines are run but not plumbed, I got nice Blue AN fittings for them, but realized those are aluminum and I want to prevent any future corrosion between the aluminum fittings and the steel lines, so stainless ones were ordered and should be here thursday. The Motor was installed along with the powerglide, correct length stainless braided front brake lines were installed. Calipers painted, Front rims arrived and those were painted, Tires for the front arrived and those will be mounted a little bit more of the dirty work has been done in an effort to keep them nice and new.. The frame is all coming together. We or better said I missplaced the Electric Fuel pump and found it only moments ago and will install it tomorrow. The tips for the braided Fuel line will be stripped of their anodizing with easy off oven cleaner and left in a sort of stainless brushed look, so that we don't have that many colors everywhere. Lots more changed should be done by friday night. We're on a race, a timeline if you will to make it to the Turkey Rod run in this car... Let's see!!!

 

the body looks good with the sides raised up. what are those headlights from they are pretty neat.

 

You know Lots of folks have told me they love the headlights, I still don't know exactly where they're from. They were like that on there when I bought it. but not in the gold/chrome scheme. I had the rings and the top crests gold plated and the buckets chromed in like 1993. Does anyone out here know where they're from?
Here is a better picture of the headlights...

Ozzie

 

So what type rims and tires will you use ? Painted sounds interessting to me, any pics of these and ... I spot some whitewalltires in one of your pics, will you use them for this project ?
/ primerkid

 

On this project I'll be using Wheelvintiques 15x6 corvette steel rims on the front, Painted red with Chrome beauty rings and Script Ford logo caps. The tires you see are the Diamond Back Radials that will go on here in 205/70/15 ( I think, I seem to have forgotten what I ordered, but the overall height of the tires up front are 26.5" and cross section is 8" and tread width is 5.80 with a 2.5" white wall.
For the back it will have the same style Rallye corvette steel rims in a 17x9 size, with the backspacing being 6" so that the rims and tires swallow some of that super long 55 chevy rear end I'm using. The rea tires will also be radials from Diamondback, and those will be 29" tall overall with a cross section of 11 inches and a tread width of 9" with the same 2.5" white wall. same beauty ring and same red paint with the center logo cap. Pictures of this on the frame next week. We're racing to be ready for primer by the weekend, and hang the suicide doors during the weekend. plumbing all the brake lines and fuel lines in the meantime when some of the fittings come in at Little Joe's Rod Shop in Margate. Also plumbing the braided lines from the ****** cooler to the Powerglide.

 

OK, Late night November 15th, and here is what we got so far. We plumbed the rear brake lines, Decided to go with Braided lines in the back to a clip under the frame rails where the hard stainless lines attach. Then we got the stainless ****** cooler lines with the curved AN fittings, Dropped the engine and ****** in again, found a stripped bolt for the thermostat housing will not come off even with heat and a few good builders trying it. So that old manifold will be up on the HAMB for free Just shipping in a few days.. Getting an Edelbrock Torker 2 on there and some sort of Chrome bowled Holley or maybe it's the Shiny Zinc one 600 cfm, not sure what Cord will get at the store when he goes, I trust him, he knows what he's doing. Finally clear coated the painted rims for the front, and mounted the tires on and the beauty rings and the caps, AMAZING!!!! look, Got the brake lines all plumbed with fittings everywhere, adding the brake valve next to the brake master culiner tomorrow and re-installing the top links on the front 4 link set up. Wait till you all see what was designed to make the front shocks work. The top mounting brackets were bought from Total performance but there was no way to mount the bottom of the shock anywhere, so the pictures will show you in the next few days what was done. I think it's a first in t Bucket suspention, should work great, the trials next week will tell. The hi Flow Water pimp was painted gray and installed. Tomorrow the intake and carb. here are the pics from today.

 

Well we got the rear rims and painted those today and clear coated them front and back. Tomorrow we'll mount the beauty rings and that's where they'll stay until I get the Wide Whites for them next week, probably a day before we leave for the Turkey Rod Run. Today we got the edelbrock torker 2 manifold, the Holley 750 CFM Va***m secondary Manual Choke carb, the lokar linkage, a new HEI distributor, new 8mm wires, plugs, Chrome Tuff one wire Alternator, the chrome brackets. Connected the Braided ****** cooler lines. and continued to work on the brake lines.. appears that we've gone thru 4 sets of flaring tool kits cause they last about 2 fittings on the stainless line before having the line just slip on thru, the line is too hard. So Cord is making all the lines and taking them to a hydraulic place with me tomorrow to have them flare the ends, and we'll just bring em back and install them, and we should have a pressurized 4 wheel disc system by tomorrow night. The Transmission was removed at about 10 pm to clear it along with a few other parts that have to be cleared.. Here are the pics, and one of the pics is what the T Bucket would look like if it were a Monster 4x4!

 

I bet it would be hard to steer with the 4x4 tires! LOL

 

one more thing , the bucket is looking awesome, by the way. I have always wanted to put together a simple bare bones bucket, to many projects to little time.

 

Only 5 full days left before we leave for the Turkey Rod Run on Friday early in the day. the last day will be wiring and testing, but from now till then there has got to be a bunch of things finished. The Body needs to be smoothed out, and get it ready for primer... Roy Newman is doing that along with his son Cord tomorrow and a bit on Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon, should be ready for black primer on Wednesday night, install it on the frame and add the most simple of gauges ( oil and temp) for the drive to daytona. Wire up the back and front lights and turn signals. Install the steering column, and make sure the suicide doors latch properly. The convertible top wil not be on for this trip, but a tarp will have to do if it starts to rain during the run. Hopefully the side windshield stantions will be ready for gl*** on tuesday and make sure it's all good for the drive. Today saw the completion of the brake lines front and back and the brake proportioning valve. The engine starts everytime now, ****** seems to be working fine. Engine , radiator and pump hold water just finem so that's all good. Electric fan has to be wired. Grill shell has to be installed and primered back like the rest of the car wil be for this run. The frame really is something amazing, the work on it is incredible the suspension design and the way it's all coming together really sems to be perfect. The Gas tank was made and sealed yesterday so I have to let it cure until Monday to install it, so for now, a Fuel jug will work. Ordered the Driveshaft from Broward driveline and should be here on Tuesday. Can't wait to test drive it all when the body is down on the car. For an interior we'll make it as simple as possible for the run, We'll add seat bealts for 2, a big padded seat and a thin padded back support for the drive, the real interior will be made and installed when I get back on Monday. Here are some updated pictures as of tonight.

 

Looks great. Nothin wrong with that gas tank you got there now. Post a video if ya can on your test drive. Cant wait.

 

OK, Night of the 19th and we're getting closer, tomorrow will bring a new weekday full of open speed shops and stores for us to get the final things needed for the build. Today saw another 3 gallons of resin and several vials of hardener, plenty of different sized bolts, washers, nylon nuts, chrome bolts and nuts and fibergl*** rolls, we're all itchy but accomplished. Tank goes in tomorrow and the body gets final sanding and we start to install the doors and bearclaw latches. Am trying to sell my 1993 Super Range Rover 4x4 to cover the cost of buying something drivable at the Rod Run for my daily driver to drive back to Miami. We installed the top links of the front 4 link with the special lower shock mounts designed, made and welded, smoothed and painted. Check it out, I still need to cut off the excess bolt length but all tests show it will work very well. here are the most current pics from today at the shop.

 

Alrighty then, It's way into the night on Monday (already Tuesday) and here is where we stand.
Got the driveshaft today and the final fittings for the brakes, so that's done,bought all the lug nuts needed, better than the 1 per rim it had until this afternoon... it's a driving, stopping machine, the body was fiddled around with alot more today and the steering column was painted red today, The fat wide whites for the rear should be arriving either tuesday or wednesday, Big props to Robert at the White Wall candy store for the super rush on this. SO here are the updated pics from today, not much but hey. we're getting there.

 

For those of you who are going to be at the Turkey Rod Run. here is what my T will look like, We finished the frame and time ran out on us and help was skim thin the last 3 days. So we'll be driving a no door open header ( at least till we get to Total Performance for the turnouts they have sitting there for me.) wearing bomber goggles, maybe even helmets, And what's below is what we have so far. I'll add the HAMB Firewall plaque tomorrow before getting it all ready to leave on friday.
The whitewall tires for the back never made it, I am SOOOOO bummmed about that. But oh well, Maybe a miracle happens and I track down the UPS guy in the morning on Friday and get them early. I'm gonna talk my builder into waiting until afternoon to take off from down here. So swing by and say high if you see me and the No Door primer black T. The underside and engine is nice, but the wheels and body could have been finished a bit more, Next time.....

PS, Call me if your there 305-216-8395 we'll be there showing on Friday night/Saturday morning for sure.

 

Well, It's been Months Since the last 23T post, and Finally it's at Home. Albeit, still needing a bunch of things done, bolts tightened, interior, etc.., but the 4 correct wheels are there and it runs and drives, have to rewire, since that was done wrong and connect the E Brake lines, and replace some seals here and there, but the Newly built 1965 Vette 327 is really nice and runs great with the Turbo 350 ****** I got at the Turkey Rod Run when the Powerglide went out.
Here are some pics, I'll be dsriving it for a few days, and this weekend hopefully starting the hood.

Ozzie

 

I must be missing something... what isn't "Normal T Bucket" about the front suspension"



Mutt

 

Hi Mutt, The front suspension is a Mid 30's Ford, where the Spring is directly over the dropped axle, not behind like most T's the 4 link like the later Fords, and Unisteer not a steering box, Sort of a Half Rack and Pinion behind the axle and underneath, more like that on a 35 and up hotrod.
Very little Bump steer now, 1" play on the steering wheel, unlike 5-7" of play with the Vega steering box system.
Ozzie

 

Cool "T". What are those taillights from. They work.

 

Hey there Butch, Thanks for the kudos, The Taillights I bought at LittleJoe's Rod Shop. he had a bunch on the wall, and I just picked the ones I thought would work with the license plate holder/light.

 

WOW, I can't believe it's been almost 18 months since my last post about the T, well, I've been working, which is good!. Got the 50 shoebox driving well, discs up front, new rear shackles and a front sway bar from the donor car out back, and all things are pretty reliable with the 50, Now the model T has been neglected and hasn't had much for a bit, other than correcting the front angle and placement of the front shocks. That's all taken care of and now I needed to get some doors put on this.
Fellow Hamber Squigy was nice enough to offer to help, and I had every intention of getting the car up to him, but with his busy schedule and my job of never knowing where i'll be or for how long. I needed to find someone nearby who could work a few days, I'd take the car back, then bring it back, and so on.. I found just the guy, John Oliver. New York Native, lived in California for a bunch of years building bikes and started the car biz several years back. I sold a set of suicide hidden hinges to a guy on ebay and when I noticed he was in Miami, I delivered them to him . What a surprise!! to see the work that was going on at his shop. To make a long story short, Here are the pics of the car and what's been done in the last 3 weeks., Now when I brought it over, I had no doors whatsoever, and no rear hatch cover. I had the standard model t rectangular windshield and I wanted to fashion a 27 Chopped windshield and posts from speedway onto the car.... The rest of the story is told in pictures... The Car is on the fasttrack to being driven more and more this summer. Also the 32 shortened grill shell totally changes the car!

 

Got some more done on the car this past week. Finished the positioning of the windshield and posts. The majority of the drivers door was finished, the signal lights upfront were changed out to some side indicators from a ducati motorcycle, the front shell and insert were installed for fit., and the body primered black. Next week, the p***enger door gets finished, windhield gets gl*** and we'll drive it around for a few days to iron out any kinks that Will definitely arise.

 

Looks really good! I like your above axle front spring setup. I'm building another T and opted for that setup too. Thanks for the updates.

Any ideas yet for the interior?

 

Ok here another instalment of the updates, Just came back from the shop and here is what's been done.. The radiator support rods have been installed, a new support for the radiator itself has been made and installed with the slightest lean towards the back. More work on the back of the bucket was finished and this weekend might see it ***embled for driving and tuning before final ***embly and chroming of the chopped and narrowed windshield. Also threw in some pictures of a 37 chevy sedan and a 63 chevy impala wagon that's being worked on there.

 

Here it is today, The car is running and I'll be taking it home monday without the windshield gl*** to store it while the warehouse it's in gets re-arranged and cleaned up, then we'll get the finishing touches and the gl*** done. Next step is making the hood top and designing the paint scheme. Also will remove the square bead on the sides of the bed, but will leave the rear one around the license plate. Interior will follow. Then the top.

 

Here are some better shots of the car as it is today. Need some ideas of Paint.. Anyone? One color, two tone? Flake? number on the side?
PS. The rear will lower another inch by moving the coil overs to the bottom hole on the rear bracket. Also might be looking at another steering wheel in the next month or so. Something older. and a bit bigger.
I posted a picture of the bucket sans doors back in Nov 06. Am I moving in the right direction?

Ozzie

 

My Buddy chip brought me this DVD today and said, Put this on You Tube. So I watched it, and it was a re edited version of my last short video of the T. He had footage I didn't even remember him taking of the T driving on the street, on the highway, etc..

Here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl8cZobjxmY