What's a T bucket with V8 like to drive?

I always figured that whenever a t bucket thread surfaced, Chips corn would hurt or something...

 

Power to weight .. Baby!! OH YEA!!!

 

As Louvers testified, I've gotten out of more trouble in this car than any other car I've owned or driven. When they're set up right, they can't be beat.

 

You have to remember these things were always race cars. In the '30s on the dry lakes in California. Then after WWII on circle and oval tracks across the nation. I was surprised when I visited the Indianapolis 500 museum to see Ford suspension and V8 60 axles on some of the roadsters. In the '50s a few competed successfully on road courses against Europe's finest. Then in the '60s drag racing as Modified's. I'm really surprised Henry Ford went to a front wheel drive car in his unsuccessful attempt at Indy. I think he would have been more successful with a modified T with his latest mid '30s V8 engine and suspension. Yes a T bucket. Wouldn't that have been great. Oh well just day dreaming.

 

Many years ago a co-worker had a 23 T built by Andy's Instant T, in South San Francisco. He drove it to work one day and at lunch we took a ride. Scared the hell out of me. Glass 1923 Ford T body, stock height windshield, Chevy big block, 12-71 blower with two four barrels, and no seat belts. At one point I looked at the speedometer and it was at 110, all I could picture was that huge windshield landing in our laps. Never again!!

 

Yes,I always seem to be fixing the problems from the last owner...disc brakes are much better than drum,and electronic ignition,and a t-350 instead of a glide,and a posie instead of a monoleaf,it very fast and handles great,take trips fom San Jose to Merced regularly and after two hours I need to get out and stretch,I'm 50,my Dad is 70 and he drives the heck out of it.

 

Hey exStreamliner can we get more pictures, that is one cool ride! If you did all the work and I assume you did, you are one talented dude! Almost too cool to paint, nice job.

 

Here is my 7 year itch. Drove it with a stock 350 couple of times then tore car all apart for a redo. Wife hates it, ( Its too loud!!!!) Almost done but why bother, she is on my ass to sell it. They dont have a resell value at all,so Id rather pull the motor and sell the carcass before i drove it again. So I wont know what im missing. Or I could keep it at my sons house in his garage.

 

The T in my avatar weighs 1700 lbs with a 300 horsepower engine, 3 speed auto and 3.5:1 rear. Nothing special but it goes like stink and handles and stops great. Build or buy a good T bucket and you'll never regret it.

 

I finished my T bucket 7 years ago and it's an awesome stress reliever. My wife has a demanding job and when she's had a particularly bad day, she comes home says "that little black car needs to go for a ride" and off we go.

I had always assumed that such a light car with street tires and decent power would not hook well. Happy to say I was wrong - mine just hooks and goes. No big cloud of smoke, just a bit of wheel spin and gone. I don't quite understand all the drag strip stuff (instant center, center of gravity, etc) but I assume I accidentally anchored my radius rods (ladder bars) where they need to be for a good plant.

The best comment I ever heard was from a guy in his 90's who remembered driving model T's in stock form. When I explained the driveline, he said "I guess you don't have any trouble on hills then". When people ask my wife if it's fast, she says "nobody ever passes us unless we want them to". And what's really funny is that guys with cars that could easily leave us in the dust (Vipers, Z06's, etc) don't even try. I assume that's because a T with big tires looks fast whether it is or not.

 

I always thought the Low Blow 23 T was about the wildest T-bucket. Looks like an active HAMB member owns it. Be nice to see how it looks today.





Good article on the bucket.

http://www.tbucketplans.com/scott-ellis-original-low-blow-t-bucket/


I like that he had a remote starter button by the top of the engine. He could prime the injectors and at the same time start the car from the outside.

 

Well, yesterday I experienced another rainy day in Houston, but I was in my roadster. Pulled over, turned my scoop around and pressed on. The cool thing about driving a roadster in the rain? You only get wet once. After that, there's nothing more to worry about. Within 10 minutes, I was smiling again. Except for the old lady, at a stop light, who politely asked me if I was getting wet, I still had a great day.

 

A T bucket with a stout powerplant is about as close to a sprint car as you can get. I drove sprints 11 years and when I quit driving we were making nearly 800 hp.

 

I like the one in the background. Some info on it.

 

Pretty sure that's Mark Skipper's car "Royal Shifter" from here on the H.A.M.B.

 

If it's built right it's a hand full and will put a smile on your face that a side grinder couldn't take off! HRP

 

Gary...I'm one of the guys who, 30+ years ago, sat down with you at Pleasanton before it became a gold chain hoop-la. I had a shop in Campbell, was knee-deep in 'T' buckets, and a host of Hiboys: '27 Roadster, '28 Roadster, and '32 Tudor.
We looked at your T, I was adamant that it looked better in the profile than any other out there.
(your steel bucket hadn't been 'opened up' or 'lengthened', 'stretched'... for a large body)
The little red T has become a staple up here in No. Calif., even moreso with the Caddie. It's a classic, and just looks so right.
I'm still working on my '27 tub, love your steel bucket. Top looks superb. Hope we can cruise and get some eyeballs...
Mike

 

It's better than sex. I said better than not more important than,

 

Hi Dirt T.The ONLY thing better than sex------------------------is more.THEN come the T`s.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo