Projects The bucket of ugly! A de-uglifying thread...

Just an aftermarket tube axle with Chevy spindles with stock steering arms reversed to put the tie rod forward and bent outward to retain ackerman. Not exactly pretty; but should work; maybe some bump steer from the difference between wishbone and drag link length.

 

FYI , that red T appears to be a Total Performance kit.... the axle , spindles , steering arms wee their own manufature & a cross between chevy & econoline design... the drag link, radius rod setup wasplanned to pretty much eliminate bumpsteer.. the layback windshield posts were exclusive to TP.......I agree that the fenders are butt-ugly but again , tp stuff....... before I built my T 20 years ago , I ordered thier plans, ended up using some of thier ideas , some from CCR , & some stuff the way I wanted it.....just alittle info,.......
dave

 

I agree. Total Performance was a true leader in mass-merchandise street rod kit cars and some were completed in such a classy way as to be truly attractive. Others, unfortunately, were not. Total opened the hobby to many who wanted to build their own car but for whatever reason were unable to do so without help. Total provided that help, but left the final "look" up to the individual. They led the way with a great marketing program to support this effort. Oh...and Total Performance also had their stealth promotion weapon: Gina Lauria.

 

I saw that red T the first day on my way to Bldg. A to see Tim. Against my better judgement I did stop for a quick look. The owners were still setting up the display. I'm sure they thought I stopped because I liked it. I didn't take a picture just because of that. I didn't want to encourage them. I saw right away it was a bolt together KIT and your right dad I've seen some pretty good looking kit kars. This wasn't one of them. You know dad I've agreed with your last few posts. Don't know why that disturbs me. Your no fun lately.
Talked to a Canadian on the bus one trip. He said it cost him $280 to exchange $1,000 Canadian. Still he wasn't complaining much as he had bought some Buick muscle car bumpers and said the shipping would have cost more.
Again it cost me about $500 in motorhome gas for the roundtrip from Clearlake Ca. Money well spent as far as I'm concerned.
Taking a Hamb friendly car to club lunch tomorrow. Will park it next to the new to me $200 Unfriendly stepside and take a photo. Guy told me yesterday as I was bolting on the tow bar brackets. "I just want it out of here". He said it's been sitting in his front yard for eight years. We have an "Association" with rules in our neighborhood. No abandoned cars. Thinking it looks good enough that it wasn't noticed. Back tires still holding air. Have to take the flat cracked fronts off today and get them exchanged for better ones just to tow it the two blocks to my house.

Gary

 

I most confess that despite that care being ugly, it still could do with some de-uglifying. It's not unsaveable, and I actually like some of the stuff on that car. The more I look at it the more nice things I see hidden in a sea of ugly.

Take a look at headlights and the stands, I think that are a little in the tall side, but looks great in there own right.
I like the windshield. Not a great fan of the the disc brakes, and I plain dislikes the wheels and fenders.
And that axle looks like it needs to be under a full fendered car. And it's looks like a very long wheelbase, not my thing. And to much red, and to red. But that I can live with, but can't love it.
Like he spring perch cover, but need louvers [emoji12]

 

I don't usually post on this thread, as the only T-bucket I owned was the poster child for late 60's - early 70's Fad Ts, but I do like to read whats going on here.
I just want to ask a question about the red T pictured above. It may be the photo or my poor eyes, but it looks tome that the tube axle has little to no camber built in and looks to have negative caster, with the king pins actually leaning forward. this could be why it would be a handful to drive. Watcha think?

Mick

 

Kinda looks like a spider from the front

 

You know mick I think they have that KIT stuff pretty figured out. Probably pretty drivable.

 

It wouldn't take much to make that red T presentable, swap out the front end and wheels, loose those fenders and shorten up the frame a little. From the radiator back it looks good and with some detailing on the SBC it should look cool.
Jeremy

 

Mick, I suspect it's the camera lens, playing with your alignment good sense, that's all.

 

It was a standard lens on the camera, he was running the toe out, his reason was it stopped the front end from hopping when he turned corners. Ackerman?? The drag link was a good 12" longer than the radius rod and went from 4" below the frame uphill to the steering arm.

 

I actually plotted that steering setup w/cad & it works very well , I didn't use it because it made the steering column too vertical.... AFA as toe -out , many of us have found 1/16 to work well for curing "death wobble"[not mine-thankfully] but others have had good luck with it...
dave

 

I will add my opinion of that "red " T as we all appear to have a view on it. I'm with Gary here, it is too ugly, and would be in the acute high dependence unit of the Hot Rod Hospital for several months if I had my way. The whole proportions are wrong for a kick off, resulting in a new frame, the rear axle is up too close to the body, one could run a herd of buffalo on the spare acreage from the radiator forward, resulting in a new frame. Items for the skip bin would be the guards,( fenders ) the screen posts that are almost asleep due to lending back too far, the wheels and tyres, the complete front end, sorry but I like my I beam axles, the steering column and the position of the steering box, which again comes back to the frame and the complete set up.
No, I think the gentleman would have to drop the price down to under a $1000.00 for me to even think about purchasing that car as I would end up only using the engine, trans., diff, body and then some of the basic stuff to rebuild that car.
I know, I'm a hard arsehole to keep happy.

 

Marc? You okay there fella? I know that it isn`t 5 Oclock yet where you are, and I know that it`s still Monday there as well, but you are a little harsh today......


Actually, you are right on the money......

On another note.....Having met Gary (Jalopy 45) in person, I am now struck by how similar his avatar is to him in real life......

 

Paul, in Marc's defence, it was 11am and its Wednesday,
Jeremy

 

Hell, did I type that then.... well my day did deteriorate even more then the shit morning I had enjoyed...not.

Sorry guys, just having a bad one but I do stand by what I said and this thread is about de-uglifying a T Roadster. that one just needs more help then Chips one sadly.

 

No disagreement there, Whip! In fact looking at the trailer, it appears to be a two cooler date (apparently one just wasn't enough to make it not ugly!)

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Funny you should mention the trailer as I looked hard at that thing too and can't decide if the bar stool is attached to the trailer or what ? Anyway, if one was to be sitting on that stool, one had a long way down to reach for the next cold one. The other bin may be a heated one to keep Mothers cup of tea hot.

 

Red T,has most ugly pitman****, pitman arm facing down in center of frame at or possibley below other things around it=can get hit by big bump or road crap,driveway hump ect., being that its at center between front an rear wheels in a very bad spot were if it dose get hit by anything your car makes a hard out of control right turn.=something that should not be done/needs to be higher then things near it and above scrubline. If your rod has anything like that,fix it,evern if it adds some bump steer to raze steeringbox up,thats better then crashing into something to your right hard. At the lest should have saftyskid below arm

 

On a more serious note though, if that T Bird parked beside it was white, I would hang around that T just to see if a gorgeous blonde lady drove it....

 

Okay, I know I have a major cock up to mend on my car and steering, it is on the wrong side, but why don't you guys over there use the small steering boxes mounted on the frame down by the engine and then use universals to link up with the steering column ? The oil filter is the only thing you have to get around so should be easier then on my engine with the starter. The only photo I have at the moment showing the position of my steering box.

 

Yeah, it is hard to see even after clicking on the picture to go to big size. It is painted black like the frame but you can see how the pitman arm is short and hangs down only a wee bit. I used a small box from a Suzuki Carry Van which I don't know if you people were lucky enough to have over there. I wonder though at how small is the Vega boxes that are commonly used and why they can't be mounted similar to how mine is done.

 

Okay guys if anybody is still interested a HAMB friendly photo of my latest purchase. Took the roadster to Club lunch today. The front tires were flat and cracked and wouldn't take air. I took them off and brought them home, laid them in my driveway and thought I'd give it a shot and see if they would blow up. Inflated right up and held the air overnight. All I can think is on the ground they broke the bead and when the weight was off it sealed again. Anyway I'll take them back over, mount them and drag it home tomorrow. If I can get it registered it might be a great score for $200. It has three Western Tornado wheels. I need to find another. Oops not HAMB friendly. Sorry.
Gary

 

You know Gary,that picture has raised another question from me. Where is your steering box mounted, what make is it, does it have a solid shaft to the steering wheel ( like the VW Kombi vans ) ??? Okay,that is more than one question but looking at your car from this angle, it looks as if the box could be tucked up into the floor area as the tie rod is level with the ground almost but is level with your radius arms. Nice picture of your Roadster though and the truck parked under the tree looks like a keeper too.

 

Wow whip I can't believe I went right to it. Old chrome Ross steering box a friend gave me because he knew my roadster needed it. Sits on top of frame and I had the upholstery guy put the carpet around it for all who know what they are looking at to see. Few know fewer care what it is. I don't know why you guys think they need to have an almost horizontal steering and clog up the engine compartment and foot space with it.

 

Great looking OT pickup there Gary. I always liked those trucks. Great score at $200. What size western vector? The biggest local (to me) swap of the year is coming up in a couple weeks, I'll keep an eye out.

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Brad they are 15x 7or8 Chevy truck 5on5 but if anything get a #. I've found some on egay already they aren't really hard to come by. Just fun to find an old vehicle and get it all worked out.
Gary

 

Yeah, probably pretty common yet, and likely not big $. And agreed, I love the honeymoon phase of new old car ownership. Fixing all the stuff that doesnt work, or work right, making it run good, all that stuff. If youve had no luck on a wheel in the next coupla weeks, lemme know

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good score on the truck ( you coulda parked the roadster back a bit) any old vehicle that gets ya blood pumping is always

 

And just a note, I can't believe I'm zooming in on a pic of one of coolest, most period roadsters existent, and looking around it to get a better look at a brown mid 70's Chebby pickmup. Shoot me now, I believe is 3wlarry's calling card.

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