Features Traditional Track T or Bucket Build Cost Under $5000??

The real trick with any seventies small bock Mopar is getting compression! By the smog era they had compression ratios as bad as about 7.5-1. Pump it up to about 9.5 with cut heads and flat pistons, or if memory serves the build use "302" casting number heads with smaller chambers. The four barrel kinda goes without saying, but is always a bit doggy without the compression boost. Good thing about 'buckets though is that they are sooooo light ANY small block will feel like a racing engine in one!

 

Yeah that is one of the reasons I really like the T it really dosnt take much to make it move and be a good running car. I also like the looks its just a classic look to me. I also like the roadster body.

I did find a 40 Plymouth that has been sitting outside for years on CL and I have talked to the guy about other cars but he is way off base with price. He is asking 4K for this one and it needs a lot of work. I'm not to sure that it hasnt been sitting on the ground.

He also has a 70 Fury that he took the wheels off it and let it lay on the ground and it is a big block Fury.

I just got a price from Spirit on a stretched T bucket and its a good deal. I might just go and jump on it. I'm also looking at a 56 Ford wagon that I really like as well.

Do you know what and if the rear in the 75 Dodge truck might be and work?

The truck is a slant six with 3 on the tree. I keep trying to remember what the rear is but for the life of me I can not think of it.

Oh on the Charger it could be saved but you are looking at a car that would take 20-30K in work to restore and be worth less then 20K when done. The charger would make a great drag or pro-street type car.

I think I might try and get the van with the 318 and 727 and use it. There used to be a company that made Hemi heads for the 318, 340, 360, 383 and 440. The heads made 1.5 HP per cubic inch. I saw this back in the early to late 90s and the price of the kit was around six thousand. At that time I had found a real 1969 Hemi rebuilt and ready to drop in my 70 challenger R/T for 10K and I'm still kicking myself for not buying the motor.

 

I just heard back about the Mopar 8 1/4 rear end and this is what the email said.

The guy with the 8 1/4 rear emailed me back and this is what he said-

The width from drum to drum is approx. 56-7/8", and the width from center to center of the spring perches is 44-1/8".

He thinks the gearing is under 3.00 but is not 100% sure.

 

56-7/8" from drum to drum. If he means from backing plate to backing plate, it sounds a little wide to me. You can probably add 2-1/2" per side to get to the axle flange (wheel mounting surface). The S-10 rears for 2WD are 54" WMS-WMS and are considered ideal. It sounds like yours would be more like 60-61". That's about what my Camaro rear is and I considered it too wide because I'm using narrow wheels/tires in the rear and won't have much wheel offset to play with.

The spring perch measurement shouldn't matter because you won't be using them anyway.

 

Thanks.

 

I did not read much of this thread....But If 5K is your budget, You could most likey buy a T bucket for around that. (that someone has thrown money at) They are fun little cars, But don't have much of a resale value. I have bought and sold many over the years. And the most I ever payed for one was $7700.00 and it was all chromed out with a blown big block and Jag rearend. However I did clean it up and sold it for 14K.....But your average run of the mill T bucket with a small block chevy, can be bought about any day of the week in that 5K range. You will see alot of guys asking 10-12k for them, But they are not selling. Also In my opinion, It is a good idea to have a budget, But when You start buying new stuff, 5K does not go far. If I were you I would decide what I really wanted and work towards it. (rather than just settle for building something just because it is cheap) There are plenty of ways to build your dream car on a budget. The way i look at it I do not have any money out of pocket in any of my hot rods, As they were all bought and payed for by me buying, selling, And trading other hotrods and parts and labor to get them. I am not trying to tell you what to do, But If you just settle for something other than what you really want, You most likey will not be happy with it. JUst my 2 cents anyhow.

 

Also I do not know if you got a frontend yet or not, But I just picked up a New speedway T bucket front axle with spring, hairpins, spindles and disc brake kit I would make you a good deal on. it is from a started project that never got finished, Has a little surface rust on it but is all brand new. PM me if you are interested.

 

Hi, thanks for the input. I appreciate any info I can get. I realize the resale on these isn't very good. That's why I plan on trying to keep to the budget as close as possible, but unless I get some screaming deals on some things, I don't think I'm going to be able to keep it under 5K. But it will be close. The swap meet season is coming up, so hopefully I will be able to save some cash here and there.

The main reason I may go over the budget is just what you said. I'm going to build the car I want, and that will cost a little more. Sure, I can build an ugly rat for next to nothing, but who wants that? Not me.

Another reason, as I mentioned earlier in the thread, is the registration process in NY. You need to have receipts for EVERYTHING and all the major components need to be traceable to a car with a VIN that is proven to be not stolen or altered. Getting components from a salvage yard is recommended because they have all the paperwork you need. That cuts into the budget.

Also, the frame has to have a certificate of origin (MSO) and not all manufacturers offer this. I don't have the tools to build my own frame, so I have to go with a builder that can give me a MSO. After the car is complete, it has to go through an inspection and if anything comes up stolen or if any numbers appear to be altered, they confiscate that component then and there. You lose it. I've seen it happen. That cuts into the budget.

What all this means for me is, all those fun hours of searching for bargains at flea markets and swap meets is mostly shot to hell. I have to pony up top dollar for all the big stuff. That cuts into the budget.

 

I just found these rims, tell me guys could they be used for a traditional look?

http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/pts/3714263545.html

I also found some crager wheels that fit a Mopar.

I also found a 73 Dodge D100 2WD truck that might or might not run. The truck has disk breaks, must be an add on at some point. I miht be able to pick it up for $650. I just stumbled across it wasnt even looking for it.

 

Those are 70s-80s Chevy truck wheels-six lug at that! You really should do some research before you spend any money. Go on ebay and buy a big stack of little books, or Car Craft, etc. from the 50s, 60s, or what ever era you are interested in before you buy ANY parts..

 

P.S Cowtown Speed Shop is right on the money with his advice. Cheap deserted projects are the best way to go. But I disagree on the disc front axle. Yuck. Ugly. Unnecessary on a light T bucket. My huge Buick stops fine on drums.

 

Thanks and I am looking around. I did find a T bucket near me for 18K and I would have to change it to suite me.

 

I hear of them down here for 5K all the time. Maybe you aren't looking in the right place?

 

Check the classifieds. A fairly solid 26-27 steel body. Also a fairly complete project for a fair price.

 

Okay, 18000.00 is way past top whack for a T-bucket! I have a deal working pending on the sale of another car for one that I put together for a guy about a year ago that runs and drives for about 6500.00. That said, it needs some stuff and isn't painted. I did the frame, chassis and body fit on it and the ownwer took it home and did the "details". I'll be cleaning up or completely changing most of the details as I go.

 

Im going to be doing this as a father and son build with my dad. I thought since I sold my R/T off and both of us with health problems we could get back into the game and enjoy some time building one.

I did find a 63 Ford Falcon parts car tonight its a 5 lug rear, 260 V8 and a 3spd colum shift car. I was hoping it had an auto but I could sell the trans off or trad for an auto. The car also has steel wheels. He is asking 500.00. I'm waiting for more info on the motor could be a good start in parts.

 

That's a great way to build a car. My dad and I built his '54 Chevy together in my garage.

Here's a link to a thread I started about him.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=526180

 

Very cool I will check that thread out. I really like the looks of that car.

It is a good way to build some memories and just have fun. Both me and my dad are disabled. He used to do body work and even had his own shop for a long time. When he lost his eye site (legally bliind) he clossed up the doors and told me to never go into doing body work.

We started building a car together my 1970 Coronet R/T when I had a stroke and the car sat for 10 years. I told my dad that I thought it was to much of a project for either of us to do and he said it was up to me.

The T bucket idea got me to thinking and I said something to him about it and now he is asking me questions. I can see he is chomping at the bit to get going on it as well.

I just like to have some time doing something that we both love and then once and if ever it is done we ride together and go to car shows together.

 

It was on Craigslist. There is also a 32 Ford coupe that was like 40K I think and coming down it was done in the mid 80s.

I will see if I can find it again.

 

I haven't had a chance to read it, but it looks like Rod n' Custom is doing a T build. Looks like they are starting with stuff from Speedway.

 

They built one in this months Hot Rod mag, but they were WAY over $5000!

 

They are and the build I'm told is going to start in August. I know this months issue has a write up about it but have not read it.

I picked up Hot Rod issue that did the Tribute T bucket from speedway and they spent almost 18k on the build. I have not read the full article yet.

I think I read that it is now online at Hot Rod if anyone wants to read it.

 

Hey all! Just subscribed to this thread. Looking forward to a retirement project and always liked the '27-style Track T's, but I'm just learning for now. As a start, can someone tell me what the differences are between a chassis designed for a "standard" T-bucket and a Track T? I'd like to build something on the style of the Poli-form track roadster without the cost.

 

Speedway cataloge is a good referance for standard and track style T buckets.

 

subscribed, Flathead Pete nailed the spirit of the thread

 

They also splurged on a few things and admitted it. Like a $3,700 9" rearend set up, $299 headlights, $499 windshield frame, $799 dual carb set up and $1,100 worth of Coker tires.

It can be done on the cheap without all the trick bullshit and still be fun. I have about $15,000 in mine, but that's because I have gotten stuff and later replaced things or upgraded. When I first built it, I think I did it for about $8,000. And even then, I had splurged on a few things.

Right now, I'm collecting stuff for another car. I'm not set on what it will be, but I'm collecting the generic stuff for now. Radius rods and other crap.

 

Wow. I have less than that in my A.

 

Any updates?

 

The frame, body etc. is being delivered tomorrow. I'll post some pics...

 

Good deal man! I can't wait to see it and follow the build. Who did you order from again?

I still have a bunch of reading to do and then Im going to build. I am building in my head.

Awesome! I can't wait to see the body and frame!