Old timey feeling T (maybe?)

Hello everyone! I just want to start out by saying how glad I am that I found this site and these forums!

As for the title of my thread, with the maybe? in there, I have been wanting and planning and buying parts to build a t for quite some time. I think it all started back when I found my first 26 t coupe almost 20 years ago. Divorce and life led to that one getting away. Then about 8 years ago I ended up buying a MAS t bucket body, and a frame from one of the people who made them for MAS. I had a start on a lot of parts gathering, but not at my own residence. Long story short, about all I have left is that good ole frame that is buried in my storage unit, and I think a brake kit from speedway motors for the early ford spindles.

Fast forward to two weeks ago, and I find myself in a position to get some parts. A craigslist ad I had been eyeballing for almost a year was still on there. Front and rear ends plus miscellaneous suspension parts from a 1937 Ford coupe. Went and looked at them on a Thursday night (and bought them), but I couldn't bring them home as I broke a u-joint on my truck two days prior. I was able to bring the smalls home in the trunk of my car, so that is the start of my pictures.

Original ball mount and other included smalls


Tie rod, torched steering arm, factory sway bar and a couple other misc rods.


Two front and two rear lever action shocks.


Front spring and U-bolts


Three backing plates and two drums


There is one more drum on the banjo rear, so I have to source one more somewhere. The rear spring, wishbone and torque tube are all attached to the rearend yet, to be brought home this Saturday.
On the front axle it has both roundback spindles attached, along with the uncut wishbone. Pictures of all that when it comes home.

As I said my frame is in storage, and may be a couple weeks before I can get that, but a former project can serve up a couple more parts for this build...

Chevy/GMC AD truck frame.

Not sure what I can use off of this yet....

I do have this sitting in my pile of parts though...

Should work ok, I drove(coasted)the truck into my driveway...

Also want to use this:

Just want a cartoonish tall shifter like my buddy rat fink.... This is the original 4 speed shifter from the 49 GMC.

Hey VintageT

Kinda looks like you have a lot of good pieces and parts there. Keep us in the loop as it goes along. Thanks for sharing it with us on here.

MikeC

Nice score on the parts.
Looks like the 37 was converted over to hydraulic brakes. Those drums are the ones that have the hub on the outside.
I would recommend not buying a used drum for these style brakes with out having it mic'd first as these drums were thin to begin with and most of the old ones out there have been turned to the point of junk.
Have fun and post lots of pics.
Torchie.

Torchie said:

Nice score on the parts.
Looks like the 37 was converted over to hydraulic brakes. Those drums are the ones that have the hub on the outside.
I would recommend not buying a used drum for these style brakes with out having it mic'd first as these drums were thin to begin with and most of the old ones out there have been turned to the point of junk.
Have fun and post lots of pics.
Torchie.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info on the drums... Hoping I can find one locally so I can inspect myself... Maybe I can just find a parts car with a good flathead in it... LOL

Well, spent 3 hours this morning going to get the rest of my parts...

First, I asked permission to show the car that my parts came out of.



Then I had to look at this on the way home:


About a block away from the stude truck there was a late 40's/early 50's Chrysler 4 door for sale as well, didn't get a chance to stop and look at that one...

Got home and started unloading in an orderly fashion...

Front end:




The nice 16" skinnies...


Rear end:


Safety note:

Oops...

Had one hand on torque tube and one on cherry picker...

some pics or rear end condition:






And making something that resembles the size and shape of a car...


Adding a steering box:







And finally something I need opinions on... I want this to look old school when done, but I also want functional. Front bone will be split, but don't know if I should split the rears or go with these:


I have had them sitting around since the first round of trying to collect parts.

Also need advice on engine/trans and body, none of which I have yet.
How much power can I put to this rear?

OK. Me first.
1.Dont split and straighten out the rear bones. They WILL crack. The bones and torque tube are designed to work as a unit.. If you still want to use the banjo rear end then either leave it like it is or convert to an open drive shaft and use a 4 bar setup.
The pivit point for that setup is where the tube connects to the trans. It can move up and down as well as twist. If the bone are mounted to the frame instead of the tube everytime the rear twists it will put stress on the bones causing cracks. That is a well documented fact. Even though you will see cars set up this way.

2. Those rear ends will take a fair amount of horsepower. What used to be the weak link was the older Ford Trans. Guys would by an adapter kit to mate a (Fill in the blank) engine to the original trans and rear ends. If driven right they would last. If constanstly thrashed the trans would usualy go first. Although I have seen some snapped axles as well.

3. If you use the torque tube set up you will be limited to using a closed drive Ford trans. Top loaders are becoming fairly expensive as no seems to want a 3 on the tree in their hot rod. Engine adapters to mate just about anything to the Ford trans and torque tube rear end are available. Old and new.I have a nailhead Buick/Ford trans adapter hanging on my garage wall.

4. About the least expensive body style out there seems to be the T-bucket. Lots of bang for the buck. RPM here on the site has a great selection of T-bucket parts. Great to deal with as well.
Good luck and have fun. Hope this helped.
Torchie.

Here is what I did to reuse our rear 'bones' with an open drive rear end. I added a plate about mid way to help stiffen the upper bar. It's 7/8" DOM tubing.



[/QUOTE]

Torchie said:

OK. Me first.
1.Dont split and straighten out the rear bones. They WILL crack. The bones and torque tube are designed to work as a unit.. If you still want to use the banjo rear end then either leave it like it is or convert to an open drive shaft and use a 4 bar setup.
The pivit point for that setup is where the tube connects to the trans. It can move up and down as well as twist. If the bone are mounted to the frame instead of the tube everytime the rear twists it will put stress on the bones causing cracks. That is a well documented fact. Even though you will see cars set up this way.

2. Those rear ends will take a fair amount of horsepower. What used to be the weak link was the older Ford Trans. Guys would by an adapter kit to mate a (Fill in the blank) engine to the original trans and rear ends. If driven right they would last. If constanstly thrashed the trans would usualy go first. Although I have seen some snapped axles as well.

3. If you use the torque tube set up you will be limited to using a closed drive Ford trans. Top loaders are becoming fairly expensive as no seems to want a 3 on the tree in their hot rod. Engine adapters to mate just about anything to the Ford trans and torque tube rear end are available. Old and new.I have a nailhead Buick/Ford trans adapter hanging on my garage wall.

4. About the least expensive body style out there seems to be the T-bucket. Lots of bang for the buck. RPM here on the site has a great selection of T-bucket parts. Great to deal with as well.
Good luck and have fun. Hope this helped.
Torchie.

Click to expand...

Should have stated that I plan on doing the open drive conversion. Probably go with the speedway one. I will never be able to afford a good flathead and trans to match. Will probably go with a mostly stock 350 for power then, even though I hate chevy... And the plan has always been a t bucket! Just looking for ideas.. As far as RPM... I think the old bars I have laying on the ground came from him... Way back when I was a member of the NTBA...

Paul_J said:

Here is what I did to reuse our rear 'bones' with an open drive rear end. I added a plate about mid way to help stiffen the upper bar. It's 7/8" DOM tubing.

Click to expand...

[/QUOTE]

Them look really nice Paul, but I think a little beyond my skills. And beyond my welders capabilities. I only have a 110 flux core pos... Even for splitting the front bones I'm going to have to tack some bungs in place and then take them somewhere for welding.

Spent the whole day out and about... But did find a pair of bucket seats for the project. Still in my car though, will unload and snap some pics after work tomorrow.


May the 4th be with you!

Yeah, Star Wars freak on Star Wars Day...

Rat rod parts can be found in unlikely places. Scavenger hunting is part of the fun

Great start pile [P

I know these may seem out of place, but they are very comfy... Maybe when I get them recovered I can chop off the headrest area.






I also took a look at my inspiration pile...


This made me remember a post somewhere from a while back about building a 32ish grill shell out of one of these...

This one is damaged in the middle and on one of the lower legs, so I don't feel bad if I mess it up.


And if you didn't see it, there is another one in good shape sitting on top my inspiration pile!

So I got myself an engine now, and another rear end, as it will take me some time to get the open drive conversion for the banjo.

Anyhow, here are the goods:




Yeah, lots of stuff to strip off the little old 318... And probably have to find someone to swap me a short shaft trans for this long shaft.



Chevy truck rear end, same bolt pattern as the brake kit I think I still have for the front.

Going to dig my frame out of storage tomorrow, going to be a good day!

You definitely have a boatload of parts now!
I like the seats, recovered I'd keep the high back, comfort is an important thing.

Another load of parts...

So I finally made it to my storage shed, spent about 3 hours there digging my way back to my frame. Ended up bringing home a whole truckload of stuff, mostly my sons toys that my daughter is now the right age for. I did find some other parts for my bucket though!


The whole front brake kit, and some roundback spindles with the steering arms cut off!

Another pair of shocks...

A pair of gas tanks...

Grill shell

an old steering box... unsure of origin

And more from the shed:
Master cylinder from a Mopar F body.

Shifter from Mopar F body.

Most of the brake kit parts laid out.

Rear suspension parts

Spindles... for sale... don't need two sets, will post in proper area shortly!

Gauge cluster, don't know what it is from, but I will try to use it!



And a somewhat overview of the current state of things!

This was just thrown down into approximate places, eyeballing axle locations compared to spring hangers has it at about 103" wheel base.

And I had to set the seats on there...


Still looking for a body, but I know I can now practice my motor sounds!

Working on getting rid of some of the excess fat on the front of the engine now, then will try to balance that in there somewhere!

Gauge cluster is early Ford F-1. 1948-49-50
Nice pile of parts. You are gaining on it.
Torchie.