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

"Late to the Party", I just checked out your build thread. Very impressive work!

 

I've always liked the wraparound seats in T-buckets, that Baja bench seat is close enough to work OK. I would never consider bomber seats unless it was a race car, but that is just me! Just throwing in my $.02 worth for what it's worth.

 

One of the faults I have found in bomber seats is the small inside width. Some are 18" wide and a lot are 16" or less. Rotten Leonards are 18", but he can make them wider. I think with a good width, like 22" and a good seat bottom, they can be comfortable. Of course, the look of bomber seats is kinda cool. The Corbeau suspension buckets are 22" wide, which is plenty, even considering the side bolsters. They are stated to fit a person with up to a 36-38 inch waist. My waist is 34" with a hip width less than 16". So far, they are my first choice, if I don't end up making my own bench. Then, there are these. Close to the Corbeau's and no logo, but I'd lose 3" in width and no slots for seat belts: https://www.speedwaymotors.com/EMPI-62-2880-0-Low-Back-Roadster-Style-Seat-Black,294375.html

The 42" Corbeau bench seat will fit in a T Bucket with room to spare. But you lose some space with the side bolsters and end up with the same seating accommodations as two 18" bomber seats, but without the bomber seat side panels. The space not covered on the sides of the bench (about 3" on both sides) leaves empty spaces, which might not look right, IMO. That's why, so far, the Corbeau bench isn't my 1st choice, but it's a very close 2nd.

Another thing is that for the most part, I'll usually be the only occupant of my car. IMO my comfort is of the most importance. In my last T Bucket, I had a bench I made, but with a passenger, it was a bit cozy. Not a problem with most female passengers. Guys, for the most part, are usually bigger than most females. I've seen pics of two guys riding in a T Bucket and it looked really cramped. Two bucket seats or bomber seats would be a polite and obvious way of telling someone they're ass is too wide to ride. If that was the case.

There are some VERY good examples in the T Bucket Interior's thread, so far. A few have prompted a rethink on what I was originally considering. That's why I made the thread. To see what other guys have done and get some food for thought.

 

That's one of my peave's......Buckets/Bench. Although I'm in the roadster category, still applies. Buckets= gotta find some that fit my ass right=fitment,not nothing else smart asses! and comfortable, and fit the car.... Bench= can slam anything in there, but has to fit as well..... If I was to find such buckets, then would they just be budding up together at the sides? We both have limited width between the doors. If they were narrow enough, maybe, maybe a console of some sort, or a space to use, but either way, decisions..... I think I'll go bench since proper fitting buckets=width/height, just don't magically appear out of the sky in ready to run shape. Plus+ on your build, I wouldn't accept half assed at all!

 

With 2 buckets or bomber seats you lose the space in the middle where with a bench, or preferably a wraparound seat you have more room with it working for one of the 2 passengers needing a bit more room for their hips. I know, this is JMO and you should do what works for you and what you like!

 

But there's the issue of that pesky steering wheel in the way if you try to climb in over the driver's side. I've never tried that, but it seems to me that it would be very difficult. My advice (and it's worth what you paid for it) is to try that maneuver before deciding on anything but a one-piece seat. You may find that it's still much easier to enter the car from the passenger's side and slide across.

 

My last T didn't have a door and the steering wheel was removable. Trust me, I've thought it through. A lot.

 

My T is L/H Drive in a R/H Drive country and when im day dreaming and get in the wrong side I can just slide over and keep from looking like a real dick. JW

 

Didn't you guys ever watch 77 Sunset Strip; no sliding over or any of that stuff; you just jump into a T over the back!

 

Since Fred didn't add a link, here you go...
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/t-bucket-interiors.1072998/#post-12185855

 

I'm in the same boat as you Fred in working out in my head the seat arrangement, I am impression with what Don did with his T Roadster a couple of years back and sorry, this is the only photo I have of it. The second photo is from another T that I really like the style of too. And finally one that I like the style of again but for maximize room inside, I believe Don's hits the nail.

 

I think I've got pics of Don's. I'll have to look. If I'm not mistaken, I think his seats were damn near on the floor. That's what I'm going for, no matter what arrangement I decide on.

 

Well, due to the hurricane/tropical storm, I've been starting work at 7am. This gives me time, late at night, to fine tune my chassis a bit. Last night, I adjusted my radius rods to set the assembly in square. It wasn't far off, but it was enough that it bugged me a bit. Hey, 5/8" isn't much, right? WRONG! Next, when the stores open up, I'll replace some grade 5 nuts and bolts with grade 8 materials.

 

Glad you didn't get flooded then. Did you go axle to axle and then to a common chassis point to check or just square to the chassis rails (or centre line). JW

 

When watching the news reports on Harvey, I wondered if you were affected by the flooding! Glad to see that apparently isn't the case except for some slight inconveniences. Keep up the good work!

 

Some of my favorite things. Most gear shift knobs others potential for the Kandy Kolored Klown.

Glad your safe Fred. Keep up the good work on the Black Dalia. Or maybe the Black Panther if you want to piss some people off. The Rebel is watching.

Keeping that thought going the way I have your ride pictured is it will look like a panther in a low crouch ready to pounce.

Just sitting here after working on my house all morning running my mind before my nap. Supposed to be 100+F here today and 104+F the next few days. That is hot for us wimpy Californians. The (F) is for you feriners who use (C).

 

LR to LF, RR to RF. Both came out to 98 5/8". Then LR to RF, RR to LF. Both are 108 7/8".

 

Rebel -- Is that one of Norm's skulls at lower left?

 

I think it is. About 10 years ago, I reached out to Norm and spoke with his wife about having one made. Unfortunately, it was out of my price range. Now, I wish I would have scrapped together the money to have one. I think Norm, like Roth, were deeper than the sum of their parts. Both are remembered for their endeavors with cars, but I consider them artist, who chose cars as their medium of expression. To that, I can truly relate.

 

Yes Party it is one of Norms carvings. It was out of my price range too when I bought it but I popped anyway. I bought mine almost twenty years ago. Yes Norm and Ed both were prolific artists and showmen. One of my regrets in life is I didn't stay long enough at the fiftieth Grand Nationals to hook up with Norm. He said he would be there with my skull but I didn't hook up with him. He sent it to me and when I talked with him next he said he could have sold it 1,000 times there.
I am really afraid to let my car out of my sight with it on it now. I don't know what one of them sell for now but I'm sure it is a lot. I've been running the screaming lady at the top of the photo lately. That and the black one was painted by a local woman artist. I also bought a carved kain from her. Someone right after I bought it said the face on it looked just like me. It probably looks better than me.

Another thing I truly regret is I could have had Tommy The Greek Hrone stripe my roadster in the early '90s but for what seems like stupid reasons now I didn't. It might have been the last car he put lines on. STUPID STUPID.

By the way I had to put most of that stuff on the table away after the picture. My wife puts up with a lot of my shit BUT.

 

Can you imagine the stuff that would be flying around, if Roth or Norm would have been into airplanes? Makes me smile.

 

Just typing out loud................ "MAN, I can't wait to call Diane at CCR and ask her to charge my "Hot Rod Savings" card for a body!". I've been sitting on my chassis and just thinking about it. Sorry.... no "VA-ROOOM" noises or pics. Got the chassis all squared up. Bought a small car cover today! The addiction is a craving now!

"I NEED MORE COW BELL!"

 

Just bought two-four disk CDs Fiftys music. Thought '50s R&R Turns out mostly Hit Parade. K sa ra sa ra Patty Page.

 

Hey Fred, Be careful buying car parts down there!
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2017/08/31/hurricane-harvey-cars/619785001/
I can imagine the parts stores have issues as well...

 

Bad link

 

Sorry, did a search for "USA Today Houston Cars" and it showed up with the same site address.
It talks about the estimates of how much worse the numbers are than Katrina or Sandy. LOTS of DOA cars...

 

For a couple weeks, I had contemplated using a "hoop" style upper steering arm. It's an inch shorter than the plate style I have now and I like the look of it. I ordered it and it came yesterday. Upon mounting, it rests against the brake line and rubs it, when the wheel turns. Fearing it rubbing through I abandoned the idea. So, I've got a brand new part sitting in my "maybe one day" box.

On a good note, I'm very close to ordering my body!

 

That's good Fred. Keep us updated with pictures and what your doing. Thanks . Bob......................

 

Fred their are a few fixes for things rubbing on flex lines. An easy one is just push another bigger rubber hose over the part of the hose that is being rubbed. You could also twist the hose into a different shape. That hoop steering arm would look nice on the Black Panther. Be careful with shorter brackets they make steering harder and tricker. Actually went through with mine. Had to buy a longer hoop and bent it up to clear the spring hanger.
Anxious to see how the body sits on the frame.

 

I had this steering arm specially made to suit my needs as all the others covered the top grease zerk and I got it made longer at 6 3/4'' to put the drag link more over the radius rod to give better clearance when turning left. JW