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

Okay....... The more I look at those two pics, the more a 58" rear end seems to be the choice. All CCR did was reverse the RR and shock bracket locations. Maybe they even moved theirs an inch further out.

Thanks guys. I'll measure my frame width to make sure.

 

Is that WMS to WMS? Can an 1 1/2" make THAT much difference?


Yea....... I know, "That's what SHE said."

 

Yes, that is from wheel mounting flange to flange including brake drums. Makes a nice width, not too wide and keeps the wheels and tires in nicely.
A good track width when compared to the 48" dropped front axle when running the usual small front and big rear tires.
I always think it looks odd when the rear tires are 3 or 4" off from the body, looks too wide to me.
The 56.5 " is a standard Winters width for the V8 Nostalgia quick change, not special order or anything like that.

 

Thanks, Blue. I was going to ask you your front axle width, because bad tracking would bug me to no end. Thanks again.

 

I ran a 60" wide 9 inch in my first car. Way too wide. Way too much axle tube showing.

I have a 54" S10 rear in this one, and I really like the way it sucks the tires in. However, it also limits the spread of your ladder bar mounts and spring mounts. 56" would be a good compromise. Hell, 58" would look fine too.

56" is a pretty standard aftermarket housing width with a centered pumpkin.

 

I found out my stretched body is 48" wide, compared to a standard body at 45". That would explain CCR's axle width being 58". 60" would surely be too wide and 56" would tuck the tires in too much. Another figure to toss in the equation is wheel back spacing. It's calculator time. There's a guy on tbucketeers, who lives near Houston. He's running my same setup. I'll see if I can make arrangements to see his car and get measurements.

I'll feel like Ivo, sneaking a look at Norms car.

 

Just a quick picture from a couple of weeks ago, when Panda and I led a small charity cruise here in Phoenix.

More importantly, the rear end under my car is 60" wheel mount to wheel mount. The rear wheels are 8 1/2" Americans with 3 1/2" backspace.

 

When I built the bed for my RPU I started with a reproduction model A tailgate and then narrowed it 4" to better fit the back of the T body that I had created from the touring cowl and doors.
With the 56.5" winters it has come together nicely.
My rear wheels are 15X8 steel smoothies with 4" backspacing.
I also have a set of American Racing salt flats, same size and back space.
Good idea on getting a look at another car built using your planned body etc., Fred.
Then you will know for sure what to do based on how you like what you see.
Larry.

 

You're right on that, Blue. And I can see how a whole set of numbers helped your decision on rear end width. I'm going to contact this guy and do an "Ivo", on his T.

By the way, is there ANY angle your car DOESN'T look cool?

 

Thanks, Chip, on helping to validate the back space figure that I had neglected to include in the equation. Proper back spacing would be the cure for an axle that, at first, might be too wide or not wide enough.

 

Okay, it's set. This Saturday, I become Ivo. Only, I was invited. Did Norm ever forgive Ivo for that? They were hot rodders, so I'm sure it was a cool thing. I'll post pics in my album. Stuff I feel we all can use, I'll post here.

 

Ok, time to stir things up a little bit in here. I know it is neither a t-bucket nor a Ford, but I'm going to post it here anyway. Bought this little gem from Hitchhiker, up in Seattle. Should be arriving here in another week or so. Front half is the front of a Dodge Brothers touring car (somewhere between 1919-1921 or so), and the back half is a cut down Ford model T pickup bed. I have already found a VERY nice 1919 Dodge Brothers frame, with a visible serial number still stamped into the cross member, so I can title the whole pile! Let the games begin.

 

Hey, Chip...does Roy still have that Dodge roadster body?

 

How cool would it be to have a street-legal version of this. I wish I had a lot of money........

 

Any updates, Chip?

 

Yes, well kinda. He's about to take the whole mess over to a friend that owes him a frame to get it built. That changes from day to day. Do you want me to ask?

 

Not really. The last year has been nothing but work on everybody else's stuff. The last thing I snuck in for me was the upper windshield chop. I do have my Buick aluminum drums and F-2 brakes ready to go in the next week or two, so I'll post that when it happens.

 

I have a excellent 1919 Dodge touring, its had a really nice job of shortening the rear doors out of it. Hard to tell it wasn't made that way from factory.
Looks a lot like a "T" for fat guys,
Body,doors, firewall, and W.S. post.
$ 3,500.00 cash. Unadvertised, It just occurred to me: I will probably never do anything with it.

 

Tried out a friends CCR stretched body. He sent me a message on the Tbucketeers forum and invited me over to get some measurements for bracket placement and just to check out the body. In this pic, I have my arms bent a little more than I'll probably do on my build, but my main concern was fit. The seat riser is 4 1/2" tall and and angled down in the back to the floor. I'll probably raise the rear of my seat about 2". This will still leave me room for a small fuse box. But if there's not enough room, I'll make a swing down fuse panel and mount it under the dash. CCR's dash is 3" longer than a standard body, so there's a lot of room for that option. My legs are fully extended. When I install my brake and gas peddle, my legs will be slightly bent.

Look at that "determined" stare. Am I serious or what?



Notice the optional door and the metal bracing which attaches it. The bracing goes across the floor to also form the front edge of the seat base, around the door and under the dash. In this pic, my arms are a little further forward. More pics in my album.

 

You look Ivo-ish, there....

 

Looks like you will fit fine there Fred. I'm 5' 9" and in my RPU with the extra 4" I added behind the doors I fit nicely.

That along with the proper toe board angle and it's actually great. My bomber seats are right on the floor and my seat cushions are 4" thick.

My buddies stock length RPU is too cramped for me. It fits him perfectly as he's about 6" shorter than me.
This car inspired me, I love riding in it.

 

Cool. As mine is moving along, I've had time to dwell on a few things. Last week, I was day dreaming about a drum set up all around. So, I'm doing what a person on a budget does, research. I'll be waiting to see your work on the Buick drums.

The last car I had with drums on the front was a '66 Mustang back in the early 80's and I hated it. So my main concern is stopping power for a lite car with a bit of power.

 

I wish I had pics of me crawling around with a tape measure, pad and pen. I felt "Ivo-ish".

 

Blue, what's that body colored rail running underneath the frame? That's a beaut for sure.

 

All the more reason for me to get off my ass and get my Buick drums on! The F-1 stoppers on my car now will haul this little thing down faster than really need be already, another inch of brake should be better still.

 

Hey Fred, when Dave built the car he wanted to incorporate the mounts for his hairpins and added the rails using square tubing to add a space frame look to the rectangular tube frame.
He just sort of put it together one day and it looked good so he went with it.
I like it, it adds a unique touch.
You can see the ceramic coated exhaust too.
That little car is full of innovative stuff and really nicely built.
It moves along really well too with the 351 W and C4 power.

 

That's a wooden bed too, right?

Steve

 

Good eye Steve. Dave was more comfortable working with wood so he built the box from wood. He works with wood as a hobby and builds some neat stuff.
His cars are all well built.
Looking at the box it has a super smooth resin coating before the paint was put on and it is finished very nicely.
Fit finish and detail is really first class.

 

I think this thread is still wayyy off course from Chips initial slant of EARLY style T's. While that orange 26/7 looks well built is is 18o off what Chip started this thread for.

 

Here we go again. Read back a few pages, we have already beat that dead horse repeatedly. And he refused to get up and run.
This thread has grown to be far more than what it started out to be and most everyone has accepted that and we are all having fun.
Early on Chip said he was totally fine with the direction of his thread.
Why do I feel like I'm repeating myself ?